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...
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Rory~
THE slap of my feet against the road was relentless, a dull, jarring rhythm that matched the pounding in my head. The world still tilted slightly, each step a reminder of how close I'd been to collapsing. But there was no time for me to dwell on the dizziness that hadn't quite left. There were bigger things to worry about. We all knew it. So, I swallowed down the nausea and pushed forward, ignoring the spinning edges of my vision.
Pope led us, his determination palpable, pulling the rest of us forward like we were linked by some invisible thread of purpose. Carter and John B were close behind him, their focus laser-sharp as the two kept their eyes on Pope's back.
Kie held my hand tight, giving me a grounding point as we ran. JJ and Sarah trailed ahead of us, JJ's gaze darting back toward me every few seconds, checking, wordlessly asking if I was okay. I managed a quick, reassuring nod as we all surged forward, our makeshift formation bound by the same fierce need to reclaim what had been taken.
By the time we reached the old church, my lungs burned, but the sight of the place jolted me out of my exhaustion.
The church loomed before us, a dark, skeletal outline against the sky. Pope didn't slow as he reached it; he practically tore the doors open and charged in.
We spilled in behind him, moving quickly, my steps faltering for just a second until Kie's grip on my hand tightened. John B was at my side in an instant, his arm slipping around my shoulders to steady me. I gave both of them a grateful smile, the warmth of their support steadying me more than they probably realized.
Then, I lifted my gaze, and my heart sank.
The church was empty. The cross, our cross, Pope's family's cross-the entire reason we'd risked everything-was... gone.
The hole in the floorboards where it had once rested, after tumbling down from it's place on the wooden beams of the roof-was vacant- a gaping reminder of what had been stolen from us. The reality of it hit like a punch to the gut, and I breathed out the only thing I could.
"Oh, shit." The words were barely a whisper, a mix of disbelief and frustration as I thought about Rafe and Limbrey. They'd actually done it; they'd stolen it right out from under us.
"It's gone," Kie murmured, her voice soft with sadness.
JJ's frustration bubbled over, his fists clenching as he kicked a stray pew cushion across the floor. "Damnit!" His hands threaded through his hair, tugging in frustration. "I knew I didn't hide it well enough. Goddamnit."
Carter was at his side in an instant, resting a hand on his shoulder. "JJ-calm down. We'll figure something out."
I slipped over to JJ and took his hand, feeling the tension in his grip as I looked up at him. "Carter's right, Jayje. It's not your fault." I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, trying to ease the frustration I could see in his eyes. "That cross is huge-it's as big as a person! You couldn't have possibly hidden it with everything that had been going on."
