Secret of the Gnomon: 2

Willow's POV

We finally reached El Tesoro after a long ride full of silence, I couldn't be happier to step foot off this boat. We pass some locals that live out here in the bush, they're fishing and hanging clothes to dry, reminding me of my time in Poguelandia when we lived off our surroundings. Which some would argue that that is a horrible way to live, but I actually enjoyed it, life felt simpler there. I do wish I had enjoyed it more, instead of worrying about Rafe popping up or JJ cheating on me, but the moments I wasn't thinking about those things, they were good.

Like JJ and his Poguelandia flag, or when he taught me how to spear hunt. Oh and the day he showed me how to carve things with sharp rocks, we made a few mediocre wooden trinkets, which reminded me of the frog trinket I stole from Cheryl, that day feels like so long ago and boy were things different. That was the day I cried over that girl under JJ and then ended up under him hours later, giving him a piece of me that only he can say he has. I gave myself up to him because I loved him, though I didn't know I did at the time.

God, the way JJ makes me feel when we're in bed together, is probably one of the best feelings in the world. The way he holds me, his words of endearment while his dick glides in and out of me, hitting deep within me because he's fucking huge, length and width. Fuck, I crave him. I love the way his lips feel on my skin, kissing me down my neck or his tongue against my clit, moving in such a way that gets me off faster than I'd like, because in the moment I want to stay like that for hours, writhing against his face, basking in the attention he's giving me. The way he can make me feel like the only girl in the world, loving when he stares me down while my body tenses under him, cumming all over him after he fucks me to pieces. I should... I should stop thinking about this right now.

I snap out of my dirty thoughts when my dad and John B stop to look up at the mountain in the distance, while Sarah and Ward settle into one of the covered huts nearby.

"Well, welcome to El Tesoro, Bug and Bird." Our dad looks between my brother and me, "We'll hole up here for the night, move out at first light. Somewhere up there is the dig site and El Dorado. With that letter, your sister and this gnomon, I think we got a shot, you guys and me."

"And Sarah." John B adds, I nod in agreement.

"She ain't done the deep dive like we have." Big John argues, his voice low so no one can eavesdrop, "And I don't trust anyone with the last name of Cameron. You think Ward just showed up on his own? No, so its just us." He pats John Bs shoulder before stalking off.

I chuckle, "He's an asshole these days."

"Will.." John B shakes his head, a small smile creeping onto his face, "Yeah I guess he can be, it's the stress getting to him."

"So y'all really let Rafe take JJ hostage and left without thinking twice about it?" I ask while we slowly walk towards Sarah and Ward.

He furrows brows, "JJ told us to go, and we didn't have much of a choice. Ward was about to leave, we decided it was better for at least some of us to come, then none of us. You and Emmy are important, we couldn't leave you to be held captive by Singh because of Rafe."

"Yeah but," I stop a little ways away from Sarah and Ward, "Johnny, he could be hurt... what if Rafe killed him?"

He steps in front of me and wipes my tears for me, "This is JJ we're talking about, there is no way he would let Rafe kill him. And when we were leaving, I saw the Twinkie driving off, so he got away somehow. I doubt he will let Rafe get to him again. And the fact that he has to find you and Emmy, he's fine, he probably busted Kie out and stole a boat or something to get here."

I nod, though I don't really feel as sure as he is, "Do you think I can trust him, Johnny? To be alone with Kie this long?"

He smiles, "Yeah you can. He's been stressed about you both, but I think he felt like he owed it to you and Kie to make things right between the three of you so he wanted to bring her with him. He had said that it was his fault that things were how they were for Kie with her parents. But one thing I know for sure is that he loves you Willow, and I don't think that he's ever been with Kie. He was a wreck after finding out you were gone, he like destroyed the house type of upset. It was really hard to watch."

"I just thought it would be him that found me, you know? Instead he's back in Outer Banks because of Rafe, who seems to always find a way to hurt us." I stay silent about JJs meltdown from seeing I was gone, because it hurts too much to think about what kind of pain he's probably been in from worrying about us. I wish I could tell him we're okay, I wish I could be with him right now.

