"Where did they go?" Kie said nervously when they'd nearly passed what should've been the back of the Limbrey residence and there was no sight of Pope or anyone else. 
"What if they went underground?" JJ proposed as an explanation. "Because in C.H.U.D., when they took people down into the sewers, it would turn the humans into humanoids because of the radiation. And then, all of a sudden, they would turn against them—"
"JJ, focus, that doesn't make any sense." Kie interjected before he could fly off topic even more than he already had. Right now, she needed his short attention span to focus on driving and keeping an eye out for their friend. 
"And you need to stop with the sci-fi horror films." Collins scolded, which made them even in terms of guilty pleasures that were rubbing off on them a little too much. 
"Right. Sorry." JJ quickly apologized. "Did you see him?" They both shook their heads in response. There was no sign of Pope anywhere. 
"We should just get out and go on foot." Collins suggested. It'd probably be easier that way anyhow. They could get a better visual and perhaps hear a little bit of what Limbrey had to say with their own ears as to what it was she wanted from them in exchange for John B's innocence. And if Pope really was in trouble, they could get to him much quicker if they were within shouting distance. 
Unanimously agreeing, they stopped the car and got out to sneak into the gated property. JJ was the first to find their way in, a wall without deterrents like the metal fencing had. They all jumped over with ease, landing in the bushes and trampling a couple of gardenias in the process. As they pushed through the thicket, they came across a paved walkway. Looking in each direction, it was unclear which one they should go in. Their answer was made for them when they heard noises. 
They ran at the sound of commotion somewhere within the garden, following where their ears led them. JJ was the first to find Pope in a scuffle with Limbrey's lackey. Pope was actually kind of winning from where they stood. He was the only one on his feet, trying to escape but held back by the hands wrapped around his wrists. JJ kicked the taser lying on the ground next to them, and slid it out of reach in Collins and Kie's direction. Kie quickly picked it up at her feet while JJ began to help Pope and fighting off the man trying to wrestle against them. 
"Come on, Pope! Just leave him!" JJ exclaimed, pulling him away, but not before Pope threw in one last punch. They left the man lying on the pavement, groaning in pain, and started their escape. One after another, they jumped the brick wall standing adjacent to them and fled towards the truck. 
"Who were those people?" Kie cried, panicked as they all squeezed in together into the vehicle. She looked around to make sure they weren't being followed, but it looked like they were in the clear. She didn't understand why they would try to hurt Pope when they were the ones who'd invited him there. 
"That was crazy as shit. Let's get out of here, now." Pope breathed, out of breath from nearly being kidnapped and having to fight for his life. He was a little shaken to be honest. 
As JJ quickly turned the engine over and hit the gas, they turned out of the residential neighborhood and back onto the main road with a squeal of their tires. Glancing back through the rear window, Collins narrowed her eyes to focus on the car trailing behind them, speeding up fast. "I think he's following us!" She alerted the others. 
"Here we go now!" JJ whooped, because this was definitely a check on his bucket list to get into a car chase. If only he was driving good old American muscle instead of a run down work truck, he'd be living his dream. Unfortunately, he was the only one who was overjoyed by the fact that they were being pursued, because meanwhile, everyone else was about to have a panic attack.