Being in the truck was torture.

Being burrowed under all the straw in the truck was just about as much as she could take.

But the fact that she could feel Rafe Cameron's breath on her neck was what was really about to make her go insane.

But she had do. They would get to the barrier in no time, the one that would determine everything. Whether they escaped or whether they got free.

So she, Rafe and Kie had hidden amongst the straw, just begging they wouldn't be caught.

By the way the truck had just stopped, she presumed they had reached it. She stilled entirely, sure that somebody was going to hear her heartbeat, as she knew the guards were inspecting the truck.

Then, finally, she heard the confirmation. "Let them through!"

She felt like she could breathe again as the truck continued moving, past the barrier and out of Singh's estate. She removed the tarpaulin she was under from her head and looked around. They were still in the cane fields, surrounded by palm trees, but they were free. She couldn't see any soldiers.

"Thank fuck," she groaned as she sat up against the back of the truck, Kie and Rafe doing the same.

"I told you we just had to work together," Rafe gritted out, and Elora ignored him because she didn't have the patience.

Adrenaline was coursing through her body. In the span of less than a few days, she'd been rescued from a desert island, involved in a plane crash, kidnapped in plain sight, held hostage by a mad man, and now escaped with one of her best friends and a sworn enemy.

She hadn't had time to process anything, and she knew in a matter of time the wave would come crashing down and she would have to face everything she'd been through.

But not now. They weren't out of this just yet.

"Listen, I'm headed out to my boat, okay? I can give you two a ride, drop you wherever, somewhere safe," Rafe told them. "One thing though. I know your friends are on the island, and my sister. I'm not helping them, alright? I can't trust them, okay? I'll give you two a ride out but not them."

Alarm bells were ringing in Elora's head, but she chose not to listen to them just yet as her gaze slid to Kie, communicating through her eyes.

We need that boat, she tried to say. So act naive for now, and follow along.

She didn't know how they were going to hijack Rafe's boat, or how they were going to get back to the Pogues, but she knew one thing.

If she was getting out of here, it would not be with Rafe Cameron.

And Kie seemed to catch onto this as she looked at Rafe and said, with a touch of vulnerability. "I just wanna get off the island."

Rafe chuckled slightly, and he seemed convinced. Elora wasn't, though. She could see the fire behind Kie's eyes. The fire that told her this wasn't over, and they were on the exact same page.

"You know, I never thought of you as a Pogue, Kie," Rafe said, momentarily ignoring Elora.

"What did you think of me as?" Kie asked.

Rafe shrugged. "I mean, I always liked you Kie, you're at least half Kook."

Ew, Elora thought, and by the brief disgust crossing Kie's face at this comment she could tell the girl thought the same. However, she had to continue with the plan, and just nodded with a small, weak chuckle.

As Rafe began to laugh Elora's skin crawled.

She hated him so much.

Too bad she had to pretend otherwise.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Anything?" Limbrey asked from downstairs in the pews, looking up at Elizabeth and John.

"Nothing," John shook his head. "Sort of the definition of a Hail Mary, you know?"

Limbrey didn't turn. "You have to believe in miracles, John, if you want them to happen."

Elizabeth scoffed. "Where'd you learn that? Self-help book?"

The older woman turned, looking at the redhead with an intolerable expression. "Is this the kind of hospitality you're going to welcome your daughter with?"

The other woman scoffed again, crossing her arms. "My daughter won't be pleased one bit to see me," she disclosed, eyes narrowed. "Too bad she doesn't have a choice, though."

Limbrey chose not to listen as the redhead ducked out and walked down the stairs, coming out the door and walking down past the pews.

"I need to go back down to the dock and get something off the boat," she told them. "Call me if they come, alright?"

"Will do," John nodded from where he still was, up by the bell.

Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

The truck was back in the city now.

And as it stopped at some lights, Kie, Rafe and Elora saw the perfect opportunity to jump off it.

"Come on, my boat's down here," Rafe told the two girls, guiding them down to the dock, which Elora hadn't even seen before.

