"AND ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST." Sierra sighed as she placed down the large, metal oxygen tank that John B had fetched from Ward Cameron's boat. Not only was
Ward the richest man in the Outerbanks, but the Routledge boy's boss. "You had one job, one, and you somehow managed to fuck it up."

  "Bite my ass, Sierra."

  "This one's a quarter full." Kiara looked up, tapping on one of the tanks. "It's enough for only one of us."

  "Love it when a plan comes together." Pope muttered sarcastically from his seat behind the wheel. It was clear by his crossed arms and uninterested expression that he didn't agree with the plan nor wanted to be involved.

  "Does anybody know how to dive?" Kiara asked, glancing around at the Pogues. She was met with silence. "Anybody?"

  "It's kind of a Kook sport." JJ spoke up with a shrug.

  "I...read about it."

  "Great." The curly-haired girl sighed, "Pope read about it, so someone's gonna die."

  "Look, you put the thing in your mouth and breath." JJ explained swiftly, shrugging like it was obvious. "How hard could it be?"

  "Well, if you come up too fast the nitrogen gets into your blood, and you get the bends." Pope informed JJ smartly making him smirk.

  "Bends, like," The blonde began to slowly lean down with a childish giggle, "bend over and—"

  "The bends kill you, Jay." Sierra cut off, holding back a chuckle as JJ straightened up and frowned.

  "Right."

  "I can—I can dive." John B declared hesitantly, making all suspicious eyes land on him.

  "You can dive, I'm cool with that." JJ nodded, sitting down next to Sierra.

  "Since when can you dive?" Kiara questioned, turning to look at the boy next to her with doubt. Even a kook like herself hadn't taken part in training to dive, she wasn't all that convinced that John B would.

  "I'll do it, it's fine."

  "All right, Pirate," Pope spoke, making Sierra peek her head up, "help me do some calculations real quick."

  "I hate it when you say calculations, it makes me feel like a nerd." Sierra stuck her tongue out in faux disgust, shifting over so she was sitting next Pope.

  "I hate to break it to you, but you are."

  "Am not!"

  "What was it that you were giggling about on the way here?" Pope questioned, crossing his arms knowingly.

  "What?" Sierra scoffed, "The Avengers thing? It was funny!"

  "Yeah, a funny thing to a nerd."

  "Oh, fuck off." Sierra rolled her eyes, pushing at Pope's shoulder. "Imagine if you were walking in the woods and heard someone say 'doth mother know you weareth her drapes', tell me you wouldn't be giggling just a little."

  "Nerd, nerd, nerd." The Heyward boy teased like a kindergardener which made Sierra groan.

  "Can we get to those calculations?" Kiara interrupted with a squinted glare, making the two pause before fighting anymore.

  "Okay, okay." Pope threw his hands up in surrender, clicking a pen and doodling a sketch of the boat onto a extra piece of paper he had stored in the glovebox. "So, that boat's about 30 feet down."

  "Okay."

  "So it'll take 25 minutes at that depth." Pope pointed as Sierra making her stand from her spot and walk towards the end of the boat.

  "That also means you have to make your safety spot at about...10 feet, for 2 minutes." Sierra had begun removing her shirt, "Copy that?"

  "Yeah, yeah, 10 feet, 2 minutes." John B repeated with furrowed brows, "And what exactly are you doing?"

  "With much love, JB, I can't trust that you know how much ten feet is." Sierra smiled softly, patting his shoulder before jumping into the water.

  "Uh...what was that about?"

  "I don't know, but I liked it, a lot." JJ gawked at the spot where Sierra had disappeared from, hearts practically shooting out his eyes. He shook his head, clearing his throat before standing up. "Okay, so, uh..."

  "Weirdo." Kiara muttered with a scoff.

  "So, when you get down there, you stick this thing inside and twist and pull, okay?" The blonde explained, handing over a key as Sierra peeked her head up from the water with a soft inhale.

  "Stick in the hole, twist and pull."

  "That's what she said." Sierra giggled, paddling towards the edge of the boat. "So, I tied my shirt at the 10 feet mark where you need to take your break."

  "Yup, two minute break, got it." John B threw a thumbs up, turning back to listen to Pope's instruction as he strapped on the scuba gear and tank to his back.

  "Breath as little as possible." Pope ended off, giving him a soft pat on his bicep before walking away.

  "Zen, think Zen, alright?" JJ advised, imitating the breathing pattern as a demonstration. "Think back to that time we accidentally took a yoga class in PE."

  "Don't remind me." John B muttered, slipping the scuba mask over his head.

  "Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh we're basically screwed, so we better get a move on." Pope warned, sitting back down behind the wheel.

