Secret of the Gnomon: 3

Willow's POV

We walked all night, my dad leading the way to El Dorado. I can tell he's going in the right direction, I can feel the strong pull in my body, urging me forward. It's fascinating how all of this works, I never would have imagined something like this would even be possible, but it is. I was relieved when the gnomon told me that things will somewhat go back to normal for me when I leave the area, when I leave the gnomon behind, now that it's set in it's rightful spot on the temenacyle. I'll still be able to use my eye trick when I need it, and the gnomon will tell me if I'm in danger, but I won't be pulled to El Dorado anymore. Meaning the nose bleeds should stop and I don't have to be close to the gnomon to live, I'm thankful for that. 

I'm in so much pain, but I've been able to hide my gunshot wound, I don't want to slow us down. I noticed my dad doing the same thing. I spotted the blood on his shirt, and I can see the pain written all over his face, he's been lagging behind us the past few hours.

Emmy has been happy now that we aren't running anymore, I've been nursing her while we walk, it's not ideal but it's better than stopping every few hours and letting Singh catch up to us, we only stop when I have to change her diapers, which is pretty quick process. She seems content with watching the birds and monkeys when we pass them. This is like a free vacation, very dangerous vacation, but still. Who can say they got to walk the jungles in South America for free? I can.

The farther we go up the mountain side, the louder the singing I've been hearing gets, it's celestial and beautiful, I know it's calling to me, guiding me to El Dorado. I feel honored to be chosen for this, even if I don't feel like I deserve the title. I didn't even have a choice on the matter, really, but it's whatever, I'm just ready to get this part of the journey over with. Experience the moment, and then go see my gorgeous man, who's probably hating life without me and Emmy in it. 

I miss him so damn much it hurts, I know Emmy does too. 

Sweet girl looks around a lot, like she's searching for her daddy, obviously not used to being away from him for this long. It's really sad to watch, but I had a shirt of his in my bag that smells like him, so I put it next to her in her carrier so she can cuddle it, so now we both smell like old spice, weed and the ocean. 

Home, that's what it smells like. Anywhere with JJ is home to us. 

John B slows his pace, glancing back at our dad, "Pick it up, old man. Let's go."

Big John grunts, stopping to sit down on a boulder, "I need a minute."

I stop a few feet away, looking up to see Sarah farther up the cliff side, leading the way. Somehow she's got more energy than all of us, though it's not like she's shot, pregnant and holding a heavy four month old baby like I am. Fuck, this scares me, I really hope my baby bean is okay, I have no idea how bad this gunshot really is. I know the gnomon is using his power to try and help me, dulling the pain a bit, probably slowing the bleeding until I can get off the mountain and get patched up. "Sarah, one sec. We got a straggler." John B yells, she stops where she is and sits down while he turns back to our dad, "Dude, what's going on, man? We gotta go.""It's just my legs ain't what they used to be." Big John pants, "I'll be fine in just a second."

"Dad, what the hell was that at Solana?" He quietly asks, "You were really gonna letthem shoot me back there?"Big John groans, "Come on, give me some credit, kid. Sarah just beat me to the punch."

I scoff, "Great excuse. We all saw what happened back there." John B shares a pained look with me before staring our dad down, "Always about the treasure, right?" His eyes flicker down to his bloody hands that are clutching his torso, "Jesus, Dad, are you okay?"

"What? Yeah. I just got grazed. I'll be fine." Big John painfully gets to his feet, "Just beat-up a little bit. That's okay.""Are... Are you sure?" He stutters, concern crossing his face. "I'll be fine. Now come on. We gotta go." I cringe, pain shooting through my torso when I follow them up the steep cliff side. I know I'll probably survive my wound, but my dad definitely won't. This is his slow and painful death inflicted from the curse of coming here without being pure of heart. I did try to warn him, but he never listens to me, not than anyone does. 

"I listen to you."

I know, thank you.

"Always."

Sarah hushes us when we finally get to where she is, her eyes darting around the mountain, "Do you hear that?"

I smile, "El Dorado is calling for us." They all turn to me with wide eyes, making me chuckle, "It's singing to us, I've been hearing it since Tres Rocas, but it's clear now, meaning we're really close. Lets go."