She could count on one hand the number of times she'd left the OBX, and it hadn't been many. She'd never been to the Bahamas before, but right now, she couldn't fucking wait to get out of here.

And Rafe's boat was a fucking humongous catamaran, which Elora had kinda been expecting but then again kinda not.

"Make sure your shoes are off," he instructed them as he jumped aboard. "We should have enough juice to get us to Saint Lucia, no problem."

Elora and Kie watched as he began to untie the ropes, both wary.

Neither wanted to jump on this boat and abandon their friends, nor did they want to go anywhere with Rafe.

"Get in the boat!" Said boy shouted to them as he continued to work. "Kie! Elle!"

"You're not gonna pull anything?" Kie checked. "If we get in?"

Rafe scoffed. "Of course I'm not gonna pull anything! Look, I'm trying to do you two a solid here! You really wanna be back there with Singh or do you wanna be somewhere safe?"

Safe? With Rafe Cameron, a known murderer? Fucking hell.

"Now, could you please help me with the bowlines?" Rafe asked.

Kie and Elora looked at each other, gaze intense. Then, with a nod that said more than just yes, they climbed aboard.

"Thank you!"

They slowly walked along the side of the catty, kneeling down at the two bowlines.

"Listen, I'm gonna pretend I can't undo it," Kiara barely breathed to her. "You're gonna agree. Rafe's going to come down here and we're gonna push him in."

"Got it," Elora nodded.

Kie confirmed it with a small Pogue handshake and the both of them pretended to struggle.

"Hey, uh... I can't get it," Kie called.

"Yeah, they're tied too tight," Elora agreed. "Could you help?"

"Goddamn, do I have to do everything?" Rafe rolled his eyes as he strode down towards them.

They got him in the perfect position as he swung his leg over the barrier, fiddling with the thick ropes.

Elora and Kie exchanged a glance, silently counting.

Three...

Two...

One...

GO!

Both girls darted forward and shoved Rafe as hard as they could into the water. He yelped on the way down, coming up to yell. "KIE! ELLE!"

"Shit!" Elora cursed for the pure hell of it as she raced towards the controls, pressing the first button she could.

"KIE, ELLE, ELLE- WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" Rafe roared, furiously treading water to keep himself afloat.

"We gotta help our friends!" Kie shouted, untying the bowline as Elora started the engine and began to drive away.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING- HEY!"

Elora and Kiara were laughing as the brunette joined the redhead up on top of the boat, all the pent up anxiety and adrenaline from the past few days leaving their bodies.

"I'LL FIND YOU TWO!" Rafe yelled as a final warning. "I'LL FIND YOU!"

But it was an empty threat, because he was in the water and they'd stolen his boat, and Elora was feeling the best she'd felt since Poguelandia as they headed out.

Kie pulled the phone out, sending a quick text to the Pogues to let them know where to meet.

"Go to the pin!" She instructed Elle, excited smile on her face. "That's where I've told them to meet us."

Elora was in absolute shock. From thinking she'd never see them again to thinking Singh was going to hurt them, her friends had never been off her mind in the tumultuous thirty six hours they'd been apart.

Especially one Pogue, with golden hair and bright ocean eyes. With the most amazing smile and the most calming voice. The Pogue she loved just that tiny bit more than all the others.

Thoughts of Tyler filled her mind the closer they got to that pin.

Her heart felt fuller by the second.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"You get beat so bad you flinch even when someone's trying to help!" Cleo chastised all the Pogues as they looked down at the text from a random number on their screen: Meet @ pin, 6:15. P4L. "P4L! It's Kiara and Elora, man! No way they sent that as bait, they'd have to kill them."

Tyler looked up at her, his heart beating fast in his chest. "You think so?"

"Of course!" Cleo grinned. "We gotta help her! Come on, man!"

And jesus christ did Tyler hope this was real.

Living without Elora this past day had been more than torture, and all he wanted to do was see her again.