"Rafe mentioned something before him and JJ got into a fist fight," He pauses when my eyes widen, "yeah they got into it big time, I got a few shots in on your behalf as well. But that's not the point. Rafe said he's not trying to be with you anymore, I guess he has a girlfriend now because Sarah had yelled at him a while ago, telling him to move on and let you be happy with JJ, I guess she told him y'all were engaged and had big life plans, and that he shouldn't get between that."

I raise my brows, surprised by the sudden 180 in Rafe's obsession with me, "He... he got me pregnant just to move on and not care?"

"He said he was still going to take care of you or whatever he promised you. But I guess.. I don't know he seemed different, Sarah thinks he's off the coke, so if he's finally clean then maybe he isn't as crazy. He was talking normal, like he did before everything went bad this summer, it was weird."

"Yeah he didn't look high at Singhs house, but he still decked me in the face when I brought up the fact that he raped me to get me pregnant." 

John B frowns, "He mentioned he knew it was wrong to hurt you but that doesn't wipe away what he's done." 

"Why did him and JJ fight?"

He grimaces, "The topic of what Rafe did to you.. the night you got home from the Bahamas and on the ship, got brought up. The first fight was when JJ pissed him off by saying he can't claim yalls baby as his because of what he did to you to get you pregnant, the second round of their fight was when he pissed JJ off for talking about.. um, well he said you.. like participated during.. well you know, and I guess that made JJ really mad, shit it made me mad too, that's when I jumped in."

My gut twists at his words. I never wanted anyone to know the details of what happened between Rafe and I, because it kills me that I participated, it kills me that he had me that way, that he felt like I enjoyed it and wanted him like that. But I don't, I only want JJ and now he might think I want Rafe, just like I worry he wants Kie. God, this is so fucked up.

"I wish he didn't bring that shit up, but my body betrayed me." I plop down next to where Sarah is standing against a wooden post, looking around for Ward, finally seeing him in the distance leaning against a tree, looking out over the water with a conflicted expression on his face.

"I saw you talking to your dad." John B sits down next to me, patting Emmy's back when she starts to wake up.

"He says he's just here to help." Sarah shakes her head, "But... I don't trust him." She sits down next to John B and looks out at the water.

"Yeah, um... Yeah, my dad doesn't necessarily trust you either, so..."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. I don't blame him. Not after what my dad did to him. And I know we've been through a lot, but we're still good, right?" She looks up at John B with pained eyes.

"Yeah." He stares at the water for a moment before turning to her, "We're good."

"Thank God," I blurt out, "I was stressed over y'all not being together."

John B chuckles, "You and me both."

"Me too." Sarah laughs, "I'm glad we're okay. All of us."

"We're just getting started, Barbie." I flash my blue eyes at her, making her and John B shake their heads, "We still have to make it through the terrain and then the test before we can even get into El Dorado."

"I'm not looking forward to that." John B mutters, "We have to have each others backs."

"Oh yeah for sure," I agree, "I don't trust dad or Ward, so it's just us."

He nods, "We can make it through this."

"Indeed we can, Johnny boy." My body leans into his side when I hug him, "I missed y'all."

"We missed you too." Sarah smiles softly, "And our little Emmy. Gosh look at that head of hair."

"I know right!" My fingers run over her little curls, "JJs going to be so excited to see her."

"And you." Sarah gives me a look.

"Yeah I know."

Will he though? Or is he enjoying his alone time with Kie? No don't think like this again. He loves me, I know he does. He wouldn't cheat on me. He's my sweet Jay. We're going to live a long life together, travel the world, be each others worlds. He has to want me, because.. because I want him. But he's going to be completely alone with Kie for a week or so if they travelled by boat, that's a lot of time for something to happen between them. No one would ever know, it's not like someone can pop up the steps and see them kissing or fucking. He wouldn't do that though, he.. he wouldn't because he loves me. He loves only... me. He said I'm everything to him...

I didn't realize I was hyperventilating until John B and Sarah's worried voices started to echo in my head, my body falling backwards jumbles my crazy thoughts, my vision tunnels as the weight of Emmy leaves my chest.

"Focus on breathing, Willow."

It's so dark now. Where am I?

"Just breathe, you'll be okay."