Sarah turns to Big John, "Do you remember when you said no tongue but always speaking?"

Big John furrows his brows, "How do you know that?"

"I heard you talking to yourself." She looks back towards the the caves farther up the mountain. 

I smile to myself, they're definitely on the right path, looks like my dad might have gotten the message right, now we have to see if he actually share's that information or if he tries to pull some shady shit."Yeah, you do do that." John B states, a weird expression on his face when he looks at me. 

"I am nothing but hold everything." Our dad whispers, "No tongue but always speaking.""Dad, she's onto something." John B starts to follow after Sarah.

She speeds up, rushing up the cliff side while I lag behind in pain, "Oh my God."My hands continue to rub Emmy's back, trying to keep her from kicking her little foot into my wound. She's such a wiggly little girl, loud and silly too, I love how happy she is. I mean how many babies would be chill about hiking mountains for days on end, or travelling by boat for days and weeks. She's pretty much down for everything, which makes me super excited for the plans JJ and I made, at least we know she will enjoy our worldly travels.

My breath is heavier now, more pain nipping at my nerves as time goes by, clearly the powers running out, and this shit sucks. Emmy's carrier is fabric that wraps around my body, so that's a positive, it's good for my wound, keeping pressure on it, but I can see a bit of red seeping through the grey material now. So it's obviously not quite cutting it long term, I really need to get off this mountain soon.

"I'm trying."

I know you are, I'll be okay.

"I'm sorry."