Everything within him was telling him not to get his hopes up, just in case it wasn't her.

Except his heart.

The heart that beat and bled only for her. The heart she'd stolen easily, because he'd wanted her to. The heart that loved her wholly and fully, determined to heal her from her past.

The heart that would do anything to find her, whatever it took.

"Okay then," he said, smile crossing his face. "Let's go."

𔓘𔓘𔓘

It had happened twice now.

They'd been at the pin for about ten minutes now, and it was nearing six fifteen. Elora was filled with adrenaline and anticipation at the thought of seeing her Pogues again, which is why she had thought it was just her imagination.

But twice now, she'd caught sight of a whip of red hair round the corner, and once she'd sworn she heard her name being shouted.

She was worried about it being Singh's men, back to take her away, but she also couldn't help but wonder if it was something else.

(Her mother).

Her mind was telling her no, that she was crazy, that it wasn't possible. Her mother had gone missing well over a month ago now, just before the hunt for gold had started, and she wasn't coming back.

And she didn't want her to come back.

Yet something within her was just telling her to get off the catamaran and go and see if her suspicion was true.

She knew it was stupid, because she was about five minutes away from reuniting with the Pogues, and there was no time for that, but she also needed to know.

"Hey, Kie?" She asked, looking sideways at the girl. They were currently on the side of the catty, hiding but also keeping a lookout incase they arrived early.

"Yeah?" Kiara asked.

Elora sighed. "Would you think I was crazy if I... if I got off the boat and went for a little look at something?"

Kiara turned to her. "Yes," she chuckled slightly. "But I suppose it would depend on your reasoning."

Elora shook her head. "Let's just say I keep seeing something- something crazy. And I just wanna check if it's there or not."

Kie sighed, biting her lip. "Okay then," she said with a small smile. "Go. I can tell how much you want to. I'll tell the Pogues where you are if they show up before you, but please hurry cause we need to get the hell outta here soon."

"I will," Elora nodded, getting up. "I promise."

She didn't know how to feel as she jumped down off the boat. She didn't particularly want to see her mother, and she didn't particularly think that this was her, but she had to know for sure.

She'd first seen the flash of red hair down a small alley, which is where she was heading up now.

The wind whipped her hair and her bare shoulders, as she was still in those stupid lilac pyjamas, but she ignored it. The alley was kind of dark, but it wasn't pitch black.

"Mom?" She whispered, almost vulnerably, because she was unsure of whether she was in here or not, and she was scared and she didn't know what the fuck she was gonna say if she found her, but she just needed to know.

As she walked on, she couldn't help but remember something about her mom. It wasn't a nice memory, particularly, but she remembered it.

It was from when she was maybe thirteen or fourteen, and she'd been out all night at a party with the Pogues. She'd returned home drunk, a little crossfaded and not at all in the mood for an argument.

She'd gotten one, though. From her mother, who was actually alone in the house for once, absolutely speechless at the state of her.

"You're a hypocrite," Elora had told her, her speechless slurred slightly. "You're always out, always with a new man, getting drunk with someone and bringing him back here-"

"Don't you dare take that tone with me!" Elizabeth had screeched at her. "You're a child, Ellie, and you'd do well to remember it-"

"Don't call me that," Elora had rebutted. "Y-you don't deserve to call me that."

Her mother had scoffed slightly, shaking her head. "You know, you're damn well lucky I didn't decide to throw you out when your father died," she had snarled.

"Died?!" Elora had yelled. "He was fucking murdered! By YOU-"

"SHUT UP!" Elizabeth had screamed, right up in her face. "GET OUT! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU IN THIS HOUSE AGAIN!"

And she had got out. She had slept at the Chateau for a week after that. And when she'd finally gone back to her own house, she hadn't even got an apology.

She'd only got a small scoff, and a wry smile. "You know, I knew you'd come back. I couldn't get rid of you if I tried, could I?"

She hadn't replied to that.

But right now, as she walked through the streets of Barbados, looking for a sight of that flaming red hair again, she couldn't help but think of it.

