chapter 28.
happy anniversary.

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"Walk me through it one more time." max sits in the backseat of the twinkie while john b and jj ride up front. she leans forward to peak at the map spread across the blondes lap.

"okay, right there." john b points at the map, "that's where they're taking them. that's the site of the idol."

max cocks an eyebrow. "you pointed to just south america, you understand that right?"

john b swallows, nodding slowly. "yep."

"that's all you know?" jj asks in disbelief, "just that they're somewhere in south america?"

max scoffs, flopping back against the seats. "you've gotta be kiddin' me."

"listen, that's why we're going to the professors house, all right?" john b stresses, "look. he was at the site."

"okay." jj nods with a shrug, "so happy we have the map, then."

"wait—woah, woah!" maxine realizes something, shooting upright, "we're goin' to a house right now with a dead body in it, that's where we're goin'?"

john b nods. "yeah."

"and if the cops show up, you know what that makes us look like?"

"yes." john b nods once again.

"okay." now it's max's turn to nod as she sits back, "glad we're on the same page."

"can we make it quick, though?" jj asks his friend as the van comes to a stop, "just in and out."

the trio hops out of the twinkie, rushing towards the professors house.

john b pushes open the door, wincing as it creaks. maxine slips inside next, followed by jj who closes the front door behind him.

john b pauses at a sudden discovery, "his bodies gone. sowell was right here." he points underneath the kitchen table.

"and sowell was the..."

"the professor." john b answers jj.

"right. no, i know what happened." the blonde continues, "they've already been here, john b. they sent in the sweepers and now they've  decontaminated this entire room so there's probably nothing left. we should get out."

john b only further explores the house. "maybe there's something."

"okay, what are we looking for then?"

john b shrugs. "anything that has to do with an archaeological dig."

maxine scoffs. "wow, thanks, john b. that really narrows it down."

"anything. alrighty." jj mutters, walking around the small room. "fricking anything."

"don't leave your fingerprints, guys!" maxine hisses as she notices jj touching everything in sight. "this is a live crime scene!"

"yeah, you know, actually..." jj uses his t shirt to wipe down a globe he had touched before standing straight, slowly backing out of the room. "i'm just gonna look in the kitchen, all right? no one ever checks the fridge."

"yeah, go for that." john b agrees distractedly, thumbing through sowells belongings. "we were right here." he mutters. "dad, sowell, the idol." the teen suddenly whispers, "temalacatl."

maxine scrunches her face, "tema-what now?"

john b ignores the teen, instead leaning down and retrieving a sketch from under a cupboard. "jj." he slowly rises to his feet, clutching the piece of paper in one hand. "jj!"

maxine follows after him into the kitchen where they find jj half inside the refrigerator, stuffing his face with a turkey breast. "so we're stealin' a dead guys food now?"

"you know what? i feel very judged right now." the blonde says between bites. "there's an entire bird in here that'll just go to waste, okay? i'm not gonna let that happen. it's not like i'm stealing it."

"oh, it's not?" max cocks an eyebrow.

"no one else is gonna eat it." jj continues, "so i was like, 'i'll take the nutrients that this beautiful bird gives me and fill the tank,' all right? i haven't been able to eat anything—"

while his friend continues his turkey rant, john b pulls an image from the fridges door. "guys, hey."

"you find somethin'?" max asks, moving back towards john b.

"local expedition team departs for south america." the teen reads off.

jj peers over maxine to follow along with the picture. "and one of these guys is sowell?"

"right there." john b points to the picture. "holy shit."

"what?"

"neville."

"what the hell is a neville?" max quips.

"neville." john b repeats, "the last thing sowell said before he died was 'neville.'"

"neville, meaning..." jj trails off.

"right there." john b points to a man in the picture, his name typed above in fine print.

"neville persaud," max reads, "expedition guide." her eyes go wide is realization, mouth dropping open.

"so sowell said 'five people on the expedition,' right?" john b pieces together, "three of those people died, which leaves us with two."

"sowell."

john b nods in confirmation.

"neville." maxine gasps, "he's the last one alive."

"yeah." john b agrees, "i think sowell was telling me to warn me."

jj sticks up a finger, "we need to find neville."

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"Okay, let me get this straight." max climbs out of the twinkie after the boys, "so, because you know a guy with the same last name as neville, you think they've gotta be related. that's your master plan?"

"right." jj nods, "how many people do you know with the last name persaud? i met a guy here last summer with my cousin cause we were doing the growing business...last name, persaud." he stops in his tracks, "or wait. was it percett?"