Don't be, you've been good to me and protected me the best you could. 

~~~~~

Sarah led us to a cave where El Dorados song bellows out of the mouth of it, beckoning us inside, once we stepped through the threshold; things went quiet. I sat down on some rocks nearby while they all search the cave for an entrance. I know where it is, I can see the hand on the stone wall above the water, my blue eyes seeing the clue shining a bright green color, but they need to do this, I can't give it up, I don't want to chance ruining things for us or end up killing my brother and best friend if it interferes with them passing the test. 

My attention turns to watch Sarah staring at the water near the hand, clearly eyeing something, "You see the fish? They have to come from somewhere, right?"John B walks into the water, "Only one way to find out." "Wait, what do you see?" Sarah shines her flashlight towards him. 

He walks over, looking down at the passageway under the waters surface, a smile crossing his face when he looks over at my happy expression, "Dad! Hey, Dad. Come check this out. Sarah found something." He yells, turning back to look at me, "Am I on the right path?"

"I can't tell you, but I can say that y'all are very observant." I give him one of our sibling looks, hoping he catches on that he's right. Big John grunts, limping over to us with his bloody hands on his torso, "I'm coming."John B chuckles, clearly understanding my silent message, "There's an opening.""Alright, that's something. Wait, what's that above it?" Big John stares at the handprint, "It's... it's a hand." He turns to me and nods when I smile at them, "Way to go kids." "Oh my God." Sarah breathes out. 

"Let's do it." John B looks between us. 

Big John shakes his head, "I'll never fit through that wormhole. You guys go."

"What are you talking about?" He furrows his brows, "Dad, we finally found what we think is El Dorado, and you're just gonna sit this one out?""Gotta take the training wheels off sometime, kid."

Fuck this about to suck. But the truth hurts. 

"He isn't worthy." I finally admit, they all turn to me with wide eyes, "I'm sorry dad, this is where your journey ends."

He nods, pain in his eyes, "I know, bug." 

"He.. he isn't worthy?" John B stammers, "But can't you--"

"I can't do anything about it, Johnny." I quietly tell him, "But I think dad already knew that, he came knowing he wouldn't survive this."

John B fearfully looks over at our dad, "You knew?"

"I'm sorry, kids, but I wanted to be here when you found it. I wanted to see Willow live out the prophecy." He sighs, "Now hurry up, before Singh catches up to us."

"I'm not going." I shift Emmy and show them the bloody spot from my wound, "I can't take her wrap off of me or I'll bleed out, and I won't leave her behind." 

"Willow.." John B breathes out, "You were shot?" 

"Yeah, but I'll be okay. The gnomon told me you're worthy, Johnny, you and Sarah, so you can go in without me. But you need the secret message to pass the test and find your way in there." My gaze shifts to our dad, "You have to spill the beans if you want them to survive, dad, because they came this far, if they leave without going in, they will die." 

"I told y'all part of it, but there was one last part of the message that I didn't tell you.""Always keeping secrets, huh, Pop?" John B shakes his head, "Shocker.""I'm sorry. I'm telling you now." Big John says in a defeated voice, "The last part is: The true and patient seeker needs not light to see." He looks between Sarah and John B, "You got it?""The true and patient seeker needs not light to see." Sarah repeats, "Got it." 

I smile, hoping they catch on that they're right, hoping they know how to use the message once they're in there. "That's it." Big John pulls something from his backpack, "I've got these three flares. They're waterproof. I doubt those flashlights will survive the swim. They're 20 minutes each. And you don't wanna get stuck down there without them. You'll never find your way out. Alright? I'm passing the baton over to you kids. You got this, boy.""I'll be okay. I'll see you when we get back." John B reaches over and side hugs me, "I love you, sister."

"I love you too, brother." I hug Sarah next, "Don't forget what dad told you, you'll need the message to get through."They both nod before walking over to the passageway, I sit back, watching them dip under the water, disappearing from sight. 

Go get that city of gold, brother. 

My dad has been sitting in silence for a bit now, his attention focused on his bloody wound and the direction of the cave entrance. 

I sigh, leaning against the rocks behind me while running my fingers over Emmys curly hair, "Mama loves you sweet girl. It's almost time to go home, you'll be able to see daddy and your aunts and uncles. They've missed us so so much."

Emmy babbles in her sweet voice, staring up at my glowing eyes, her little smile melting my heart. I love how she has her daddies eyes, though it makes me miss him when I look at her. I wonder what he's doing right now. I'm curious if he's in Outer Banks or if he found a way to South America, hopefully he's close by, I kind of feel like he is. Probably hiking the mountain right now, trying to find us without knowing where to go. That makes me worry, I don't need him getting lost, wouldn't be easy to find him in the jungle if he ends up on the wrong path. 

