Rogue | outer banks

002 - Grady White

I felt the warmth of the blankets cocooning my body, creating a haven of comfort that cradled me in blissful slumber. The tranquillity of the moment was abruptly shattered by the distant echo of John B's voice, a persistent call that pierced through the peaceful ambience and urged me to awaken. At first, I resisted, my subconscious mind acknowledging the disturbance while my consciousness lingered in the depths of sleep. John B's voice grew louder with each call, drawing closer to the room. It wasn't until the third time he called out to me that my mind began to piece together the urgency in his words. Slowly, my eyes opened, and I squinted against the sudden brightness of the room.

My voice, hoarse with sleep, grumbled in response, "What's the big rush?"

"Come with me to see the damage," he urged.

Feeling disoriented from just waking up, I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes, attempting to shake off the remnants of sleep that clung to my senses. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, conveniently within arm's reach. However, John B shook his head and informed me that there was no power or cell service in the area. My shoulders slumped, and I let out a deep sigh. Reluctantly, I swung my legs out of bed and followed him out of the room, prepared to witness the aftermath of the hurricane that had wreaked havoc the previous night.

I watched as John B casually walked over to the bed couch where JJ lay, seemingly undisturbed in his peaceful sleep. With a slap on his butt, John B inquired if he had been outside.

JJ responded with a groan, his face buried deeper into the pillow. "I have polio, bro. I can't walk," he mumbled.

Nearby, I couldn't help but express sympathy for the blond, reaching out to comfort him by gently rubbing his back. "Oh, poor thing."

JJ flashed a grin, "I could get used to it."

I scoffed at his response, a playful smile on my lips.

As I stepped out onto the porch, the stark reality of the devastation hit me like a punch to the gut. The once-majestic trees, which had gracefully towered over the property, now lay lifeless on their sides, uprooted and defeated. They resembled giant fallen soldiers, casualties of a force beyond their control. The landscape that had once been a tranquil haven was now a chaotic mess of twisted branches and upturned leaves, violently torn off by the ferocity of the disaster.

Surveying the damage to the once beautiful landscape I had cherished for so long, a wave of hopelessness washed over me.

"Oh man," I softly muttered to myself, struggling to come to terms with the overwhelming destruction before my eyes. The weight of the scene pressed on my chest, leaving me grappling with the harsh reality of nature's unrelenting power.

As I stood there, taking in the heartbreaking scene, John B walked past me, his expression mirroring the deep concern etched on my face. I could see the worry reflected in his eyes as he moved closer to inspect the damage.

Just as the tension in the air reached its peak, JJ, shirtless and seemingly unaffected by the gravity of the situation, appeared behind me.

His voice, breaking through the heavy atmosphere, startled me out of my thoughts. "Agatha did some work, huh?" he remarked, his tone light.

John B confirmed JJ's observation, and without missing a beat, he jumped into the HMS Pogue, cursing at the leaves and twigs that had accumulated in it.

Puzzled by JJ's sudden presence, I turned to him with a confused expression. "Thought you had polio."

With a cheeky grin, he responded, "I found a miracle cure in the fridge," holding up a can of beer. He took a long sip, relishing the cool, refreshing taste as it flowed down his throat. After a moment, he let out a loud burp, and I couldn't help but wrinkle my nose in disgust.