Depths

Paradise on Earth

The Outer Banks, paradise on earth, a bustling little community that's fueled by tourism and surrounded by marshes, sand and water. Generations of local families have lived off of the Outer Banks waters in the same fashion for as long as anyone can remember, harvesting the freshest fish, crab and shellfish in order to make a living. The miles of golden sand and turquoise water having been luring people to the Outer Banks for decades, giving it the name Paradise on Earth. But, is it really paradise?

*****

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The last bell of the school year rang loudly throughout the halls of Kildare County High, releasing students to their two month break. Harli Anne Routledge walked through the hallways, pushing pass excited teenagers hooping and hollering their songs of enjoyment as they made their way out of the building. Pulling her backpack tighter to herself, Harli pushes open the door to her freedom.

"School's out for the summer, baby!" She hears a blonde headed mop of hair sound from behind her as she reaches the bottom of the steps. She turns to see the smiling, blue eyed boy walking towards her, then hooking his arm around her shoulders. "You ready to party, Har?"

The girl rolls her eyes with a slight laugh at the boys antics as they make their way to the parking lot in search of the rest of their crew. 

"JJ, Harli! Let's GOOO!" The two teenagers hear a familiar voice call out to them; both looking up to find the tall brunette staring at them from over the open door to his Volkswagen Van. With his arm still slung around her shoulder, JJ leads Harli to their impatient friend. "Bro, let's go already."

"Chill out, John B. We've literally got all summer." The girl scolds the driver as she climbs into the back seat of the van and shuts the door as the blonde boy climbs into the passenger seat. The brunette boy puts the vehicle in drive and whips out of the parking lot. Harli watches out the window as the trees roll into sandy beaches before crossing over a small bridge to get home.

Living on the Outer Banks was what most people thought was Paradise on Earth. Maybe for the Kooks that was true, but for Harli and her friends that lived on The Cut, the South side of the island, it was hard work. Sure, they made the most of it, and they definitely had the time of their lives fishing, surfing, and running amok on the lower side of the island; but it'd be a lie to say they hadn't all wondered how the other half lived, over on Figure Eight.

The island was split into two territories, the Kooks and the Pogues. Like Shakespeare's literary about the Montague's and the Capulet's, the Kooks and the Pogues have always hated one another. The Kooks rule Figure Eight, the rich side of the island. While the Pogues dominate the south side of the island, also known as The Cut. The Pogues are the lowest on the totem pole, the last pick of the litter. But that's how they liked it. Being ignored and neglected had its upsides. It meant doing whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.

John B pulled into the driveway of his home, The Chateau, as he and his friends referred to it. It was a small surf shack of a home where he lived with his dad, Big John, and his cousin, Harli, before his dad disappeared at sea that is. Now the two teenagers lived there alone, trying to evade DCS.

Harli moved in with the boy and his father when she was four years old. Her mother, Big John's sister, became ill with cancer shortly after Harli's deadbeat dad took off with their money and left them behind. Big John helped to take care of his sister, Jessica, before she passed when Harli was six. The man became her sole guardian and was more like a father figure to her than a quirky uncle. John B and Harli never referred to one another as cousins, but as siblings. They were brother and sister as far as they were concerned. And considering Harli's mom changed the girl's last name to her maiden name after her father split, no one ever questioned if the two kids were siblings or not. As far as anyone was concerned, Harli was Big John's daughter after the passing of her mother.