"no, no, no." john b wheels around, placing a hand on the blondes shoulder. "you think or you know? cause this is my dads life you're talking about."

"no, i know." jj leans forward, both hands on john b's shoulders, "alright, i know it's persaud. trust me. it's cool."

they approach a few men behind a vegetable stand, jj greeting the one in front. "hey, mr. p, right?"

the man lights up at the sight of jj, "hey!"

"whats going on, man?" he leans in for a fist bump, "hey, so we're looking for...we're looking for neville. is he still here?"

mr. p shakes his head, "nah, nah. he's out there." he points into the woods, "been holding up near doe creek."

"doe creek?"

"in his houseboat way, way back."

jj looks over at john b and maxine, who shrug. the three teens thank the man for his help and begin the trek deep into the woods.

"why'd you ever doubt me, dude?"

"no, it's just the idea was a little far-fetched is all i'm saying." john b reasons.

the trio reaches the edge of the woods, coming across doe creek. "alright, so we're lookin' for a houseboat." maxine scans the water, eyes landing upon a promising structure. "that looks like a houseboat."

"well, you think he's there?" jj asks.

john b exhales. "i don't know. i mean—"

"only one way to find out." jj shrugs, interrupting the other boy by cupping both hands around his mouth and loudly shouting, "neville! hey! nev-"

"stop it!" john b hisses, slapping his friends hands down.

"dude, what?" jj snaps.

max makes a face, "what do you mean, what?"

"yeah, he thinks people are trying to kill him." john b adds on, "he's probably packing."

"ah, okay. it's a death trap." jj understands.

"yeah, but unfortunately we don't have a choice." john b stares off at the houseboat, "he's the only guy alive who knows where my dad is."

"and my shit-bag mother." maxine groans with a roll of her eyes. she leads the boys into the creek and the trio carefully swims over to the presumed houseboat, keeping an eye out for any gators. max did not need a repeat of last time.

once they reach the boat, john b is first to climb aboard; jj and max slowly following behind.

the younger girl winces as jj loudly splashes about climbing up the boats ladder. "would you keep it down?"

john b slowly reaches a hand to feel the top of neville's stove, "the stoves warm. he's still here."

"maybe he split when he heard us coming."

"us?" max furrows her eyebrows at the blonde, "you mean heard you?"

"devils!" a voice cries out, suddenly coming around the corner and swinging a sharp machete toward the teens.

max jumps backwards with a screech. "what the fuck?" neville lunges for jj and john b uses one hand to swipe maxine behind him, shielding her from the man with the weapon.

"sir! listen!" john b tries, "we just wanna talk!" neville apparently is not in the mood to talk, as he changes course by elbowing jj in the nose and lunging for john b. the teen grabs the man's arm, who holds the machete just inches from his face.

"john b, trip line! trip line!" max calls, sticking her converse-clad feet out. john b gets the hint and shoves neville away from him, sending the man flying backwards and onto the ground as he trips over maxine.

however, somehow john b ends up getting dragged down with neville, who climbs on top of the teen and raises his weapon. "no, no, no!"

"hey! let him go!" max shouts desperately.

jj wraps his arms around neville's neck in an attempt to wrestle the machete from him.

"stop, stop!" john b pleads, "we know professor sowell."

neville doesn't let up as he growls, "who gave you that name?"

"let it go, man!" jj grunts, still holding neville in a headlock.

"listen to me, we're friends, okay?" john b tries. "you were in orinoco last year, with five other people! right?"

neville pauses, "how did you know that?"

"let go." john b answers, "let go."

"let it go!" maxine shouts from her spot in the doorway. "get off of him!"

"let it go!" jj repeats, finally pulling the machete from neville's grasp. he climbs off the man and shoves him up against the wall, machete to his throat. "we're all on the same team, home dog. okay?"

max scoffs. "how's he gonna believe that while you've got a sword pressed to his neck?"

john b slowly lowers jj's hand away from neville. "put it down."

as soon as the machete clatters to the floor, neville lets out a breath. "jesus."

"look, we were just with sowell yesterday." john b cuts straight to the point. "he didn't make it."

neville falters. "he's dead?"

"yeah." john b nods solemnly, "i'm sorry."

neville slowly pushes himself off the wall, breathing heavily. "i'm the last one left."

"yeah." max enters further into the houseboat, "that's we had to get to you before they did, but if we found you, they can too."

john b removes the professors sketch from his pocket, unfolding it. "we just have a few questions." he lays the paper flat on the table, "solana. you've been there, yeah?"