  "Copy that." John B reassured, reaching up to pull down the mask before Kiara stepped up to him, planting a kiss on his cheek. The boy paused for a moment, lucky that the sun covered his blush. "Diver down?"

  "Diver down."

  John B jumped into the water and turned back to his friends, taking in one last glance as he slowly sunk into the marsh. "Diver Down." Pope mumbled, fiddling nervously with his hands. "I'm starting to have regrets."

  "You always have regrets, Pope." Sierra replied, pulling herself up from the water and taking JJ's outstretched hand. The Heyward boy rolled his eyes.

  "So, were you, like..trying to impress me by getting naked or something?" JJ questioned as Sierra squeezed the water from her hair. "'Cause you have me."

  Sierra shook her head with a giggle, "Yes, Jay, I was definitely trying to impress you by removing my shirt."

  "Nice." JJ nodded with a small smile, "I get it though, you got a big, handsome man in front of you and you just can't resist."

  "I'm looking for who you are talking about." Pope said, twisting his head around in confusion. "Because it can't be you."

  "Bro." JJ stared at his best friend in disapproval, "You just had to ruin our moment."

  "I don't think we really wanted to see where the moment went." Kiara added on, leaning back on her hands casually.

"Woah." JJ held both his hands out with furrowed brows, "I'm sensing a lot of negative energy, is this potentially 'cause Mercury is in Gatorade?"

"What?" Kiara almost shouted, her voice just barley above a normal level at the utter confusion that laced her mind. "JJ, are you high?"

"No, it's what Sierra always says." The blonde pointed accusingly, "Mercury is in Gatorade, which is why shit's been goofy. Or, maybe, there's a full moon."

"JJ, you're not making any sense again."
Pope added on as he looked towards Sierra, who looked more amused then confused. "What is he talking about?"

"Jay, did you mean that Mercury is in retrograde." Sierra held back a smile as a triumphant look filled JJ's features.

"Exactly. That's what I've been telling you guys!"

"Oh, my god." Kiara could only whisper under her breath, resting her forehead onto her hand.

JJ was about to start up again about a whole new topic before his first syllable was interrupted by a siren.

"Shit, JJ." Pope warned, making him turn to look at the approaching boat, Kildare County Police painted on the side.

"Yup, those are cops." JJ immediately turned his head towards Sierra, "Alright, Pirate, you're in charge of smooth talkin' them, like usual."

"I don't smooth talk them." Sierra quipped back, casually sitting next to Kiara "Just act normal, 'kay?"

"Evening officers." Pope greeted cheerfully, earning a response and a rope to tie off, assuring the boat didn't float away.

"Hey, Sierra, is that you?" Shoupe removed his glasses, squinting in her direction. "What are you doin' out here, y'know the marsh is closed?"

Sierra and the Pogues immediately went with their first instinct, act dumb. In return, the officer got a string of confused No's and I didn't.

Sierra slightly titled her head to the side curiously. "Oh, really, why is it closed?"

"Well, we're conducting a search, a boat went down here." Shoupe informed, looking between all four, "See anything?"

"Nope."

"No boats, none."

"No boats here." Sierra finished off with a shrug, "Sorry."

"Where's your friend you always hang with?" The older man asked suspiciously, "He here?"

Sierra took a moment before saying, "Nope, couldn't come today."

"Why's that?"

"Said he was working or something." Kiara added on, smiling to assure that her lie was hidden away.

  Shoupe took a moment, looking around before sighing, "I'm gonna check your little boat out." There was no stopping him or making a swift excuse to keep him off as he just stepped on swiftly.

  "Yeah, of course, hop abroad." Pope encouraged, standing up and motion towards the small boat like he was welcoming him into his house. "Go ahead, and..uh, check her out."

  "Thank you." The officer muttered, sunglasses clad eyes looking around before picking up a life vest. "Got another one of these?"

  "Yeah, yeah, of course, it's in the hold." JJ informed, pointing to a little compartment near the bow, under where Kiara and Sierra sat.

  The Carrera girl rose quickly to stand next to JJ, "Show him."

  Sierra scooted back, moving so he could unpick the latch and show proof of an extra vest. The girl tried desperately not to glance at the water, her mind racing with the thought that John B had run out of air. But her gaze was quickly distracted before she could turn her head as the deputy approached the edge the boat. It was a tense moment as the four looked between each other nervously, then watching Shoupe. He stood, staring down at the water in silence. Thankfully, the sun was partly lowered, providing less light into the murky water.

  A few more beats of silence later and Shoupe was backing off the bow, "All right." He turned to the teens, JJ and Pope repeating his words about in subtle reassurance to themselves. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

  "Sure is."

  "Well, you let us know if you see anything on your way out." The deputy said, staring at the boat. His words were followed by compliant remarks, Sierra even throwing him a thumbs up as he looked back.

