ᴍʏ ᴘᴀʀᴀᴍᴏᴜʀ | ꜱ.ᴄᴀᴍᴇʀᴏɴ

ten.

Marley's muscles ached all around, a testament to the multiple times the Pogues had to run-whether it was to be where they shouldn't or simply running for their lives. Now, she found herself sitting comfortably on John B's couch in the Chateau, the echoes of their laughter still lingering from the night's escapade. The weariness in her muscles served as a reminder of the risks they took and the bonds that held them together, etched in the tales of their adventures.

The Pogues, being naturally athletic, handled the physical exertion quite well. However, the lack of breaks between each "catastrophe" left Marley's body feeling fatigued. Now, as she sunk into the couch, she observed her brother heading to the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. Grimacing, she caught a glimpse of mold on the bread he had taken out.

She knew it wouldn't faze her brother, but she could see the perplexed look on their friend Pope's face, disgust evident all over him. JJ had a knack for having an appetite; he could eat anything, moldy or not. Pope observed as JJ spread some peanut butter on both slices of bread, glancing toward the boy, "That bread had mold on it three days ago."

"I'll just pull of the bad parts," JJ shrugged, causing Pope to turn toward Marley with widened eyes as she grinned, looking up from a random object she had in her hands, "Plus, mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism."

"JJ!" Kiara called, essentially trying to grab his attention and redirect it to the task at hand.

Marley also looked up from her seated position as pushed herself off the couch, walking over to the others surrounding John B around the desk. He stared at the package, bold black letters reading 'FOR BIRD' in all caps, and evidently written in marker. Marley recalled what he said about his father's funny-looking R's, and she noticed that the R in 'bird' was exactly like the one on the compass.

JJ took a bite of his sandwich as they all watched John B slowly rip open the top of the package. A small smile broke out on Marley's face as JJ began to gag on his sandwich after a couple of chews, eventually spitting the mushed-up food into his hand and tossing it into the bin. However, her attention shifted back to John B, who retrieved a piece of paper from inside the bag. Unfolding it, he placed it on the table so everyone had a clear view.

Marley stared at it, her eyebrows furrowing as she attempted to understand it. The paper revealed itself to be some sort of map, but it was evident someone had made edits to it, with marker notes scrawled across its surface. Pope ran his finger over the map, pointing toward an 'X' with an arrow next to it, "X marks the spot."

"Longitude, latitude," John B muttered as he, too, started running his finger across the map, pointing to ensure everyone understood what he was talking about, "Wait, there's something else in there."

John B shuffled everything around as he retrieved something else from the package, everyone's eyes fixed on him as he brought out a recorder. Marley couldn't help but speculate that it probably held a recording, likely from John B's father. Yet, she found herself torn about whether she truly wanted this to be real. Playing the recorder would undoubtedly drag the Pogues into an adventure full of chaos, and that, she wasn't quite prepared for.

"What's that?" JJ inquired as he fixed his gaze on the recorder.

Marley deadpanned, disbelief evident in her expression, "It's a recorder, dumbass," she replied straightforwardly.

John B clicked the recording on, and Marley could discern the sound of his father's voice emanating from it, "Dear Bird."

JJ turned his gaze toward his best friend, "Who's Bird?"

"That's what my dad called me," John B responded, his attention still fixed on the device, letting it continue.

"I hate to say 'I told you so,' but i told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either."