"that is a place of evil."

"okay." john b does not seem fazed as he points to a specific part of the drawing. "see that stone piece right there? me and my dad found the thingy that goes in the center."

"the gnomon?"

max cocks her head, "the gnome man? what's a gnome man?"

"the gnomon." john b corrects, turning to the younger girl. "i got it, i got it."

he turns back to neville, leaning in closely. "listen to me. there's some bad men who have taken my father," john b points to maxine, "and her mother to this place, and they're gonna kill them. so i need your help to find this place."

neville immediately shakes his head, turning away. "no, no, no."

"no?"

"the curse has already done enough." neville turns to face the teens.

"curse?" max holds up both hands, "yeah, i'm out."

"no, no." john b rushes, desperate to find his father, "look, it's not a curse, okay? i understand it's dangerous, but we need your help!"

maxine widens her eyes as she hears an engine not far off. "uh, john b?" when he only waves her off, max yanks on t-shirt. "john b!"

"what?" the teen spins around, "what is going on?"

"shut up!" max winces at the boys loud voice. "shut up, shut up!" she smacks a hand against his mouth when he continues asking questions, holding a finger to her own.

the other boats whirring gets closer. jj slowly turns to the houseboats owner, "hey neville, how much traffic do you get on this river?"

"nothing."

a man from outside suddenly calls out, "neville! neville persaud!" a gun is heard being cocked, and mere seconds later a shot is fired straight into the houseboat.

"oh, shit!" maxine shouts. neville and john b immediately get down; jj practically tackles max to the floor.

another shot blows right through the window, causing jj to curse. "jesus!"

shot after shot continues to be fired until neville sits up in a hurry, "get the anchor! go!"

seeing the boys get to their feet, max begins to follow after them. john b grabs her wrist, shoving her back in the direction of neville. "no. stay here, we'll be right back."

maxine's eyes widen. "absolutely not! you're gonna get killed!"

"no, we won't. we'll be fine, okay?" john b lays a hand on the terrified girls shoulder, "stay here and hide."

max watches as jj snatches the machete up from the floor and slowly sneaks outside with john b. she takes a deep breath before running off into the back room of the houseboat with neville, stuffing herself into a small linen closet. she hears singhs men enter the boat and wills herself to stop breathing, which almost works until she hears a familiar grunt as john b fights off one of the men. max squeezes her eyes shut tightly, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

her brown eyes shoot right back open as she hears neville come out of his hiding spot, slamming into the leader, ryan, with what she can only assume is a frying pan by the noise it makes while it comes in contact with the enemy. there's a struggle and a gunshot, and maxine crosses her fingers that it missed two of the most important people in her life.

there's sounds of another struggle and a gun cocking, and max flinches as she hears the boats motor start up just as a loud splash is made from someone falling into the water.

"cut the line! cut the line!"

"this isn't over!"

"go, go! you gotta go, you gotta go!"

"i'm going, i'm going!"

"where's max, get max!"

footsteps hurriedly rush into the back room and the door to the linen closet is yanked open, revealing a panting jj. max lets out a giant breath of relief as she accepts his outstretched hand, pulling her to her feet. "good job not gettin' hit in the head with a machete this time."

jj smirks. "good job not gettin' chucked to the ground this time." he retorts, recalling when ward cameron knocked the younger teen out on the coastal venture for trying to rescue sarah.

they join john b and neville up front, where the latter asks, "are they coming?"

"no, we're good." jj checks through the window.

"you owe me an anchor."

the blonde boy shrugs. "you're welcome!"

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"Look, neville — they're taking our parents there." john b continues trying to convince neville to help them find big john and veronica. "you're the only person who knows where it is. neville, they are going to kill them unless you help us."

after a brief pause, neville speaks. "they going after the gold?"

max rolls her eyes. "uh, yeah. what else would they go after?"

"then they'll die anyway." neville admits, "unless they can pass the test, which they won't if they can't translate the idol. you know the story."

now it's jj's turn to roll his eyes, "no."

"el dorado was found by a guajiro king." neville enlightens. "when it came time for him to slip his mortal coil and meet my greats on the astral plane, he wasn't just going to give the gold to his sons. it was the source of his power—it had to go to the wisest man, and to even sure this actually happened, he set up the test of the gnomon."

"the wisest man?" max snickers. "sorry j, you're outta this one."

jj sets his jaw, yanking harshly on one of the teens knotted braids, eliciting a squeal, "fuck!"

the blonde continues on as though nothing had occurred, "so there's some test now. okay."

john b shakes his head with frustration. "there's always a test."