I'm never truly okay.

~~~~~

"Yes, now lets go before the suns fully up." Big John grumbles, not waiting for us when he abruptly takes off towards the tree line leading to Solana, "That site's a whole day's walk. We gotta get up there before moonrise. If we miss the solstice, then all this was for nothing." He glances over his shoulder, "So, listen, Sarah, I'm telling you right now, if you fall behind, I ain't waiting."

God he is rude sometimes. The gold is always above everything else.

"Dad. Stop!" John B scolds him.

"I ain't! What? I ain't. It's a matter of fact." He storms off ahead of us again, avoiding my brothers glare.

"Sorry about the cranky old man." John B quietly tells Sarah.

"Hey, listen, fellas." Ward calls out from behind all of us, we stop to look back at him, "I'm real sorry, but, uh... I'm not gonna be able to make it up that mountain, not on this leg. I'd be slowing you down. So I'm just gonna hang here. Tell you what, I got a flare gun. If I see Singh come through here, I'll send up a flare. Let you all know he's coming."

I'm pretty sure everyone is relieved he isn't coming, since we all gave him silent nods and left him behind without a single protest, which is kind of funny to think about. Since Ward is used to being adored by everyone around him, at least on Figure Eight, but we couldn't care less. And now that he's basically a ghost still living, he can't surround himself with his old friends or even half his families since he burned all his bridges.

"Don't trust him, he's up to something."

Ward?

"Yes, don't let down your guard."

I won't, I'd never trust him.

"Just watch your back, you aren't invisible."

I never said I was, bro.

"Don't argue with me."

Don't argue with me.

~~~~~

I've been struggling to keep up, we've been walking for hours now, thankfully Sarah is just as slow as I am, so we've been sticking together, taking turns holding Emmy. Thank goodness for that, my back is on fire, my feet hurt, I'm starving. John B has to continuously stop to check on us since our dad keeps leaving us behind, which doesn't make sense since he knows he needs me there with him. Whatever.

I can feel the pull getting stronger the closer we get to Solana and El Dorado. The gnomons whisper is relentless in my ears, urging me to keep going, my eyes have been glowing, giving me a clear image of what's in front of me in the dark, I almost forgot it's night time because of it. I'm just happy I can see well from my creepy eyes, they're like personal flashlights, while everyone else stumbles on tree roots and rocks, I'd rather not fall while pregnant. I can tell John B is totally freaked out by my eyes, but Sarah seems fascinated by it, she's constantly looking at me and smiling.

"We're close," I smile, "I can feel it."

Big John turns to me, "Which way, bug?"

I point through the dark trees towards the rock structures in the distance, "See it?"

"No, it's too dark." John B squints, "Can you?"

"Yes," I breath out, "everything is bright and... and it's like I'm tripping on acid or something, how is everything glowing?"

"Do you feel okay, Willow?" John B feels my forehead.

"It's her eyes, she can see things differently than us." Big John exclaims, "come on, lead the way, kid. Take us to Solana."

I chuckle, walking for a few minutes until we finally reach four columns jutting out of the ground, surrounded by the jungles vines and trees, "Welcome to Solana, home of the gnomon."

"Whoa." John B runs his hand over one of the stones nearby.

Big John lets out a slow sigh, "It's just as the legend predicted it. See these four columns here?" He flashes his light on the pillars, "Mark the cardinal directions. And there it is. The temalacatl." He steps towards the middle of the circle, staring at the cylinder stone platform.

"I'll be damned." John B smiles when I look over at him, "You got us here, Will."

I laugh, "I guess my fancy eyes came in handy."

"I can't believe it." John B hugs Sarah.

She smiles, "This is unbelievable."

"Oh, it's as real as the day, kids." Big John exclaims, "A thousand years of astronomy, and mathematics is all contained in this." He runs his hand over the designs chiseled into the stone, "This proves that the Kalinago were every bit the equal to the Mayans. This... this is gonna rewrite everything. Oh, you see that?" He points to the center of the temalacatl, "This right here. That's where she goes."

"Um, definitely not." 

"It's a he, dad." I correct him, sighing when he ignores me.

"Yeah, yeah. Get the gnomon out." John B stands to the side watching our dad act weird.

I understand he's happy, he spent his life waiting for this moment, but he does look a little... crazy. The constant whispering to himself, pacing, panting like he can't breathe, it's a lot to focus on. It says a lot coming from me since I have blue eyes and a voice in my head, I'm far from sane either but.. anyways. 

