THE MORNING AFTER

"Finally. Hey!" John b shouts as me and jj pull up to the docks on the boat. "Guys, don't tie up. Stop it!" He shouts again. "What!?" I ask as him, sarah and pope come running over. "We're dipping." John b says as he jumps on the boat. "Wait, why?" Jj asks. "What? What are you talking about?" I then ask.

"Rafe knows we're here. So we have to leave, like, now." Sarah sighs as she also gets on the boat. "Shit. Okay." I sigh as we all get on the boat and drive to the marsh.

About 20 minutes later we are at the marsh discussing this.

"Look, if Barry and rafe know, it's only a matter of time before everyone knows." Sarah says with a worried tone. "I told you." Jj scoffs. I look up and him and he has that one angry but worried expression. "We should've gone south, man." Jj explains. "Just stop." I say. "Why does no one ever listen." Jj goes on.

"Stop! I get it. I understand." I stand up and look at him. Jj looks back at me and takes a deep breath then goes back to walking back and foward.

"I have an idea. With me back, my dads going have to choose between me and rafe. He's gonna choose me." Sarah sighs. "Sarah. Ward keeps lying to you- to all of us!" John b explains.

"But he is my dad. And I know him, and I know he loves me. I'm just asking for two hours." She goes on again.

Sarah stands up and gets on the boat and on her way to tanny hill.

//

About an hour later she comes back.

"Sarah!" I smile and wave. "You made it." Pope says as we all run over.

"So how'd it go?" I ask her. "You guys were right. It didn't work." She shakes her head. I slowly nod.

"Welp, then that settles it, guys. Now, y'all need to load in the paddy wagon." Jj says sarcastically.

"I think it might be to late for that." Pope says as he looks over into the water.

We all look over and there was about 4 police boats coming our way.

"No..." I repeat before we all take off and run away.

"Let's go! Go!" Pope says as we all keep running.

We jump in the marsh and jj holds me close to him, due to my wound I'm held back a little.

"Your okay. Your okay." Jj repeats.

We keep going and going until we make a dead end.

I look around as we are up in the tree and I see jj wiping off the gun. I then notice John b has a blank expression, also watching jj wipe off the gun.

John b then starts to move out of the tree. "What are you doing- no!" I shout as I try to pull him back. "It's gonna be alright." He hugs me before walking out.

As tears start to form in my eyes I then hear John b shout at the cops. "Listen, shoupe I wanna testify." He shouts while he has his hands held up.

"You? Or your sister?!" Shoupe shouts holding his gun up at John b and his other officers holding they're gun at me.

"Me! Me." John b shouts back.

I then start sobbing until I feel a hand connect with mine. It was jjs. I held his hand tight.

"Get down!" Shoupe shouts at John b. So that's what he does... until Thomas comes over and starts tackling John b.

"Serious? Come on!" Jj shouts. "No! Stop! Shoupe stop him!" I cry out.

"Hey, Thomas!" Shoupe shouts as Thomas floors John b.

"This one's for Peterkin." Thomas says before knocking John b out.

"No!" I scream.

the next day.

"John booker routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances. If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty." The judge says.

Death penalty.

Repeats in my head as I gasp. I stand up and shake my head as tears roll down my face.

"Your honour hes 17!" Jj shouts over. I place a hand on his arm as I then feel dizzy.

Death penalty.

This? This is all my fucking fault.

"John b! John b!" I shout as I run over and try hug him but then get pulled away by guards.

"Don't touch her." Jj shouts as he takes me out of the court room.

We get outside and I then overhear kooks saying he deserves it.

"Can you please shut up? Of course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you." I say as I then notice ward Cameron in the crowd of kooks.

"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide." A man says.

"He shouldn't even be in court! You should, because your a murderer!" I point at ward. "You have a lot of nerve showing up to court!" I go on.

Shoupe then comes running over to stop.

"I know you're upset. I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward says. "Upset?!" I sarcastically laugh. "I know he's got you fooled. He's got you all fooled." Ward then goes on.

"No! I'm not just upset!" I shout as I go over and push ward but then I was quickly pulled away by shoupe, jj and pope.

"Muzzle your goddamn dog!" Jj shouts at shoupe as he holds me back.

"You wanna get arrested? Get out! You need to go." Shoupe replies.

"This is bullshit." I start to tear up again.

"Come on. Look, it's not worth it." Sarah pulls me away.

"It's not a coincidence that your daughters sitting with us!" I shout over at ward as he walks off.

We then make our way back to the chateau.

"I'm gonna testify under oath. I was there." Sarah says. "I just need to get a hold of my sister."

"Sister." Jj snarks.

"Vi, do you have your phone? Wheezie is the only person who knows rafe wasn't there that day." Sarah goes on.

"Wheezie?" Jj snarks again.

"I got us into this mess. Im gonna do my best to get us out." Sarah says before walking into the kitchen.

"Wheezie? Yeah that will work." Jj says sarcastically.

"Will you stop?! Stop being so damn stubborn!" I shout at jj.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I just lost my best friend!-"

"Yeah?! And I lost my brother! My only family I had left!" I shout back at jj.

"That's not my fault!" Jj shouts.

"It's not mine either!"

"Well, Actually Vienna, it is." Jj scoffs.

I nod my head and head to my bedroom.

"Your such a dick." Pope whispers.

"Shit!" Jj shouts as he kicks a chair and runs into my room. "This will be good." Pope laughs.

"Get out." I say as jj enters my room and sits on my bed.

"Vienna I-"

"Don't you think I feel guilty enough? I know this is my fault. But I didn't want this to happen!" I sob out before jj pulls me in for a hug. "I'm sorry." He whispers. I keep sobbing into his chest before he gives me a kiss on the head.

"I'm sorry." He repeats.