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❝ of course you did, nosey ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

I lay snuggled up with Kiara on the patio sofa, her head on my shoulder as she naps and I play with her hair while the boys reminisce loudly about the bonfire last night.

"That was epic" Pope declares with a laugh.

"Did you guys see Kelce's face?" John B counters.

"I hope he woke up in major pain" I snort.

"Bomb drop!" JJ hollers, jumping up onto the other beaten up sofa and it collapses beneath his weight.

"Another broken couch" John B groans.

"You gotta sleep there" Pope sasses the blonde boy.

"I always sleep there. Hey!" JJ retorts and I hear the door open then close "Well, hello, princess"

Kiara shifts next to me and I glance behind me to see Sarah stood at the door.

"What's up?" Kiara asks the awkward looking girl.

"You good, barbie?" I question my sister in concern.

"Shouldn't you be on Figure Eight with your little group of polo players?" John B asks sarcastically before grimacing mockingly "Or did you break up with Topper?"

"We're just friends" Sarah argues.

"He's just a friend" John B scoffs "You have a lot of friends, Sarah Cameron"

"Yeah, and it seems like you've got some of your own too" Sarah shoots back.

"All right, what are you doing here?" John B demands, sitting up.

"Lay off, Johnny" I warn him and he leans back in his seat with a scowl.

"I'm here for Pope" Sarah sighs, looking at the Heyward boy "I think I found the island room"

All five of us jump up in surprise and Sarah smiles widely, clearly very proud of herself.

"You found it?" I breathe out in disbelief.

"I think so" She nods.

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" John B speaks up and we all scramble to our feet, heading straight outside.

The six of us climb into the Twinkie and John B immediately starts up the engine, heading in the direction Sarah leads us in.

"Guys, listen to this" Pope speaks up, holding the copy of Denmark Tanny's diary "The diary says the cross holds the most holy relic in all of Christendom, the Garment of the Savior"

"So wait, he saying there's a holy garment inside the cross?" Kiara questions.

"Yeah. It says the garment is capable of healing the sick from any malady" Pope explains.

"Mmm, yeah. 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well'" JJ quotes and we all look at the blonde in surprise "What? I went to Sunday school"

"Sure" Kiara scoffs.

"You did? That's so wholesome" I coo, looking back at him from where I'm sat between his legs and he grins at me, pecking my lips.

"Well, that explains why Limbrey would want the cross so bad. She thinks it can heal her" Pope comments.

"What else does it say?" Kiara asks curiously.

"'Many feel that we have sinned to steal such a sacred thing, and God will strike His vengeance on us.'" Pope reads out to us.

"Thing is, God did have His vengeance" Kiara points out.

"He sent a hurricane to sink the ship" Pope elaborates in agreement "Only Denmark survived"

The chatter in the van dies down uncomfortably and I lean back against JJ's chest as he lays his chin on my shoulder.

"Did it get really awkward really fast or is it just me?" I speak up and everyone but JJ looks at me in disbelief "Okay, definitely just me"

We arrive at my house soon and we all jump out of the van, heading straight for the door. I swing the thing open and Sarah leads the way, taking us upstairs towards the room our father used for meetings.

"Whoo!" JJ shivers and I jump in surprise, throwing a glare at him "Sorry, angel"

"This place still freaks me out" John B admits as JJ slips his hand into mine, falling into step with me.

"Yeah, same" JJ agrees.

Sarah pulls open the door of the meeting room and we enter to see all the walls have been stripped of their wallpaper, showing off a very old looking map sketched across them.

"Pope, look" Sarah says and the Heyward boy gazes around the room in awe.

"Whoa! You've got to be kidding me" He breathes out in amazement.

"Yeah. I know, right? It's the island room" Sarah smiles.

"Incredible" Pope says, glancing back at my sister.

"It's been here this whole time" She hums.

"No freaking way" John B mutters out.

"This definitely means something" JJ states as we look around in awe.

"This is unreal" I gasp.

"Wow" Kiara mumbles.

"Jeez. This is incredible" John B comments "Yo, this is a map of the whole island"

"Yeah, John B, I think you're right because this is Rixon's right here" JJ points out on the wall near us "And then, there's the lighthouse"

"Guys, look, Parcel 9 and the well" Kiara adds.

"So, if that's Parcel 9, and then if that's Rixon's, then that's gotta be   the surf break at Mase" John B calculates from next to JJ and I.

"Right. And look" JJ pulls the diary's copy out his pocket "Pope, come here. This is Denmark's handwriting for sure"

"The drawings, they match up" Pope realises.