I feel a rush of peace flow through me, the image of John B and Sarah standing in the middle of El Dorado flashes in my mind, making me smile. They found it, they actually passed the test. I didn't doubt them, I wouldn't have let them go if I did, but it feels good to know they did it. I'm sure it was Sarah that figured it out, that makes me chuckle, my brother can be a little bit of a dodo sometimes, he's smart but he's a bit slow here and there. I love him, I really do, I'm a nice sister, but he needs some guidance most the time, which Sarah seems to do for him.  

El Dorado looks exactly how I saw it in my dreams for the past few months. 

It's crazy that the gnomon was talking to me for so long and I didn't even know it. Ever since the beginning of summer last year it was calling to me, begging me to listen. All the dreams, the voice, the constant feeling of having someone watching over my shoulder, lingering around me, warning me of dangers and helping me through depressing times. 

It was all for the gold. 

"Not necessarily."

Pretty much. 

"I'm sorry for not trusting you, Willow." Big John breaks the silence, his voice startling me from my thoughts. 

I glance at him, giving him a small shrug, "Water under the bridge, dad." 

"No, it's not. I know I'm dying, so I need to apologize, I need you to know that I regret treating you different, it wasn't your fault, okay? I just... I saw your mother in you and it made me resent you for a long time, and then when I heard you were roped in with the Cameron's, which I know now wasn't by choice. But back a few weeks ago, I thought you switched sides. I thought Ward got to you and was using you to get to the gold." 

"He did use me, but not in the way you thought. I would never betray my family or friends." 

"I know, sweetheart, I'm sorry." He grimaces, his eyes looking at his bloody hands, "I'm proud of you, kid. You did good." 

"Thank you, dad. I love you."

He smiles, "I love you too." 

"Hide, Willow."

"Dad, someone's here." 

I scramble to my feet, running off to hide deeper in the cave, my dad following behind me, guiding me to a large rock. I clamp my eyes shut, knowing they will continue to glow as long as John B and Sarah are in El Dorado, giving up my location if Singh gets close. 

"MR. ROUTLEDGE." Singhs voice echoes through the cave, "WILLOW." 

I put my hands over Emmy's ears so she doesn't get scared, though she seems oblivious to the danger were in since I can feel her playing with my necklace, bringing it to her mouth to chew on. Normally I'd stop her, but it's a good distraction for her so she stays quiet. 

"JOHN." Singh chuckles, I can hear him moving around close by, "Where are you, John? I know you're in here somewhere, hiding Willow from me, hiding the secret message of the gnomon. Keeping me from finding El Dorado."

I can hear my dad moving around next to me, seconds later the sound of water splashing echoes through the cave. Shit. 

"Easy now, young Routledge, easy! Go for a little swim now, did you? Step out of the water and put your hands up, both of you. Now!" Singh demands, "Looks like you're carrying a load there, young Routledge. What is in the bag?"

"Okay, okay, okay." John B fearfully responds, making my heart hurt, "You want it? There you go." 

"So, you found El Dorado at last. I know I was right to keep you alive, you know. But, unfortunately for you, the celebration will be short-lived. Big John you have three seconds to come out before I start firing." I can here the safety click off of Singh's gun while he starts counting and Sarah sobbing.

"I'm here, Singh. Over here." Big John pulls me behind him, walking us out of our hiding spot, it's only now that I notice he has a fucking explosive in his hands, "You try to kill us, I'll make sure this thing blows. That roof won't hold, and you'll never see El Dorado."

He really has lost his mind. 

"You need to find a way out, Willow."

I know, but the gun. 

"I know. But you can do this, just like all the other times, take the first opportunity you can to run."

I will.

"Drop it!" Singh points his gun at John B, his voice now two notches too high, making Emmy look around with a startled expression. 

I rub her back, "Mama's here, I've got you, Em."

"No, if one of them dies, we all die together." Big John threatens. 

Um.. no thank you?

"You see, the problem is, I don't believe you, John. I don't believe that you would blow up your opportunity to see El Dorado, even to save your own kids, and they know that, you know." He presses the gun to John Bs chest, "You've proven it time and time again, John, you know that. This, John, is the great quest. This is what we've been looking for our whole lives. So put that thing out and join me."

"No, I can't. This is for you, kids. Run!" Big John screams, throwing the dynamite before we can protest his actions. 

We all watch it land on the stone where the hand is, right above El Dorados entrance. 

"Run, Willow." 

"GO, KIDS." Big John screams after we take off running. 

I glance back to see Singh running towards the explosive, the wick slowly burning. Does he think he can get to it before it explodes? Then my eyes land on my dad struggling to keep up. 

John B stops Sarah and I, pressing the backpack full of gold into Sarah's hand, "Get Willow and Emmy out of here, I'll get my dad." 

She grabs my hand, yanking me with her, heading for the exit. I pant now that my torso is screaming at me, blood soaking my abdomen from moving too much. My free hand on Emmy's upper back, keeping her close so she doesn't bounce too much from all the movement. 