Her mother had gotten rid of her.

And she didn't have to try very hard.

But then, she'd also said something else.

"I knew you'd come back."

Was that what was happening right now?

Was she just being obedient again? Following her mother blindly, coming back to her like a mindless lapdog.

And she didn't want to ever be that.

But then it happened again.

A flash of red hair in the distance.

Her eyes widening as she spotted it.

And then-

"Mom?"

She was off again.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Where's Elle?"

Kie's reunion with JJ had been beautiful, and so had her hug with the Pogues.

But with no sight of that red hair or those blue eyes, Tyler had to ask.

"Yeah, where's Elle? Did you and her get split up?" Sarah asked with an edge of fear.

"No, I- we were here and waiting for you guys and she- she went to go check something out," Kie explained.

"And you let her?" Pope demanded.

"Yeah, I- she was gonna go either way," Kie shook her head. "I promise you guys, she's gonna come back."

John B smiled slightly. "She aways does."

They all nodded, the brunette gesturing up at the catamaran. "Well... this is us."

"Are you serious?" Sarah gasped.

"Yeah," Kie nodded. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you, come on."

They all hopped aboard the catty, unable to contain their buzzing excitement to have Kie back, yet their anxiety at Elora being away.

Kie wasn't going to tell them everything just yet, because she knew she didn't wanna relive it, but she did tell them one thing.

"You're never gonna guess what Singh wanted from us," she divulged, the whole group sitting along the edge. "Denmark's diary."

"What?" JJ frowned.

"I know," Kie nodded. "Said it leads to a treasure even bigger than the Merchant. He- he only gave us a day. Elle was halfway through telling him about it when you guys texted."

Tyler sighed, shaking his head slightly at the mention of Elora again. She whole group sort of stilled as well, all looking off into the distance. Their faces all went straight, smiles vanishing.

"She'll be coming," Sarah murmured to Tyler, putting a hand on his shoulder.

The blonde boy turned, shaking his head. "What if he got her again?"

Sarah bit her lip, looking back at him. "They won't have. I promise."

Tyler didn't reply, just looking out across the water, sombre expression on his face as the church bells sounded from up on the hill.

"Well, this isn't a very happy welcoming party, is it?"

He froze.

He completely paralysed, not even daring to turn round.

The rest of the Pogues were gasping, and exclaiming in joy as they began to stand up, but he was just stuck there.

Until he finally looked.

She was there. Her and her red hair, and her breathtaking blue eyes and the prettiest smile she'd ever seen. Her and her witty tone and her satin pyjamas and her golden skin.

Just her.

"Elora!"

And as the other Pogues ran at her and embraced her, causing tears to well in her eyes and a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding in to be exhaled, he just stood back for a second.

Stood back and watched her in all her glory, reuniting with her best friends, her family. The girl of his dreams with the six people he knew she couldn't live without.

As for Elora, well, her search had come to nought. She was glad of it, really and had told herself she would never ever search for her mother again. If she wanted her, she'd have to come.

As soon as she'd seen the Pogues sitting side by side on the catty, her body had relaxed. The sight of them all made her relieved beyond belief, but the sight of one specific one, with blue eyes and blonde hair and the best fucking face she'd ever seen in her life, made her melt.

And they were all just sitting there, dejected. As if something was properly bothering them.

"Well, this isn't a very happy welcoming party, is it?"

She'd meant it as a joke, really. She hadn't expected the reaction it got.

"Elora!"

"Oh my god-"

"Elle-"

"I'm so glad you're here!"

Next thing she knew she was wrapped up in a huge group hug, all her friends crowding in around her. She wasn't sure whose arms were where or whose voices were who's but she didn't give a shit.

After all she'd been through the past few days, she'd be damned if she didn't just enjoy being in her favourite people in the world's arms. Tears started to come to her eyes as she held them tight, fearing they'd slip away if she let go.