"whoever passes the test gains access to the gold." neville continues, "you fail the test, you die. if you somehow get to the gold without taking the test, then you die."

"great." jj sighs, "he's lying, right? cause there's no way that actually can happen, right?"

"tell that to the crew of the san jose and the royal merchant."

"we don't want the gold, neville."

maxine and jj make eye contact. "well..."

"we just wanna save our parents." john b finishes.

max lets out a giggle. "speak for yourself, jb."

"okay...just wanna save my dad."

"take the wheel." neville orders jj.

the blonde responds with a "yes, sir," as he switches with neville.

max leans over john b's shoulder as the older man sketches a map on a piece of paper. "you must go to the port of tres orcas. from there, find ferry passage from a river guide called jose. he will take you up the orinoco to el tesoro. it is there. in the bush, you will find a site."

"guess we back in the g-game?" jj speaks up.

neville turns to the blonde, "make yourself pure of heart, pure of mind." he faces john b and maxine once again, "you are there to save your parents. the gold kills everyone."

"all right." jj quips.

neville moves back to the wheel, "move over."

"yes sir."

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"Here's the game plan." john b pulls up to the dock outside the wreck, where mr and mrs carrera were hosting their anniversary party out in the yard. "get the girls, go find pope and cleo, get down to south america as soon as possible." he lists, tying off the hms pogue. "cool?"

"seems a bit vague, i gotta say, john b." jj admits, "also, i don't got a passport, dog."

"yeah, me neither." max raises a hand, "and i highly doubt you do, jb."

"okay, look. don't bore me with the details, all right? well figure that out later." john b whistles, reeling his friends back in as he notices them getting distracted by the party up on land, "hey, look at me. gonna get sarah, gonna get kie, little rendezvous mission, all right? get them back on the boat, get out of here."

"look, the other day, mike and i kinda got into a little bit of a tiff, all right?" jj admits to max and john b, "and if i go over there right now and mike sees me, he's not gonna lets kiara out of his sight. boom. mission blown, we can't go down to south america."

john b cuts the blonde rambling off by taking his head into his hands, "okay, look. just don't get seen."

"you're right." jj claps the other boys arm and turns back into the boat, "i'll stay here with max."

"with max?" maxine groans, "i thought by now you guys would let me actually do stuff. you know, since we were stranded on an island for a month."

john b ignores the girl, speaking to jj, "no, that's not what i was saying."

"i'll stay right here. i got your six, i'll keep her running."

"no...that's great, okay." john b sighs. "sit alone in the boat while i do all the work."

"he's not sittin' alone," max grins up at jj, "lucky for you, you've got me!"

the blonde does not seem comforted by this fact. "yeah, lucky me."

if maxine detects this sarcasm she doesn't show it as the two sit back in the boat, watching as john b slowly heads up the dock and further into the party.

but of course, seeing as she was not known for her patience, maxine does not last very long on the sidelines before she stands up with a sigh and begins climbing from the boat.

"yo, pigtails. what are you doing?" jj hisses, clambering after the girl.

"gettin' kie." max shrugs, starting down the dock.

jj looks around hesitantly before giving in with a shake of the head. "shit." he follows after her, careful to keep an eye out for the carreras.

once at the end of the docks, the teens crouch behind a small wooden fence, peering through its slats.

kiara spots maxine first, "max?"

the younger girl pokes her head back above the fence, rolling her eyes when she notices jj practically trying to become one with the fence. she grabs the top of his hair, yanking his head upright.

"jj." kie greets, "i saw john b, figured you two wouldn't be far."

the blonde boy slowly rises to his feet beside max, "just, uh, thought i should keep my distance." he points in the direction of kiara's parents, "didn't really wanna spoil the party, if you know what i'm saying."

"we were wondering where you guys ran off too." kie turns to max, "you okay?"

the younger girl shrugs. "no."

"look, long story short, we're mounting a full search and rescue mission right now because big john and veronica got nabbed." jj enlightens, "like, actually nabbed."

"what do you mean, 'got nabbed'?" kiara nervously looks between the two.

"snatched, kidnapped, abducted, that kinda thing." max explains, "to south america, by singh."

"yeah. so, we have to get down there as soon as we can." jj adds.

"south america?" kie confirms, "right now?"

"right."

"yeah, i know it's a long shot, but we're making a plan right now." jj chimes in.

kie takes a step back. "i mean, you come in here after stealing from my dad like 'hey we're all good, let's go to south america.'"