"This is it. This is the moment, kids." Big John slowly places the gnomon into it's place, "Nice and easy. Nice and easy. That's right."

I gasp when images flicker behind my eyes, as if I was hundreds of years in the past. My body feels rigid while I stare into the gnomons eyes, watching what it wants me to see.

There's two men with black tattoos and piercings throughout their bodies, beaded jewelry, their cloths that act as clothes barely cover them, they should probably cover up a bit more but it's chill. They're speaking Kalinago to each other, saying El Dorado is sealed for good until the awakening happens. I watch in fear when they turn to look at me.

"You're here." One of the men smiles at me, he's taller than the other, obviously the older one of the two, "You're younger than we expected."

The second man laughs, "Age has nothing to do with this, brother, she is pure and she is worthy. She's the key to El Dorado, if the cat serpent picked her then we will trust her." 

"What is your name child?" The taller man asks.

"Willow."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Willow." The first man speaks up again, "You hold the power of the gnomon, child, you must protect this gift. Stay true to heart, don't let evils in or the power will be drained of it's source, killing all that we have worked for."

"I will."

"She's the purest of heart, brother. Of course she will do right by the Gods."

They both smile, "Welcome to Solana."

"Thank you."

"Listen to the gnomon to find your way to El Dorado, use the message from the test to find your way. Remember, as long as you're present at the entrance, you can send whoever you want into inside, but only the worthy will survive, so chose your companions wisely. Let them decipher the message themselves so they can pass or fail the test on their own, that is how they will make it in and out alive."

"Okay." I smile when I regain my eyesight, taking a moment to readjust to the real world around me.

"The fuck was that?" John B cups my face, staring into my glowing eyes.

"I was talking to two Kalinago men from the past."

"Fascinating." Big John smiles from ear to ear, "I am so proud of you, bug."

"Thank you." My hands  rub up and down Emmy's back, thankful she's sleeping through all of this.

"When the moon hits its zenith, that's when the action starts. Okay, John B, I want you on translation." Big John hands him the letters from Pope, "Sarah, gather up some mud. And mark the glyph so we know what to translate." He barks out his orders, "Willow, I want you on standby because we don't know what the gnomon might need you for, and.. you've got the baby, so just stay out of the way for now. And your eyes might be needed for this. You got it? Be quick, okay?"

Sarah runs up with mud in one hand, "Got it."

John B stops my dad from panicking, "Hey, hey. Aye, aye, captain. Relax."

"We only got one shot at this." He states in a distressed tone, clearly overwhelmed and on the verge of a freaking breakdown from the excitement of it all, "I don't want any back talk."

"Okay, okay." John B softly tells him before turning to Sarah, "Wanna help me with this?"

"Of course."

We all look up at the moon, waiting for it to hit the gnomon.

Big John sniffles, "Just give it time."

"It's time."

"You're in danger, Willow, hurry."

Shit.

"Hurry, you don't have much time."

"We have to hurry." I glance around, taking in our surroundings with my clear eyesight, "Someone's close by." 

"Oh. Whoa." John B stutters, "Guys, guys, look." 

The oval part at the top of the gnomon lights up, a liquid looking cloud swirls inside, this is amazing. I keep my eyes glued to it, listening to the gnomon as it tells me the secret message to get into El Dorado.

I tune everyone out when they panic over translating the message. I already know it, but I can't say it out loud, they need to figure it out on their own. I'm also focused on Emmy now that she's awake and hungry, pacing a few feet away from everyone, shifting Emmy in her carrier so she can nurse.

"It's showing us the direction to El Dorado." Big John happily exclaims.

They all frantically watch the symbols light up on the body of the gnomon as the minutes tick by, I can see the excitement on their faces, but I can't help but feel sad. Even when my dad figures this out, he won't be able to enter El Dorado. I'll have to tell him to stay behind, because he isn't pure of heart. Though he already knows that, I'm sure he knows from the comments I've made that he isn't worthy.

"It's because I'm here. This is about me, isn't it?" Sarah's sad voice snaps me out of my thoughts, "Big John, I am not my father. And I'm not my brother. You can trust me."

"What does it say? Hey, look at me." John B asks our father, who seems to be withholding the message to get into El Dorado, "We all just went through hell and back to get here. Tell me what it says." Big John stays silent, "This is what we're doing, huh? Just gonna use us? Just gonna pull us in and push us out, like you did with Mom, Willow and me. Look, now you're doing it to Sarah."