"Ow." I cry out when we finally reach the end of the cave.

My hands cover Emmys ears, turning my back to the cave when it blows up. Rocks fly everywhere, my body a shield for my sweet babies. Emmy screams from the sound of the explosion, tears running down our faces, coughs ripping up my throat from the dust. 

"Sh, baby, it's okay... it's okay." My arms wrap around her, slumping against a tree, watching Sarah check on John B and my dad rolling around in pain next to me. "You okay, dad?"

John B and Sarah pull him up off the ground, wrapping their arms around him to help him up.

"Anybody could have heard that blast." He breathlessly tells us, we start to limp down the cliff side for a while until he can't stand up right anymore, "I think I got pretty banged up back there, kids."

"Let's just keep moving." John B softly tells him, "We're almost to El Tesoro." 

"I think I gotta sit." Big John drops down on a flat rock, "I need to sit for a sec."

"Okay." Sarah rushes over to me when I lean against a tree clutching my side, "Are you okay?"

"No," I pant, "this shit hurts." She drops the heavy backpack off of her shoulders, making the gold clank together, "We need to get you off this mountain." 

Big John stares at the bag for a long moment, "Is that what I think it is?"

John B chuckles, "Oh yeah."Sarah lets out a giddy laugh, "Big John, it's beautiful." She takes a huge clump of gold out to show us, "El Dorado was exactly how you said it would look, Willow."

I grin, "I'm so happy y'all found it."John B pats our dad on the back, "We found it. Just like you said. Look at that.""It was like nothing you could ever imagine."

Big John makes a happy sound, "Ah. That's amazing."

Sarah laughs again, "It's all, like, gold... everywhere.""Sarah figured out the riddle. The walking in the dark." John B smiles at me, "She was the reason we passed the test."

"I figured she was the one who'd get you through." I chuckle when he shoots me an offended look, "She's more observant than you." "That-a-girl. Thank you, Sarah." Big John grunts, though a soft smile is tugging at his lips again. 

"Willow, you're in danger." 

I glance up right when Ward steps out of the trees with a gun pointed at us. 

"Shit." I breathe out, clutching my hand to my bloody side while wrapping my other arm around Emmy. 

"So sweet, you know?" Ward smiles, "One big happy family, huh?"

Sarah shakes her head, "Dad, what are you doing?""I'm too tired to hold my hands up, Ward." Big John groans in pain, "So if you're not good with that, you can just shoot me now." 

"Well, watch what you wish for, my old friend. We might come to that."

"Put the gun down.""Shut up, Sarah." Ward walks closer to us, "You have it all, don't you, John? Now you get everything, huh?" He stops in front of Sarah, grabbing the large clump of gold from her hands with his free hand, "Thank you, sweetheart. You get to go home, back to Kildare. Live happily ever after, with your son that loves you, and my daughter... who hates me." He loudly exhales, "I'm sorry, John. I don't think I can allow that." He shifts the gun to me, "A daughter for a daughter, how does that sound, John?" 

My eyes flicker past him, landing on JJs terrified eyes. I smile at him before looking back at Ward, "I'm already dying, Ward, just like my dad. So it'll be a waste of a bullet." I move my hand to show my bloody torso, ignoring the gasps behind him, "You're really okay shooting me when I'm holding my baby?" His expression faulters, his eyes flickering down to Emmy, "You'd kill me while I'm pregnant with your grandchild?"

His eyes go wide, "Rafe got you pregnant?"

"He did it on purpose." I let out a loud sigh, my patience once again gone, "Get the goddamn gun away from my daughter or Ill push you off this fucking cliff."

Ward sniffles, a few seconds go by of him staring at my baby bump under Emmy before he shifts his gun to point at my dad, "You're supposed to be dead, it's better that way."

Ward clicks off the safety right before JJ, Pope, Cleo, and Kie come barreling towards us with machetes drawn. JJ moves to stand in front of me while everyone else fans out in a circle. My sweet Jay, he came for me, just like I hoped he would. I reach forward, holding onto the back of his shirt, pulling myself closer to him, smiling to myself when Emmy starts to happily babble, clearly excited her daddy is here. 

"Put it down Ward." JJ yells. 

A collection of warnings fly around me when everyone panics since Ward is now wildly pointing the gun around the circle, not knowing what to do next. My focus turns to shushing Emmy when the noise startles her, one of my hands now putting pressure on my torso the best I can. This shit sucks, I don't have time for all of this, I need medical attention or like a first aid kit at least. 

"You're outnumbered, Ward." JJ holds his machete out in front of him, staying in front of me while Ward looks around at all of us. 

"What are you gonna do, shoot us all?" Pope asks. 

Big John painfully groans, slumping against a tree behind him, "If you gotta shoot somebody, Ward, shoot me."

He spins around and aims at my dad again, but John B smiles and steps in the way, "Or me."

"Stop." Sarah moves to be between him and the gun, "Enough."

"Don't!" Ward cries.