  "We'll be gone soon, sir."

  "Yes, you will." He turned one last time, lifting up his arm for a swift wave. "G'bye, Little Ray."

As the boat sped away the Pogues watched it shrink into the horizon before moving to the side, rocking it with how quickly they did so. "He's definitely out of air. Probably dead. We should plan a funeral by now."

  "Shut up, Pope." Sierra scolded, quieting him down to stare at the water with anticipation. Finally, John B's head sprouted from under making a trail of relieved words spill out of the four.

  "There he is!"

  "Oh, God, Jesus Christ!" Pope sighed in relief, letting out a chuckle. "Don't scare us like that!"

  "How'd it go down there?" JJ questioned, being the first to meet him on the small latter near the end of the boat, "Did you find anything?"

  "Did I find anything?" John B retorted back with a heaving chuckle, tossing a large duffel bag on board.

  "Yeah, there we go!" JJ cheered, taking the bag and moving it to the side to assist his best friend as he climbed back on. "That's my boy!"

  "You okay?" Kiara asked to reassure he didn't get any of the bends that Pope spoke of earlier.

  "Yeah, I ran out of air." John B panted out in response, "But still hanging on strong."

  "You scared the shit out of me."

  "Yeah, the cops were up here, but we took care of them." Pope informed, patting his shoulder. "Totally had them."

  "I beg to differ."

  "Shut up, Sierra."

  "That's my bad." John B muttered, sitting on the edge, wiping away the stray water droplets that dripped from his hair to his face.

  "You're all good."

  "Yeah, you kinda missed the show, brother." JJ spoke, reaching over to help as John B peeled off all the scuba gear, letting it clatter onto the floor as he rolled his shoulders.

  "Hey, guys." Kiara began, her eyes fixated on something just over Sierra's shoulder. "Guys, bogey, two o'clock."

"What?" JJ furrowed his brows, following her her eyeline and the swift nod she provided. "Sierra? She's not a bogey, she's just a hottie."

  "Behind her dumbass." Pope snapped, turning to look back at Kiara, "Do you recognize that boat?"

  "I've never ever seen it." Kiara replied with furrowed brows, "What are they even doing here? The marsh is closed."

  JJ's gaze was now stuck on the approaching boat he finally caught sight of. "I don't know, but let's not stick around to find out."

  "JJ get the bowline." John B commanded, moving his eyes away to quickly get behind the wheel.

  "Should we wait on 'em?"

  "No, were not gonna wait on 'em," John B stated sternly, his character shifting into more of a leader role. "Go get the stern, go!"

  "JJ, hurry up." Kiara muttered nervously, her eyes flickering between the blonde and the boat that gradually got closer. Whoever the two bulky were, they had a fast boat, which didn't smooth over any nerves.

  "Guy, don't wait for me—don't wait, just go!" JJ hurried, tone a lot more shaky then normal as he tugged up the rope connected to the anchor.

  Despite the rush of words that JJ spilled out, John B's hand only covered over the accelerator, not moving. "I don't like the look of this."

  "Let's go." Kiara commanded, not meaning for her tone to be so harsh but she couldn't help it as she felt the nerves bubble her stomach.

  "Are they coming for us?" JJ asked, pulling up the last of the rope and anchor. He jumped down from the bow, storing it away and keeping an eye on the boat.

  "Maybe they're just fishing." Pope reasoned, hearing the HMS Pogue rumble to life. JJ shoved past him to stand next to John B.

  "Go, go, go, go!" The Maybank urged, slapping down his hand onto John B's shoulder after every word. "Go into the marsh!"

  "I'm going!"

  Kiara took a look behind her, quickly snapping her head back. "Hey, guys, they're following us."

  "This can't be good."

  "Dude, you gotta go faster!" JJ shouted over the loud engine, only receiving a muttered response. "Gun it!"

  "I'm going!" The brunette said louder, growing frustrated of the command as he turned sharply.

  Sierra kept looking behind her, already feeling her neck ache with how many times she'd done it. She noticed how one bent down, standing back just moments after with something his hand. "Get down!"

  Her words were cut off when a gun shot rang in the air, overpowering the engine and causing a synchronized reaction as they all lowered down. They looked at each other in total fear and shock.

  "What the—"

  "Holy shit!"

  "John B, get down." JJ shouted over the noise, his words reaching John B's ear but going ignored. The brunette maintained his position, only speeding the old boat to the maximum.

  Another shot flew through the air, Pope, who was curled up in a fetal position and covering his ears flinched at the sound. "Oh my god, we're gonna die."