"Holy shit" John B says as I share an excited smile with the girls.

"Denmark, you genius!" Pope grins in pure joy "These are all his drawings.  He... he painted this entire room"

"Yeah, question is why. What's he trying to tell us?" Kiara asks.

"It's gotta have something to do with the key, right? Right?" JJ suggests.

"Yeah, but what?" Kiara counters.

"How did you know to uncover this?" John B questions Sarah.

"I didn't. It was like this when I got home" She answers.

"What?" JJ frowns skeptically.

"That cannot be good" I groan out in irritation as JJ wraps his arm around me "We can never catch a fucking break"

"Okay, then who did it?" Kiara then questions.

"I don't know" Sarah shrugs.

"The freaks" A young voice says and we all gasp in fright, jumping around to see Wheezie.

"Wheeze!" Sarah says in relief, walking up to our sister.

"You scared the crap outta me, you little shit" I scold her and she grins in amusement.

"What freaks are we talking about, Wheeze?" JJ questions my little sister.

"Uh... that sick lady and her attack dog" Wheezie describes Carla and Renfield "They... they showed up last night, and they wanted to talk to Rafe"

"Rafe?" I question in surprise and she nods at me.

"Okay" Pope nods.

"Wait. Pale blond lady?" JJ tries to confirm.

"She have crutches?" Kiara adds.

"Uh-huh" Wheezie nods again.

"It's gotta be Limbrey" JJ mutters to us.

"Yeah, and her guard dog Renfield" I add in agreement.

"Okay, what happened?" John B speaks up.

"First, they searched the whole house looking for something, and then Rafe told me to go upstairs. But I didn't wanna miss out, so I listened through the grate" Wheezie explains.

"Of course you did, nosey" I hum sarcastically and she shoots me a glare.

"Shut up, Sylvie. And they were talking about getting across the sand flamingo" My little sister continues.

"That's code for something" JJ immediately blurts out.

"What the fuck is a sand flamingo?" I ask incredulously, looking around at the Pogues for answers but I receive none.

"The cross. The Cross of Santo Domingo?" Pope questions and Wheezie nods enthusiastically.

"Yeah, that's it. Oh, and they were talking about angels" Wheezie adds "A lot of angel talk. I don't know"

"Angels?" John B frowns.

"My angel?" JJ asks, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"I highly doubt it, babe, but I appreciate your concern" I smile up at him, pressing a kiss to his nose.

"Guys, Denmark's famous last words. He buried the real treasure at the foot of the angel" Pope declares and John B points at him in agreement "They're looking for an angel. We have to find the angel in the room"

"I already found her" JJ grins at me in adoration and I grin, although the others aren't as pleased.

John B thumps JJ on the back of the head and the girls all give him looks that range from 'get it together, man' to 'you make me sick'.

"Sorry. I mean, start looking!" JJ orders.

"Spread out" Kiara adds on as we all start searching the room, scanning the drawings on the walls.

"There's a church over here" Sarah points out.

"Yeah, check the church" John B agrees,

"Looking for an angel" Pope reminds us.

"Could this be an angel?" JJ hums to himself.

"Maybe... maybe..." John B replies.

"What's... what's going on? Are you guys gonna tell me?" Wheezie asks us with a confused expression on her face.

"Maybe later, Wheeze" I hum, walking past her to follow JJ across the room.

"The lighthouse maybe?" I hear Pope suggest.

"Maybe it's heat-sensitive" Kiara counters.

"My brain hurts" I groan, leaning against JJ and he instinctively wraps his arm around me.

From the angle I'm stood in, my eye sight falls on a painting of a large tree and I wander over to it, JJ trailing beside me curiously.

"Whatcha looking at?" JJ hums.

"It's a pretty tree" I shrug, staring at it intently.

"Yeah, it's also still there" JJ murmurs before turning his head to the others "Hey, yo! Hey, guys, I think we found something"

"Come here" JJ beckons them all over and they gather around "This humongous tree is still on Goat Island. You know what it's called?"

"Angel Oak" Pope answers in awe and my eyes widen in surprise.

"Look there. There's the keyhole" JJ points out with his free hand.

"Wait" John B mutters.

"That means the cross is buried at the foot of the angel" Pope says directly to JJ who grins widely "Wow, that must be where he put it. That must be where they are right now! We have to go!"

"I think I'm Sherlock Holmes, all right? You're welcome by the way" JJ hollers as everyone rushes off.

"Yeah. Hurry up, Sherlock" John B retorts sarcastically.

"Come on, smartypants" I giggle, tugging him to chase after our friends.