"John B, stop." Sarah warns when Big John starts to grow angry, "Don't go there right now." 

Does he think he can get into El Dorado without passing the test? He has to say it out loud, he has to prove to me that he's worthy.

"No! Tell us what it is!" John B raises his voice, "What does it say, Dad?"

I sigh, "What does it say? You have to say it out loud to pass the test."

"Willow, get out of here."

I spin around, looking through the trees, seeing men surrounding us, "Fuck."

"Yes, John! What does it say? Huh? Tell us all, John. What is the secret of the gnomon?" Singh eyes me before turning to Big John, "Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah. I wouldn't do that if I were you, John. I have you surrounded." He warns when my dad pulls a gun out, "You'd do best to toss over your gun now! Careful now, Mr. Routledge. Careful. Very good." 

I watch my dad drop his gun on the ground; just out of reach.

"Ward was gonna send up a flare to warn us? Yeah, sure." Big John whisper shouts at John B and Sarah.

How the hell do I get out of this safely? Emmy should not even be here, yet here we are, in the middle of a stand-off, multiple guns pointed at my daughter, myself and my family.

"Hey, what did you do with my father?"

"I'm right here, Sarah!" Ward steps out from the dark tree line, "I'm okay! I'm right here."

"Dad. Dad, what did you do?"

"No, no, no, Sarah, don't cry! I made a deal, Sarah. I had to." Ward holds his hands up, pleading with her to not to be upset.

Of course he helped Singh, I knew he was a bad man, but this really tops it off. He really likes to put us in danger.

She sniffles, "A deal?"

"Yes. I did a favor for Mr. Singh. In return, he's gonna give me all I want."

She scoffs, "You think this is a favor?"

"I want you safe!" He turns his head to look at Singh, "Isn't that right, Mr. Singh?"

"Mr. Cameron is correct. When we're finished, you can go with your father. Safe and sound." Singh looks at my dad, "And you too can live, you know, John, if you just give me what I want! The way to El Dorado! I need Willow too, you know."

I shake my head, "You won't touch me, Singh. The gnomon will protect me."

Rain starts to pour from the sky while everyone argues around me. I can feel the gnomon growing angry, making my eyes glow brighter, my body shaking from the cold and my patience being long gone. Fuck, I can't handle this if they keep yelling. And my sweet baby is screaming right now, setting me on edge even more, she doesn't like to be soaking wet, and the fucking fighting doesn't help.

I hate every bit of this.

"Get out of there, Willow, you need to find a way to leave."

How?

"I don't know.. Willow I can't prevent you from getting injured, I can only use a little power to try to keep you from dying while you're here."

Shit, you made it sound like I'd be protected. 

"You have to find a way to escape without being seen. I won't be able to do anything about your children's lives if they're injured."

Don't do that, don't make me think something will happen to my babies.

"I'm sorry, but I'm being honest with you, you have to protect them and yourself. You aren't invisible, remember?"

I know, I know.

"Use your eyes, find a way out."

I will.

"Sorry, Carlos. I can't do it." Big John loudly exhales, "And you ain't gonna kill me. 'Cause I got the treasure." He points to his head, "It's right up here."

I am getting really annoyed at both my dad and Singh.

He sighs, "John, John, John, John, John. You know what the Guajiro king did to the slaves that mined El Dorado, John? He had them executed, so they could never reveal the secret location, and he did it here, you know, on the Stone of Solana. And I think it's important, very important that we honor tradition. So, tell me, John." 

One of his men moves to stand in front of John B and points a gun to his head.

"Come on, Singh, don't bring John B into this." I call out, "This is between you and my dad."

He chuckles, "It's just the way things have to be, you know people will die because of this."

"You really think you're worthy?" I laugh, my body shifts so I'm edging towards the trees, "You have a gun pointed at my brothers head for no reason because you won't make it out of this alive, so--"

"Tell him John!" Ward screams over me, "Stop being selfish." 

Big John stays silent, not caring that my brother could be killed over withholding the secret message of the gnomon. This is why my father isn't worthy. He isn't pure of heart because he choses gold and wealth over his own flesh and blood, his own damn children. God, I could never do that to my babies, I couldn't even do it to JJ, Johnny or my friends.

