Down

Chapter 14

Kie said" They're fancy people. They've had, like, three governors in the family. They've run Charleston for, like, 300 years."
JJ said" These kooks make our kooks look like pogues. You sure this is the place, Pope?"
Pope said" Pretty sure."
" Alright." We got out," Fat city, for sure."
" 27 King Street."
" Talk about home security. Are those spikes to keep people out?"
Kie said" No."
Pope said" The slave quarters are over there. These spikes were to keep people in."

Pope knocked with the lion head,
Pope said" You think that was too much?"
JJ said" It echoed the entire house. That's for sure. So they definitely heard it."
Kie said" Maybe nobody's home." Pope started knocking again, and the door opened on him. A man looked at us,
He said" You must be Pope."
Pope said" Um... Are you Mr. Limbrey?"
" Ms. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday."
" Oh. I'm... I'm sorry. My car broke down on the way up here."
JJ said" Carburetor blew up in the middle of Nowheresville. Sorry about that."
He said" Yeah, she was, uh, real upset when you didn't show up."
Kie said" We tried to call, but there's no number on the invitation. We got here as fast as we could."
" She also expected you to come alone."
Pope said" I mean, these are my friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant too. I-"
" The instructions were explicit. Your friends can stay outside."
JJ said" We're kind of a package deal, man."
Pope said" JJ. It's okay. I got this. I'll be good."
Kie said" Yeah. We'll be right here."
" Keep the car running."
" Yep." He walked in.

Kie said" Look, if Limbrey is legit, then Ward gets arrested, and maybe Sarah gets the gold." They were taking Pope somewhere else," Does that look voluntary?"
JJ said" That would be a negative."
" Come on."
" Wait, hold on, hold on."
" What?"
" They're going into the alley."
" Go around back?"
" We'll meet them on the other side. Yeah."
" Okay. Hey, be chill. Be chill." He started driving,
" Yeah, sure. Where did they go?"
" What if they went underground? Because in CHUD, when they took people down into the sewers, it would turn the humans into humanoids 'cause of the radiation. And then all of a sudden-"
" JJ, JJ, Focus. That doesn't make any sense."
" Right. Sorry. Did you see him?"
" No."

They jumped out, and ran to the other side of the wall, then they jumped over and ran to the truck. They piled in, Kie pulled me onto her lap,
Pope said" That was crazy as shit. Let's get out of here. Now!" JJ took off driving,
JJ said" Here we go now!"
Kie said" I think he's following us."
Pope said" This is a one-way."
" Go left. Go that way."
They both said" This is a one-way!"
" They're following us!"
Pope said" Hey! There's another car! Turn now! Turn! Turn right!" JJ turned, Kie and Pope screamed, Kie held onto me tighter, covering my eyes." Those were people! Jesus christ!"
JJ said" That was evasive driving technique right there, ya'll. I'll lose him!" He turned around,
" Dude!" Kie pushed my face onto her shoulder so I didn't move, then the truck made a broke sound.
" You said he fixed the carburetor. You said he fixed it!"
Kie said" No, no, no! Shit!" She got out, holding me on her hip," Okay, what now, Mario?"
" Number one rule. Never trust mechanics! We gotta go around!" They grabbed their bags,
" Go!"
Pope said" Come on!"
JJ said" Go, go, go, go, go!" They started running,
Kie said" Guys, I think he has a gun."
" Shit, get down!"
Pope said" Come on, Kie! I think I'm cramping!" We turned,
" This way! We might have to split up! I don't know where to go, okay? We gotta lose them!" JJ ran into someone delivering mail," Sorry about that!"
" Sorry!"
Kie said" Sorry!"
JJ said" Right here! Here, here, here!" We turned again,
" Okay!"
" He's right there! Go, go, go!"
Pope said" Go, go! He's gaining. Let's go!"
" I am going, Pope. I know, I know. You guys gotta keep up." Then we stopped, I saw John B and Sarah, I smiled,
John B said" Get in! Get in! Get in! Come on!" Kie got in, holding me on her lap as JJ and Pope pushed us, everyone was yelling all at once. JJ jumped on,
" Pedal! He's gaining, man!"
" I'm pedaling!" Then Pope fell, JJ grabbed my arm, pulling me up, Pope ran to catch up.
Pope said" Kie!"
Kie said" Come on!" Then the guy jumped on, they pushed him off,
JJ said" See you later, alligator!"
Pope said" See you later, asshole. Oh, my god!" We all cheered.