The Outer Banks, paradise on earth. The sort of place where you either have two jobs, or two houses. Two tribes, one island.
The younger girl survived because of her friends. For them. The first five or six months after her father disappeared were...
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Olivia Routledge was having a bad dream. Perhaps it was because of what had happened the night before, or perhaps she was feeling sentimental. But either way, she found herself near the bottom of the ocean. It was dark down there, apart from the slightest bit of daylight allowing her to see bubbles rising towards the surface. The girl loved the ocean in real life, but whenever it appeared in her dreams it seemed to be bad. There was nothing around her. No fish, no coral, nothing. Except a figure, a football fields length away. So she swam, and swam, feeling like she wasn't getting closer at all, until suddenly -
"Dad!" She jolted awake. Sunlight streamed in through the window, the girl rubbing her eyes and blinking away the dark spots so she could see. Finding herself in last nights clothes, she changed into a fresh bikini and t-shirt, the top so long it was like a dress. The sand and salt water in her hair was enough for her to not bother running a brush through it, instead braiding it quickly into two french braids. Hoping she would be able to find some food, the girl walked barefoot out of her bedroom.
"There's no point staying in there, Liv," said John B, "Dad will be back, and he'll want his room." The girl ignored him, grabbing her favourite blanket from the pull out couch and carrying it into her 'new room'. Her brother grabbed the corner of it, yanking it out of her arms. "Quit it, Liv! You're being a child! Leave his room alone." She tugged the blanket out of her brothers arms, nearly falling backwards with the force. "I'm being a child? John B, wake up! You don't get to call me a child just because I'm being realistic. Dad's gone, okay? He's-" Her voice broke, but she took a deep breath, composing herself. "He's gone, and he's not coming back."
With that, she slammed the bedroom door shut behind her, leaving her brother alone in the hallway. She looked around. The room that had once been bright and warm now felt dark and cool. And it wasn't because of the photos on the wall, or the sun going down, she realized. It was because the person who made it all of those lovely things was gone. Tears covered her face, and the girl climbed into the bed, pulling the covers over herself and curling into the fetal position.
Due to her bare feet and light weight, the floorboards of the Château made no noise when Liv walked out into the kitchen. In her own little world, the girl failed to notice her brother and their guest.
"I was wonderin' when I'd be seein' you." The brunette jumped, startled by the voice of the sheriff. Plastering a fake smile onto her face, the girl walked to stand next to her brother.
"Sheriff Peterkin! What can we do for you?" The woman's eyes skimmed over the girl. "I'm just havin' a chat with your brother here," she said, "catchin' up on all that's been goin' on. How about you fill me in?" Feeling her pulse quicken, the girl chanced a sideways glance at her brother. "What is it you'd like to know Sheriff?"
"Well," said the woman, "Let's see." She paused and put a finger to her chin as if deep in thought. "I already talked to the school, and would you believe this, apparently your guardian, Uncle Teddy, hasn't been in the state for three months." Liv opened her mouth, but before she could let out a lie Peterkin continued. "No need to deny it. John B's already tried. So let's move on, shall we?"
