Shoupe opens the door, allowing Pope and I to get out of the police car. There were police officers everywhere, and flashing lights. It was kind of disorienting.

Shoupe and Plumb lead the four of us into a big tent, sitting us down in a row.

"Sit down. Don't move. We got a lot to talk about." Shoupe tells us. "Keep an eye on these kids." He yells another officer.

"Blockade is up at the marsh and Masonboro." An officer says. "And all other inlets from Shem Creek to Breach inlet. I want eyes on all coastal access points, people. Let's get this guy!"

My heart pounds in my chest. I had no idea where my brother was or if he escaped. He could've been in danger, or hurt or worse. I let out an anxious sigh. JJ looks over at me. A concerned look crosses his face. I reach for his hand, in an attempt to calm my nerves.

After several minutes of waiting, an officer walks into the tent we were waiting in. He looks at me. "Come talk to your brother. We need him to come back."

I get up, following him into the other tent. He hands me the radio. "Talk to your brother."

I take the radio, pressing the button. "JB? It's Kat."

"Kat?" His voice breaks.

I couldn't force him to come back. I knew he wouldn't want to. He couldn't without getting arrested.

"I love you, big brother. Be safe, alright? I need you to come back." Tears stream down my face.

"I love you too. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything, Kat."

"It's okay. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Goodbye, Kat."

I walk out of the tent and back over to the seat next to JJ. I sit down, putting my head in my hands. JJ places a comforting hand on my back. Shoupe comes in with other officers, catching my attention. We all stand, expecting an update.

"Did you find them?" Pope asks.

"No."

"So, they got away?" Kiara asks next.

"We uh.. we lost them."

I lose it. "Where the hell is my brother? What the fuck do you mean you lost him? This is your job, do the damn thing right and find them!"

"We can't, not in this weather. I'm sorry."

"What do you mean you lost them? Like, they're gone?" Pope demands.

"They took an open boat into a tropical depression, Pope."

"Are they dead or not?" I demand. "Just tell us where the hell they are."

"We don't know." Shoupe says honestly.

In that moment, it felt like all the air had been squeezed from my lungs. I couldn't breathe, my heart raced. It felt like every part of me was shaking uncontrollably. I felt like my body was lit on fire.

"You drove them right into that storm!" JJ yells as Shoupe turns away. "Are you kidding me? Come here." JJ starts swinging his fists, hitting the cop angrily. "I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna kill you, you bastard!"

The other cops grab him, pulling him away from Shoupe.

"Get the fuck off him!" I yell out. The cops freeze, looking at me. "Don't you dare touch him."

The cops finally give us all space. My hands shake as I look up at JJ. As soon as we make eye contact I immediately run to him, sobbing. He wraps his arms tightly around my waist while mine move around his neck.

"He's gone." I cry out. "I lost my brother."

JJ cries against my shoulder too. He moves his hand into my hair, pulling my head closer to him. Sobs wrack my whole body. Everything hurt.

I had lost the last bit of family. My twin brother. The thought of him being gone was unbearable. I loved my brother so much even though we were always fighting.

Eventually I stopped crying, everything hurt to much. My eyes were so swollen I could barley keep them open and they burned. My face was definitely splotchy and red. My lungs ached from the crying, my throat from choking on the sobs. My head felt like it was gonna explode.

JJ still held me against him, running his hand up and down my back. I clung to the back of his shirt, exhausted.

Kiara and Pope came over to us, the four of us moving into a group hug, devastated by the loss of our friends.