But as the hug came to an end she did let them go, and they all parted, clearing way for the one Pogue who hadn't been a part of it.

The one Pogue she needed near her more than ever.

Tyler.

He was stood only about five metres away, still on the catamaran that the others had abandoned to get to her. He was looking at her with a small smile on his face, his eyes dancing with love and awe and disbelief. Elora just stared straight back at him, more tears building up.

And then without another word he was striding towards her, and she was running towards him. They met in the middle about a metre off the dock, bodies slamming into each other's as the Pogues cleared out and gave them some space.

Elora gasped as they made contact, her breathing shaky as she held on tighter, and tighter, squeezing her eyes shut as she tucked her chin into the crook of his neck.

She fit perfectly in his arms, just like she had always done. Her body and his just went together like jigsaw pieces. He held her there tight, his arms wrapped around her, needing to feel her body against his, to feel that she was here and she wasn't leaving.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into him, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm so so sorry, Ty."

"Hey," Tyler shook his head, pulling back from their hug to look at her. He marveled at how, even after being on a deserted island for a month and then being fucking kidnapped, she could still be the most beautiful person he's ever seen. "Don't apologise. You're here now, okay? You're safe."

He pulled her back in again and she melted into him once more, exhaling her fear and doubt and adrenaline, and just taking in the miracle that was him, right here.

"I didn't think I'd ever see you again," Elle whispered, shaking her head as she furiously blinked her tears back. "I thought that was the end."

Tyler shook his head, pressing her futher into him. "It was never the end, Elle. We weren't gonna stop trying to get you and Kie back."

Elora exhaled a shaky breath, wanting to say more. She wanted to tell him that she loved him one more time, to kiss him, to look into his eyes and show him that he was everything she wanted and more.

But she just kept on holding him, not wanting to let go.

She did eventually, though. She let go and pulled back, and he did the same, loosening his grip so she could lean back.

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" He asked, his eyes scanning her again. He'd checked her over the moment he saw her, seeing small blemishes on her arms that were most likely from rough handling but nothing else. Still, his blood boiled to know that she'd been hurt, and he couldn't do anything to protect her.

"No, no, I'm fine," Elle said, looking up into those blue orbs, trying to reassure him. She knew that sooner or later the dam would break, and she'd be forced to confront the physical and mental trauma she'd been put through, but that time wasn't now. They needed to get out of here. "I'm just- I just really thought it was the end."

Her eyes filled with tears again, and he shook his head, his gentle hands coming up to cup her face, wiping her tears away.

"I love you," he whispered. "I'd never leave you, and neither would the others."

She smiled up at him, shaking her head slightly as she marvelled at what the fuck she did in her miserable existence to deserve someone like him. "I love you too."

And their lips didn't meet, on that dock.

Because the love pulsing between them was more than enough.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"So Kie said Singh was looking for Denmark's diary?" Tyler asked her on board the catty as they filled it up with fuel.

"Yup," Elora nodded. "Said it led to the lost city of El Dorado. City of gold, apparently."

"Jesus, that's strange," said Tyler.

"Yeah, we thought so," Elora nodded. "So did Rafe."

Shit.

She should've known Kie wouldn't mention Rafe when talking about what happened.

Should've fucking known. Because with the look on Tyler's face right now, the clenched jaw, the tight fists, the dark eyes... he hadn't known.

"Rafe?" He asked, his voice containing barely concealed anger and contempt.

"Yeah," Elora nodded, biting her lip. "He was trapped at Singh's as well."

"Right," Tyler nodded, clearly angry yet trying to hide it. Then, out of nowhere, he demanded. "Did he hurt you?"

"No," Elora said instantly, shaking her head. "No, he was- he was a pain in the arse, as always, but... he was more focused on getting out of there than on me."

Tyler looked at her meaningfully nodding slightly. "Okay."

He could tell that she wasn't telling him the full truth. He knew that when she said she was okay she wasn't actually, but somehow, he didn't have it within him to push her because he knew she was going through it.

"What-? John B!"