"Johnny," I call out over my daughters wailing, "I can protect you... I won't die if I.. if I--"

He shakes his head, tears mixing with the rain running down our faces, "You have Emmy and your little baby in the oven, just.. just stay back, Will."

My head slightly turns, my eyes landing on Sarah's face, determination settling in her features as she makes up her mind over something. Seconds go by, everyone yelling over each other about Big John giving the message up, Emmy's cry ringing out over their hostile voices, making me cringe with every sound. I know I'm panicking, I know I'm falling into my anxiety, I can feel my eyes slightly rolling back when I move and my heart feels like it's beating out of my chest, my breath comes out in gasps.

"Focus, Willow."

Sarah lunges at the guy pointing a gun at John B, the dude is quick to shove her to the ground, turning the gun to aim at her, "NO!"

"Sarah." I gasp, "Singh don't let him--"

A gunshot pierces my ears, making Emmy scream even louder, her body flailing around, fighting against the fabric that's holding her to my chest, "Mama's here," I cry, my hands rub up and down her back, "I'm.. I'm so sorry, Emmy, I'm sorry."

Ward stares at the guy that's now dead, laying on the ground next to Sarah. When he looks up at his daughter, he lowers his gun, but the ripple effect of bullets now flying through the air breaks the silence we had fallen into. My arms wrap around Emmy, ducking while running for cover, Sarah and John B following after me. We huddle behind trees nearby, my eyes giving my location up, but I can't control it right now, the gnomon is too angry at Singh and Big John. He wants me safe, he wants me to be able to see my way out of this hostile situation.

But I'm scared.

"You can handle this, Willow."

I don't know if I can.

"Sarah! Come this way," Ward yells over the gunshots and my poor babies screams, "Come with me."

"No!" Sarah wraps her arms around me and Emmy, "I'm not coming with you."

I look over to see my dad shooting at Singh and his men, while John B protectively stands near Sarah and myself. 

I dip my head down, kissing Emmy's head, "I love you, I'm so sorry sweet girl. I love you more than you know. We'll get out of this mess soon." 

"I'm your father. I saved your life, Sarah. Now come with me before you get killed!" Ward screams, "Damn it, Sarah, we don't have time for this! Now come on."

"John B, give me your gun." Sarah keeps her eyes glued to her father.

He turns to her with wide eyes, "What?"

"Give. me. your. gun." Her voice goes low, he slips the pistol into her hand, watching her holds it up to aim at Ward, "Back up."

"What are you going?" John B nervously whisper shouts.

"Shhh, baby. Mama's here." I whisper to Emmy, she settles and stares at me, mesmerized by my glowing eyes.

My tears drip off my chin when her little hand reaches up for my face, seeing her little red cheeks streaked from tears breaks my heart in two. She deserves better than this, this is worse than the night of the cross heist. My lips press kisses to her finger tips, my heart aching for her. 

Ward walks towards Sarah, ignoring her warning until she clicks the safety off. He finally stops, pain flashing in his eyes, I cover Emmy's ears, knowing Sarah is losing her patience while still wielding the gun, "Put it down, Sarah. You're not going to shoot your own--"

She fires off a shot, aiming right above his head, Ward ducks and looks behind him to see a bullet hole in the tree. He slowly turns back around, staring at his daughter for a long moment before running off into the trees.

Big John grabs the rail of the gun and lowers it, "You're one of us now, kid."

"Willow, something's about to happen, protect your babies." 

I look past them, staring into Ryan's eyes. Singh's right hand man, who seems to have some kind of vendetta against me. He smiles, pointing his gun directly at me, I twist to the side to hide Emmy and my belly, seconds later the shot rings out through the stormy night.

I gasp, pain radiates through my side when I take off running through the trees, stifling my cry while I hold Emmy close to me, letting my hands check her for injuries.

"I'll hold them off, go!" Big John yells from behind me.

I can hear John B ushering Sarah to catch up to me, but I don't wait up for them, my babies are my first priority. I can't let them die on this damn mountain, they have an ocean eyed daddy that's missing us. I promised JJ I would make it home, I have to make sure his babies are protected, I can't let him down. I've ruined so many things by being crazy, I have so many things to say to him, and I owe him so much, I owe him happiness and a life with his children.