"so is that a no?" the blonde asks, "you're just gonna ghost us?"

"yeah, just cause jj fucked up doesn't mean you gotta screw the rest of us over." max scoffs, crossing her arms.

kiara ignores the girl, instead stepping closer to jj. "jayj, i've been wanting to talk since we got off the island. we need to talk. it's all i can think about. i just can't do any of that right now." she glances over her shoulder to make sure her parents are nowhere nearby.

"okay, so, you're saying that you don't wanna be a part of the plan when big john and veronica are up for execution right now." jj baffles, "okay, cool."

"i can't!" kie defends.

"that's a no. cool, all right. that's all we needed to know." jj turns away, beginning to walk off. "max, c'mon. she's not coming." he pauses, turning back on his heels. "it's just that—actually, one last thing. when you see mike, could you let him know that i don't feel bad about the money clip, okay? just let him know. i actually needed it, so, thank him for me, actually. appreciate that. thank you." he winks, going to walk away again.

maxine stays rooted in place, unsure with what to do next. of course jj was being a bit obscene, but max would be lying big time if she said she had never stolen anything.

"what is wrong with you?" kie calls out, stopping jj in his tracks once again. "you're really acting like you don't care? i mean, seriously. you're acting like i don't care. like, i love you, dude."

max gasps, a hand flying to her mouth dramatically as jj cocks his head in confusion. "what? kie, i mean, thanks?" he splutters, "okay, great-no, look." he steps back toward the fence, leaning forward. "it's not gonna work, okay? i'm gonna go help my best friend save his father." jj gestures to max, "and my worst friend save her mother."

maxine rolls her eyes, waving a hand. "woah, okay. standin' right here."

"maybe i'll see you at the break when we get back." jj finalizes, walking off towards the hms pogue.

"yeah, maybe."

as much as max wanted to stay with kie, she also really wanted to go to south america; not for her mom, of course—for the adventure and near death experiences that came with being a pogue. the teen offers an awkward smile as she joins jj, adding an unhelpful, "if we get back."

they find an angry john b on the way down the dock. noticing the look on the boys face, max asks, "what happened, jb?"

"what happened?" the teen scoffs, "she cheated. that's what happened. after everything i've been going through, she's off hooking up with topper? i mean, what the hell?"

"sarah cheated on you?" max is baffled, "with topper?"

"yes, max. with topper."

"bro, we've been looking all over for you, all right?" jj chimes in, "and the clocks ticking. let's just go. we don't need them." he leans down to undo the boats rope, noticing john b angrily staring off towards sarah and topper. "yo, let's get out of here."

"john b, what are you doing?" max lays a tentative hand on the older boys shoulder, "don't even think about it, dude."

jj looks up, noticing john b taking slow steps forward while keeping his eyes trained on topper. "john b, get in the boat!"

of course, john b does not listen; since when has he ever?

jj and max jog to catch up to their friend, reaching the party just as sarah grabs john b's shoulders and whirls him towards her in an attempt to talk him off the ledge.

they're just far enough away where maxine couldn't make out what topper says to john b, but by the way their friend promptly turns away and hauls his fist straight into the kooks nose, she guesses it isn't good.

"john b!"

"stop, john b!" a teary eyed sarah pleads.

maxine rushes to stand beside sarah and kiara, "john b."

the boy doesn't listen, instead straddling over topper and rearing back his fist once again. "you ready for this?"

"stop!" sarah gasps. "what are you doing? no!"

john b repeatedly punches topper in the face, the other boy not even fighting back. maxine shrieks, calling out for their other friend. "jj! jj!"

the blonde comes peeling around the corner from where he had been standing by the dock, "john b! cut it out, man!"

sarah begins shouting for kiara's father, "mr. carrera!"

mike looks up at the commotion, "hey! hey, hey!" he sprints over, prying john b off of topper. "get out of here!" he sets the teen down, harshly shopping him away, "get out of here!"

"is that what you want, mike?" john b retorts, making as though he is going to retaliate when jj rushes over, shoving his way in between the two.

"get off of him!"

"that's what i'm talking about!" mr. carrera shouts, "both of you get out of here!"

maxine looks conflicted on who to follow, but ultimately makes her decision after hearing sarah's cries for dr. thornton and john bs mocking, "you happy, sarah?" as he is lead away by jj.

max moves to stand by kie just as a distraught sarah turns to the girls, "he wasn't even defending himself!"

they turn to watch dr. thornton plead with her son to keep still; max lays a gentle hand on sarah's shoulder, looking over her own to send a glare to a still retreating john b.