  Kiara slowly began to sit up despite Sierra's hand that was grabbing at her forearm, her eyes trained on something in front of her. The Ray girl followed her gaze, the puzzle piece clicking in her mind smoothly. Kiara was already up before Sierra could say anything, stepping over Pope's body to grab a large fishing net.

  Another shot, whipping just near Kiara side as she instinctively lowered herself, but kept the tangled net in her hands. Another shot, giving no chance for the Carrera girl to finish her plan. Instead, she was forced to switch it up. She quickly tossed the net into Sierra's arms, not saying a word, knowing she was smart enough to figure out what Kiara was thinking.

  Sierra made sure to keep her head down as crept up lowly, using all her might to swing the net off the end of boat and into the water.

  As the men's boat neared the net a loud clank halted it to a screeching stop. The gunshots took a pause, the men grew farther, the Pogue's were able to stand on their shaky feet without fear as they watched them fade into nothing.

  A mix of relived and shocked chuckles began, each one of the teens looking between each other in amazement. The adrenaline turning their fight or flight into a buzzing excitement. One by one they expressed their joy through shouts and comments. They laughed as if the situation was just another day of being chased by a fat security guard.

  Sierra could only join in, her heaving chest slowly with each passing moment. Something tugged at her, though, the strangeness of the whole situation. Whole the hell were those guys and why did they feel the need to shoot at a group of teenagers doing nothing. It stabbed a gut feeling into her stomach, the back of her mind plagued with the thought that something bad was happening to them all.

—

The HMS Pogue rutted to a stop, it's engine probably overheated and worn out from the long adventure. It was already the beginnings of the evening, sun set long behind them as the sky arrived to a unique point in time. It wasn't quite the pretty canvas of the mixed hues of pink and orange, nor was it the deep colors of the night sky. It was grey, a bit gloomy, but in a way that it looked so calm. The big and noticiable factor of the island was it's beaming sun, though it was no where to be found. Clouds covered the sky, hardly any light but just enough. To Sierra, it was perfect.

The patterned sound of each of their feet patted up the wooden dock, then a loud clank as John B dropped the duffle bag onto the ground. at John B's dock, they grabbed the duffel bag and quickly rushed to open it.

"What do you guys think it is." Kiara eagerly asked, the grin not leaving her face ever they escaped deaths embrace.

"Well, it's gotta be money or something, right?" John B responded, fumbling with the zipper, his hands so shaky that they almost couldn't function.

"That, or a couple of keys with street value of the low- to mid-mils, man." JJ joined in with a chuckle, a teasing smile on his lips as he patted John B's shoulder

"Can we please just open the bag?" Pope demanded, agitated and also taken aback by his own tone. He paused, looking at the four nervously.

"Wow, Pope." John B snickered, shoving open the bag, "That's a rare out burst of emotion."

"Okay, you guys are literally killing me with anticipation. Open the bag." Pope sighed, kneeling down and reaching to do it himself.

John B stuck a hand out, preventing his from touching the contents of the inside. Sierra couldn't help but chuckle. "That's a very Heyward tone of you have, Pope. Careful, you're gonna pop a blood vessel."

"And for good reasons, Sierra Ray—"

"Oh, he's using the government name."

"—We almost died over this, literal gunshots whizzing past my head!—"

"Whizzing is crazy."

"Will you shut up!" Pope snapped at JJ who'd been the voice behind the snide comments. "What's in the bag, John B."

"This dude needs a snickers bar." Sierra whispered over, making the Maybank boy chuckle in amusement. Pope shot a glare, not saying any more as he fixed his eyes back down to a metal canister in John B's hands.

The brunette twisted it open, struggling for a moment before it popped off. As he turned it over to dump out whatever object was inside, and it was a old style copper compass. The top engraved with pretty swirls that glided across brassy colored cover, making a butterfly. Sierra furrowed her brows, realizing that she was far to entranced with the thing despite it being a rusty, old compass. But that was the thing, it wasn't just that, and in the back of Sierra's mind, she knew it.

"Oh, wow!" Pope gasped as in a mocking tone, throwing his hands up in exasperation and turning away, "Yup, that's about right. Good job everybody, we found a compass"

JJ wanted to make a positive comment, something to cheer up the mood. Though, he could only pull his hat off his head in frustration. Sierra kneeled beside the brunette, silent holding her hands out, waiting for John B's approval like it was a treasured, sacred artifact. He slowly handed it off, eyes wide and a indescribable expression painted on his face.

"Dude, what?" JJ asked, looking better the two, "It's not worth anything."

John B let out a chuckle, debunking JJ's comment with just that noise. Sierra gave him a smile, sliding it back into his rough palms with a knowing glint in her eye.

"This was my fathers."

NATTI SPEAKS!!:
mwah, first episode done.