BOOK 1 [with seasons 1 & 2]
Aurora "Rory" Routledge is not just your average Outer Banks teen-she's John B's twin sister and the perfect partner-in-crime for summer adventures. Alongside their tight-knit group of best friends-JJ, Pope, and Kie-the R...
Hanging out, having a punt 'Cause my rent's due at the end of the month Gettin' hungry, I'm fangin' a feed Something greasy, gravy and meat
All I want and all I need All I crave is a good pub feed All I want and all I need All I crave is a good pub feed
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Rory~
THE Twinkie rumbled beneath us as Pope directed John B toward Freedman's Church, his voice calm but filled with purpose.
"Guys, we're coming up on Freedman's Church," Pope announced, eyes fixed on his phone, guiding us closer to the Angel Oak. "The church Denmark built for all the slaves he freed," he added, his tone respectful, almost reverent.
Freedman's Church had been abandoned for decades—a relic of a painful yet powerful history. I pressed my hand against the cool glass of the window, watching the crumbling structure as we passed by. The roof sagged, the paint long faded into a dull grey, vines crawling up the side like nature was slowly taking it back.
It hurt to see it this way, knowing it had once been a sanctuary for so many. I could almost picture Denmark Tanny himself standing at the pulpit, his voice rising above the congregation, giving speeches that moved people, that gave them hope. It was heartbreaking that such a place, once a symbol of freedom, was now just... abandoned. Forgotten.
But we didn't have time to dwell. We had our own mission. We had finally figured out that the cross was buried at the foot of the Angel Oak, and we had all left Tannyhill in high spirits. The energy in the Twinkie was buzzing with excitement as we crammed ourselves inside.
I was squeezed into JJ's lap in the front passenger seat, his arms looped comfortably around my waist. Sarah was right behind John B, her head occasionally leaning forward to catch glimpses of the road ahead. The leather backseat was packed with Pope, Kie, and Carter, all of them jostling for space as we made our way through the secluded countryside.
Fields stretched out on either side of us, and the horizon was marked by the towering silhouette of the Angel Oak, standing proud above the rest of the trees like an ancient guardian. The sight of it sent a thrill through me—this was it, the final piece of the puzzle.
"Oh, shit! Tide's coming in," John B's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I leaned forward slightly, peering through the windshield. The Twinkie came to a stop, and right in front of us was a murky stretch of mire, the tide clearly making its presence known. Water was already creeping into the road, turning the dirt into a thick, muddy mess.
We'd have to move quickly if we wanted to get across before the tide fully came in and trapped us on the other side of the island. I could feel JJ's grip tighten slightly around me as the reality of the situation sunk in.