It wasn't until John B sprinted past them and down off the boat that he realised there were bigger issues.

"John B, what are you doing?!" Pope shouted after him as he began running down to dock.

"I'll be right back!" He yelled behind him.

"John B!" Tyler shouted.

"I'll be right back!"

"What?!"

"John B, come back!"

"I love you, Sarah!"

And Elora didn't know where he was going, as he ran round the corner and away, but she just begged that whatever he found there was what he wanted.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

"Come on!" John begged as he banged on the bell, Elizabeth stood next to him with an equally desperate expression.

She could've sworn she'd seen her daughter earlier. A familiar flash of red hair. A glimpse of those blue eyes she'd recognise anywhere.

But then she was gone, as quick as she'd come.

So now, as she stood up in the bell tower, her expression unreadable as she watched John go at the bell again and again, she couldn't help but wonder if her daughter would ever come back to her.

She didn't know if she even wanted her, but she did know that she wanted to see her again.

And maybe then, she'd be able to work that out.

𔓘𔓘𔓘

JB had been gone for about ten minutes, and the Pogues were still hanging about on the boat, all gathered at the top of it.

"I can't believe he just took off," Pope shook his head.

Sarah wasn't speaking, instead looking out into the distance, presumably waiting for her boyfriend (husband?) to get back.

She had told them one thing, though. The reason he had gone was because he was hoping you find his father. Apparently, the church bells were ringing in the exact same way he used to ring them, and he needed to go look. Clearly, Elora wasn't the only one needing to find a parent today.

But she also knew that he probably wouldn't find him. Big John was dead. Ward Cameron had killed him a year ago (whilst her mother stood alongside).

But she didn't want to think about that. So, in the meantime, the redhead was honing her gaze on something very, very different. Black trucks and men in those uniforms, rushing across the bridge. Her eyes widened as she recognised them, panic shooting through her body.

"Guys, incoming!" She shouted.

Everyone turned and looked in the direction she was, Cleo exclaiming. "That's Singh's men!"

"Where's John B?" Pope demanded loudly.

"I don't know, he said he'd be back by now!" Sarah burst out.

"Well, he's not!" Tyler replied. "JJ, what are we going to do?"

"We gotta make a stand. That's what we gotta go, that's the only option," JJ replied, getting the gun out his back pocket and cocking it.

"What?!" Kie yelled.

"Kiara, we are not splitting up again!" JJ raised his voice.

"Guys, you didn't see what we saw! He fucking murderer Portis without a second thought!" Elora shrieked. "We can't stay here!"

"We can't split up, either!" Tyler shouted.

"Yeah, we're not leaving John B!" JJ screamed.

"No Pogue left behind!" Pope added.

"What are you gonna do-?"

"Guys, they're here!" Elora shouted in fear as she saw them, running down to the dock, trucks and more men following them. "If we stay here-"

"But we can't leave John B-"

"Damn it!" Sarah cursed, interrupting them all and just going for it. She ran up to the controls, starting the engine of the catamaran and beginning to drive them away.

"JOHN B! We need John B!" JJ was yelling as Pope tried to restrain him.

"We'll find John B later!" Kie shouted in an attempt to restrain him as they sailed out.

So by the time Singh's men got down to the dock, the boat was halfway out the dock. They lined up, guns pointing directly at all of them

"We can't just leave him like tha-"

"JJ, get down!" Kie screamed as they began to fire, shoving the boy down as they all tried to avoid the guns, Sarah pressing down on the lever to get them out more and more.

Adrenaline was rushing through her as they got out of range, watching JJ punch the boat's surface, and Sarah shake her head.

"Shit!" Kie cursed, running her fingers through her hair, as they all cast their gaze back towards the dock, where they'd just left JB stranded.

"I'm sorry, John B," Sarah whispered as they sailed further and further away.

Elora came to join her, putting an arm around her and squeezing tightly. "We all are."

Up in the church, the bells continued to ring.

And John and Elizabeth continued to hope.