"You're not gonna kill all of us. I know you won't. I know you.... You forget that I know you." Sarah takes the gun from him and holds it down at her side, "You can't." 

"I couldn't. I couldn't do it." He lets out a quiet sob, reaching his hand out to caress her face.

"Willow, let the others protect you."

Okay.

"Yeah?" Ryan clicks the safety off on his gun when he steps out of the trees behind my dad, "Well I can." 

Everyone turns to him, machetes raised while they shift around to protect me and Emmy, John B quickly slips the gun from Sarah's hand and aims it at Ryan. 

He stops walking when he gets to my dad, lowering his gun to point at him, his eyes glued to John B, "Toss it."

"Take it easy, bud." Big John grumbles, "Your boss is dead. You got no reason to do this."

"I can think of a few reasons. Toss it!" Ryan yells at my brother, crossing the distance between us after he drops the gun, grabbing it from the ground before anyone else can, "Thought you'd end up with the gold, eh? Alright, nobody move. My mate back there is dead, because of you."

"Jayj." Kie whispers.

"Quit with the stupid nickname." I whisper shout back.

She fearfully looks at me before looking at JJ. He glances back at me with a concerned expression, but my eyes move from him to the gun that's now pointing at me. 

Ryan smiles at me, "You go first."

Anger floods my system, my eyes burn a bright blue, narrowing into slits while I stare at his smug smile, ignoring the shocked reactions from my friends and JJs wide eyed stare, all I can focus on is the fact that my patience is long gone and I'm in too much pain to be doing this right now.

"I am tired of guns being pointed at my baby. Drop it, Ryan."

He laughs, "I shot you back there, and you're walking around like its nothing, is that the power of the gnomon keeping you alive?"

I glare at him, "You won't make it off this mountain." 

He scoffs, "I'll be just fine, I'm the one with the gun, you're defenseless."

"Am I?" I ask with a hint of humor in my tone, "You really think you're worthy? You think the curse won't affect you?"

His eyes go wide, "I am worthy, just like Singh."

I laugh, "He's fucking dead, dude, sounds like the curse works pretty fast."

His hands start to shake, his finger feathering the trigger. I frown when I see the tears running down JJs cheeks, fear clear in his eyes. I know he wants to move to fully block me, but Ryan will shoot him if he does. I can't let that happen, but there's nothing I can do, I have my babies to protect too. My eyes move around the group with every second, taking in the frightened faces, no one knowing how to get out of this without someone dying. 

When my eyes get to Ward, he smiles with tears in his own eyes. I can tell he's about to do something, and I think it's to protect me since I'm carrying his grandchild, maybe it's his way of showing his kids that he loves them. Saving his sons first child, saving his daughters niece or nephew. Whatever it is, he's probably going to die doing it.

Ward turns to Ryan, charging at him before he can comprehend what's happening. Everything happens so fast, it's hard to focus. JJ spins around, his arms wrapping around Emmy and me, I hear shots ringing out, one after the other, the bullets piercing Wards chest as he continues to run at Ryan, everything slows down when he tackles him, sending them backwards... straight for the edge of the cliff. 

The sound of them screaming as they fall off the cliffs edge is all I can hear now, then the thud of their bodies landing below echoes against the mountain side. Gasps and quiet cries fill the air, along with Emmy's sad cry. My hands clutch JJs sides, my tears soaking his shirt, his familiar smell filtering in my nose making me finally feel safe. 

"Sarah." John B whispers. 

My body slightly pulls away from JJ, wiping my tears while watching Sarah look down at her fathers dead body, we all move to be close to her, taking a look for ourselves. God, this makes me feel sick. I lean back into JJs chest when he wraps his arms around me from behind. 

"Princess," JJ kisses my neck, "I'm so happy you're alive."

"I missed you," I turn in his arms, looking into those beautiful eyes of his, "I was so scared."

"I missed you too," He sniffles, "I was too, baby."

Emmy reaches her hands up for him, babbling away, "Do you want daddy?" My body shifts away from him, painfully pulling her out of the carrier, "She's been cuddling your shirt since it smells like you." I hand Emmy to him, showing him the guffy's marina shirt.

"My girls." He kisses Emmy's cheeks, making her giggle and squirm in his hands, "That's so adorable she was cuddling my shirt."

"I know," I wrap my arms around them, "we didn't like being away from you."

"I hated every minute of being away from y'all." He sighs, "You're never leaving my sight again, okay?"

"Okay." I press up on my toes, ignoring the pain in my side while connecting our lips. 

He clutches Emmy to his chest, his free hand cupping my face, his tongue exploring my mouth as I press our bodies together. Fuck I've missed this. 

After a few seconds he pulls away, a wide grin on his face, "I love you."

"I love you too, more than you know." I tilt my head to the side, a soft smile on my own face.

He nods, "More than you know." He looks down at my side, his smile fading, "We need to get you off this mountain, baby, you're bleeding a lot."

"Yeah," I breathe out, the pain I'm in now the only thing I can think about, "it hurts." 

-