"Go go go!" My dad screams.

I wince with every sharp vine and low hanging tree branch that slices my skin, but I don't care about the pain, all I'm focused on is getting the hell away from Singh and his men, and into the safety of the cave where El Dorado is. Fuck I can't breathe though, and my side is aching so bad.

I use my hands to protect Emmy, my heart pounding, my guilt eating me alive because she's terrified and tired, the motion of us running is shaking her, making her scream into the night.

We have to make it, we have to.

~~~~~

JJs POV

We've been travelling down the Orinoco river since yesterday, we followed after some of Singh's men, hoping they lead us to my girls, John B and Sarah. Hours have felt like days, it's killing me that Singh is ahead of us, if he hasn't already caught up to them. Fuck don't think about that, I'll breakdown again and stress everyone out. I'm tired of being a fucking mess, I need my girls back and to get the fuck away from this bullshit. I hate not knowing, that's what gets me the most, after this, I'm never letting them out of my sight again. They will go everywhere I go.

I can't handle losing them again. I can't.

I look up when the boat slows, Pope seems focused on something in the distance so I follow his gaze, my stomach twists when I see what he's looking at. We're so close to my girls now, I know it.

"Okay, guys, I think this is El Tesoro." Kie speaks up, "The trailhead to the mountain is supposed to start here."

My eyes land on the worst case scenario for us, "Oh shit. That's one of Singh's guys." I turn back to my friends, "What are we gonna do? We gotta get past them somehow."

Pope smiles, "I've got an idea." He pulls a bag full of firecrackers from his pocket, "Snagged these in town when we were being chased, thought it could come in handy."

I smirk, "Time for war, soldier. Ready for battle?"

"Lets do this, comrade."

We slip the boat into lower hanging trees over the river, disguising ourselves so we can get onto land unseen. We run through the brush, staying low until we get to a wooden shack near the water where two of Singh's men are lounging. Pope digs in his backpack, pulling a piece of paper and pen out. I have no idea why he brought shit like this on this kind of trip, but I'm happy he did. Willow would be proud of him, she always loves how prepared he is for everything, she always gets onto everyone when we'd joke with him for being weird. She's so adorable, always sticking up for everyone.

Pope writes a message on the paper before hooking it to the end of the line on a fishing pole we found, casting it over to the man laying in the small boat nearby. We duck down, watching the man sit up, his assault rifle in his lap as he reads the note, "In five seconds, you will hear a gun. That's your warning. The next shot with be at your head."

My arm chunks one of the firecrackers his way, holding back my laugh when the guy yells out in fear, hunkering down in the boat so he doesn't get shot.

"Miguel! They're shooting at us!" The man fearfully tells his buddy, "Where are they?"

They start to speak in Spanish, wondering where we are shooting from.

I step back, lighting another firecracker, looking up at Kie where she's looking out the window of the shack, "Is he buying it?"

She nods and ducks down when Pope and I both throw the next round of shots.

"Ah, shit, we're surrounded!"

Kie pops her head up to see what the men are doing, "Oh shit. Oh shit."

Cleo jumps down and hides on the floor, "Get down!"

I dive down to the ground, hiding behind the side of the shack when gunshots ring out, the sound of water splashing lets me know they're shooting super close but not quite where we are, yet.

My shaky hands grabs the fireworks next to me, twisting a few together before chunking them in the air, "Pope, return fire! Return fire!"

He grunts when he throws his bundles, shot after shot, we send the fireworks their way, making it sound like we have straight up bombs as ammunition. It's pretty badass actually, this is fun as shit.

"There's too many of them!"

"Let's get out of here! Go!"

I smile at Pope when we hear a boat engine firing up, seconds later it fades into the distance, "That was awesome."

He watches me throw my last bundle of fireworks at the dudes driving away, "Bye-bye."

"Think we're getting better at this." I reach my hand out and do the pogue handshake with him.

"Oh yeah."

"Hey, hey." Cleo steps out from the shack, walking passed us, "Ain't no time for celebrating. We didn't do nothing yet."

Kie passes us next, "That's fair."

I scrunch my face while shrugging at Pope, "I thought we did something."

He grins, "We did."

"Well-done, soldier." I smile back, high fiving him when we turn to follow the girls.

Time to go trek through the jungle to save my beautiful Princesses.-