smooth seas//john b

thirty nine

I didn't go back to Topper's last night and I didn't go home either. I stayed at the Château with the crew. Just like the weekends before any of this craziness started in our lives, we're sitting on the back porch at John B's. The guys are talking about what happened last night.

"That was epic," Pope says.

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

"Bomb drop!" JJ dunks the basketball into the little rim and lands on the couch.

"Another broken couch," John B states. "You gotta sleep there tonight."

"I always sleep there anyway," JJ tells him. Sarah walks onto the porch. "Well, hello, princess."

"What's up?" Kie asks.

"Long time no see," Pope says.

I smile at my sister. "Finally decided to come hang out with us again?"

"Actually, I'm here for Pope," Sarah tells me. I look at her confused. "I think I found the island room."

We all pile into the van headed towards Tannyhill apparently.

"Guys, listen to this," Pope tells us. "The diary says the cross holds the most holy relic in all of Christendom, the Garment of the Savior."

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

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

"Mmm, yeah. 'If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.'" JJ says. Everyone looks at JJ surprised. JJ shrugs. "What? I went to Sunday school."

Kie nods. "Sure."

"Well, that explains why Limbrey would want the cross so bad," I state.

"She thinks it can heal her," Pope says.

"What else does it say?" Kie asks.

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

"Thing is, God did have His vengeance," Kie states.

"He sent a hurricane to sink the ship," Pope says. "Only Denmark survived."

We follow Sarah down the hallways of Tannyhill. It feels so strange to be back here. I haven't been home in days. This place just has too many memories, happy and sad. I just don't think I'm ready to deal with all of it yet.

"This place still freaks me out," John B admits.

"Yeah, same," JJ agrees.

Sarah opens the door to one of the rooms. "Pope, look."

As we follow into the room behind Sarah, I can see that all of the wallpaper has been ripped off of the wall. Underneath it looks like drawings probably of the island.

"Whoa! You've got to be kidding me," Pope says.

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

"It's been here this whole time," I remark.

"No freaking way," John B says.

"This definitely means something," JJ reasons.

"Wow," I say.

"This is incredible," John B states. "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 to the spot on the wall.