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...
I am flesh and I am bone Rise up, ting ting, like glitter and gold I've got fire in my soul Rise up, ting ting, like glitter
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'Cause everybody in the back room's Spinning up Don't remember what you're asking for And everybody's in the front room's Tripping out You left your bottle at the door
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Rory~
THE second we arrived at Freedman's Church, we spilled out of the cars like a bunch of clowns from a tiny circus car. The sun was starting to set, casting this gorgeous orange and pink glow across the sky. For a second, I thought about just taking a seat right there and watching it because, honestly, it was way better than the creepy, rotting church we were about to investigate. But, alas, treasure hunting calls.
Pope led the charge, Carter by his side, while the rest of us trailed behind, our eyes scanning the decrepit structure. The church doors creaked open like we were in some bad horror movie, the kind where you yell at the characters not to go inside even though you know they're going to do it anyway.
The air felt thick, stale, like it hadn't been touched in a century—which, let's be real, it probably hadn't. The walls were all rotten and beaten up, paint peeling off like the church itself had just given up on life. Every step we took sent the floorboards creaking underfoot, making it feel like we were seconds away from falling through into some hidden crypt.
Perfect. Really setting the mood, Denmark Tanny.
A couple of birds decided to make a dramatic exit, flapping their wings so loudly that half of us jumped. Not me, though. No, of course not. I'm totally brave and not easily startled.
The place looked like it had been left to rot in its own misery—dust, weeds, broken windows, and pews that looked like they'd crumble if you even thought about sitting on them.
"So, you're telling me Denmark Tanny decided to hide the cross here?" JJ asked, his tone full of curiosity as he wandered around like he was genuinely trying to figure out why anyone would ever come to this depressing place.
Pope just hummed thoughtfully, clearly deep in his treasure-hunting brain, as he made his way up to the altar like some kind of detective priest. Meanwhile, Kie, ever the voice of practicality, clapped her hands and offered up a game plan.
"Everybody just spread out," she suggested, as if we had a whole lot to spread out into. Spoiler alert: we didn't.
I sighed, my eyes scanning the dim interior. "There's not much around, though."
Seriously, what were we supposed to do in here, play hide and seek?
I glanced over at John B and saw him limping, still trying to play it cool despite the whole gator attack thing. Naturally, I grabbed his arm to help him out, because, you know, being his sister means I kind of have to take care of his dumb ass.
