𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 ᯓ outer banks

chapter ninety-five

BROOKLYN DOESN'T TRUST this Neville character. She's afraid that he'll betray them like everybody else has so far. Yes, he may know where her father is but maybe this is his plan to lead them all the way to his location and kill them. Maybe he's against them and they're about to die any second.

John B is still trying to convince him, "They are going to kill him unless you help us."

"They're going after the gold," Neville says but it's more of a question.

"Yeah, what else are they going to be going after?" Brooklyn retorts, earning a glare from her brother.

"Then they'll die anyway. Unless they can pass the test, which they won't if they can't translate the idol," Neville explains. "You know the story."

"No," JJ responds. They did not know the story.

"El Dorado was found by a Guajiro king, and when it came time for him to slip his mortal coil and meet my greats on the astral plane, he wasn't just going to give the gold to his sons," Neville rambles and Brooklyn is looking between JJ and John B, confused. "It was the source of his power. It had to go to the wisest man, and to ensure this actually happened, he set up the test of the gnomon. Whoever passes the test gains access to the gold. You fail the test, you die. If you somehow get to the gold without taking the test, then you die."

"He's lying, right? 'Cause there's no way that actually can happen, right?" JJ asks.

"Tell that to the crew of the San Jose and the Royal Merchant," Neville speaks.

"We don't want the gold, Neville," John B tells him and JJ and Brooklyn share a look. "I just want to save my dad."

"Take the wheel," Neville tells JJ and he obeys.

Neville starts to scribble down on a piece of paper for the siblings to look at. "You must go to the port of Tres Rocas. From there, find ferry passage from a river guide called Jose. He will take you up the Orinoco to El Tesoro. It is there. In the bush, you will find a site," he tells him and Brooklyn finally feels they are getting somewhere.

"Guess we back in the G-game?" JJ asks from behind them.

"Make yourself pure of heart, pure of mind. You are there to save your father. The gold kills everyone," Neville warns the pair who just nod because they haven't got anything to say.

Neville takes control of the boat again.

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Turns out Neville could be trusted as he drops them back off at the Chateau so they can grab their boat and be on their way. "Here's the game plan," John B begins while they're tying up the boat. "Go get the girls, go find Pope and Cleo, get down to South America as soon as possible. Cool?"

"We don't have passports, dog," JJ tells him.

"Don't bore me with the details, all right? We'll figure this out later," John B pats his arm and walks away to go and find Sarah.

"Go talk to Kie, Brooke," JJ tells her. "I'll find Pope and Cleo."

There's some Kook party happening and Brooklyn so desperately wishes to leave because this is possibly the last thing she needs right now. JJ stays out of sight to avoid Mike spotting him and blowing their cover. Luckily, Kiara isn't hard to find, and she gives John B the thumbs up.

Annoyingly, she has to wait until this whole speech is over from her parents. She spots Sarah and John B and Brooklyn slips past a couple people to find Kiara. "Hey," she whispers and Kiara is turning around to see her. "I don't wanna  spoil the party, you know, but we need to talk."