A little while later, we're all packed into the old van, making our way to the Redfield Lighthouse. During the drive, John B is firing questions at me, while JJ sits silently, giving me curious glances.

"Why are we going to the Redfield Lighthouse?

"Howard Morris was my dad's best friend since high school. I need to ask him if he knows anything about these men or what my dad has done" I say looking at John B as he takes his eyes off the road to look back at me before turning to face front. 

"So, this Howard guy works at the lighthouse?" Pope asks.

"Yes," I say, glancing at Pope. Immediately, he questions, "What if he doesn't know anything?" "He'll know something!" I snap, then sigh, "Sorry, Pope. He will know something. I'm positive." Kiara shoots a questioning look at Pope, who simply sighs, shakes his head slightly, and looks forward again.

"Have you ever met this guy before?" JJ asks looking at me. "I think I met him two years ago. He was helping my dad with something," I say.

"Let's just hope for the best," Kie says looking at JJ and me, to which JJ responds with a worried look, "You need to be careful Syd. These guys could be lurking around,"

"I'll go with you" Kie says looking at me with a smile"

Once we reach the lighthouse, John B parks and turns the van off and  we all climb out. Walking to the white picket fence that borders the property I turn and look at the boys "Ok, JJ, John B, Pope you keep guard"

"Wait why me?" JJ says pointing and looks at me confused. Before I can respond Pope says "Look JJ if you go in there you may do something stupid" JJ looks at pope and mimicks him then says "Shut up" starting to get mad 

"Guys!" I intervene before things get blown out of hand. 

"We don't know what your going to do" Pope says getting defensive, which makes JJ madder "Just shut up!" 

"Guys!" I say again, and look over at John B and Kie for help, but the two of them are moving there heads back and forth like they are watching a tennis match. I sigh and finally shout "Hey!! Listen!" I see JJ stop the argument and look at me still mad at what pope is saying 

A little while later, we're all packed into the old van, making our way to the Redfield Lighthouse. During the drive, John B is firing questions at me, while JJ sits silently, giving me curious glances.

"Why are we going to the Redfield Lighthouse?" John B asks.

"Howard Morris was my dad's best friend since high school. I need to ask him if he knows anything about these men or what my dad has done," I say, looking at John B as he takes his eyes off the road to look back at me before turning to face front.

"So, this Howard guy works at the lighthouse?" Pope asks.

"Yes," I reply, glancing at Pope. Immediately, he questions, "What if he doesn't know anything?" "He'll know something!" I snap, then sigh, "Sorry, Pope. He will know something. I'm positive." Kiara shoots a questioning look at Pope, who simply sighs, shakes his head slightly, and looks forward again.

"Have you ever met this guy before?" JJ asks, looking at me. "I think I met him two years ago. He was helping my dad with something," I say.

"Let's just hope for the best," Kie says, looking at JJ and me, to which JJ responds with a worried look, "You need to be careful, Syd. These guys could be lurking around."

"I'll go with you," Kie says, looking at me with a smile.

Once we reach the lighthouse, John B parks and turns the van off, and we all climb out. Walking to the white picket fence that borders the property, I turn and look at the boys. "Okay, JJ, John B, Pope, you keep guard."

"Wait, why me?" JJ says, pointing and looking at me, confused. Before I can respond, Pope says, "Look, JJ, if you go in there, you may do something stupid." JJ looks at Pope and mimics him, then says, "Shut up," starting to get mad.

"Guys!" I intervene before things escalate.

"We don't know what you're going to do," Pope says, getting defensive, which makes JJ madder. "Just shut up!"

"Guys!" I say again, and look over at John B or help, but he's to busy moving his heads back and forth like he's watching a tennis match. I sigh and look at Kie who looks at me annoyed. Feeling the same way I  finally shout, "Hey!! Listen!" JJ and Pope both stop there squabbling and look at me. 

"How about you both shut up. If we split up we'll meet back at the chateau" 

"Great!" Kie says and turns around and starts walking to the entrance of the lighthouse, I look at the boys with a pleading look "Behave" I say before turning around and jogging to catch up with Kiara who's already standing at the door leading into the lighthouse. 

As we entered the lighthouse, we gazed up at the spiraling staircase leading to the top. "We just need to find Howy, gather the information, then figure out what to do next," I explained. "Okay," Kie replied, her eyes still fixed on the winding stairs. "Alright, let's begin this fucking climb," I say, stepping onto the first metal step. "Right behind you," Kie reassured me, as we both started climbing the stairs.

                                                                                       ---------------------------

After 5 minutes of climbing, we finally reached the top and we stop in front of a brown wooden door. I look at Kie and then back at the door and nock. Only waiting about a minute or so before Howy opens the door to look at me and kie with a look of what do you want. 

"I was hoping we could talk," I say looking at the middle-aged man. 

"Lighthouse is closed" He says then closes the door

I sigh before saying "Its Sydney. Sydney Thornton. Richard's daughter." He opens the door again and looks me up and down before saying "Sydney Thornton. I thought I recognized you"

                                                                                    ---------------------------------

As we walked outside the lighthouse, Howy warned, "Watch your step here." I glanced down at the metal flooring and noticed several forming holes. Carefully navigating around them, I asked, "I know you and my father used to be close before he moved out of OBX." Howy looked at me and replied, "Ever since high school." I nod and continue, "Me and my brother Topper  have kind of lost contact with him for the last year. I was wondering if maybe you were still in touch with him?" Howy chuckled and said, "I never stopped talking to him. Your father is quite the chatter."

I nod and look at Kie who just looks at me, I turn back and ask "When was the last time you spoke to him?" 

"Last night" He turns around and starts walking I follow close behind and ask "What was it about If you don't mind me asking?" 

"Thats a private discussion between me and Richard" He walks back inside quickly, with me still behind him "Your father is a great man" 

"No he isn't he left my family for another woman and he's a drunk....Listen some bad men are after me and I have a feeling it's connected to my dad. Correct me if I'm wrong but if you know anything can you please tell me what's going on?" I look at how continuing "Is he in trouble with these men and they want me to punish him?"

Howy looks at me started and dosnet answer, he looks up at the hatch in the ceiling and opens it and climbs up not answering. I follow him up "I know its weird but if you know something Howard you have to tell me" Still ignoring me Kie chims in "Sir you wont believe what she's been through in the past 24 hours. I mean threatened, shot at, home invaded"

"Home invaded?" He finally says looking at me

"Please Howard. I need to know" 

He looks at me again and picks up his radio and clicks the button and starts talking "Hello,I got to kids on drugs up here at the lighthouse. Call the police"

"no no no" I panic and grab his wrist trying to the radio from him in the struggle he hits his hand against the window cracking the glass 

Howie glances at me, startled and silent. His gaze shifts upward towards the hatch in the ceiling, and without a word, he opens it and begins to climb up. I quickly follow, pressing him for answers. "I know this is strange, but if you have any information, you have to tell me," I plead. Despite my pleas, Howie continues to ignore me. Finally, Kie speaks up "Sir, you won't believe what she's been through in the past 24 hours. Threatened, shot at, home invaded." "Home invaded?" Howie echoes, turning to look at me. "Please, Howard, I need to know," I plead again. He locks eyes with me once more, then picks up his radio, clicks the button, and begins to speak. "Hello, I have two kids on  drugs up here at the lighthouse. Call the police." "No, no, no!" I panic and grab his wrist, attempting to wrest the radio from his grasp. In the struggle, his hand inadvertently strikes the window, causing it to crack. "Shit I'm so sorry" I say looking at him screaming in pain. 

"Syd!" Kie cries out, and I turn to look at her. "It was an accident!" 

"We have to go," she insists, climbing back down the hatch. "I'm sorry, Howard, I didn't mean to," I add as I quickly follow her. We race down the lighthouse stairs as fast as we can without stumbling. Once outside, I shout at the boys who are tossing a ball back and forth. "GUYS, GO!"

I see JJ turning around, startled. "WE'LL MEET YOU LATER!"

"What? No!" JJ protests, looking at me and Kie as we run towards them.

"Just go, man!" John B urges, heading to the Twinkie after spotting a police car with flashing lights and sirens driving down the road. I watch JJ and Pope running and murmur, "They'll be fine," as both boys jump into the Twinkie, and John B takes off.

Kie and I sprinted towards the white picket fence, leaping over it as we made our escape from the approaching cop car.

                                                                                              -----------------------

After a brief run, Kie and I come to a stop. I turn to her, slightly out of breath, "You've got to admit, that was kinda promising. I mean of course my dad is involved with these men." 

After taking a moment to catch our breath, we resumed our walk, and Kie finally broke the silence by asking, "What do we do now? I mean, we pack our bags and leave OBX." 

We continued walking in silence for a little while longer before I stopped. She looked at me and started urging me to talk to the police. "Listen, I know you don't like cops, but it might be best to let them know what's going on. We're just kids. I don't want there to be a risk where one of us gets shot because we tried to figure out what was going on." 

She looked at me, hugged me, and said, "You're losing it. You gotta pull it together." She pulled away and smiled. "Let's get back to the others," I nodded and smiled. "Thanks, Kie." 

"No problem," she said, then suddenly she snapped her head to the side to see Shoupe step out of his car to shout, "Thornton! I got you." I groaned as I turned to look at him, as he keeps talking, "Now why don't you just be chill and not make me chase you. Hands where I can see them." I looked at Kie and gave her a tight-lipped smile and turned to face Shoupe, raising my hands as he walked towards me.