P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Safe

They made it to the dock safe and sound, hopping off the truck of hay at the last second before it was checked.

The girls allowed Rafe to go first, leading the way.

"My boats over here," he said.

They approached it quickly, finding a brand new, large, white boat.

"Make sure your shoes are off," Rafe said as he climbed up onto the boat and began to move around.

Kie and Cory exchanged a look, but took their shoes off and climbed aboard.

"Okay, we should have enough juice to get to Saint Lucia, no problem," Rafe said, running around and tying different things off. "Could one of you help me with the bowline?"

Cory glanced up, running over to the bow. She kneeled down next to the line that attached the boat to the dock. She glanced back nervously, watching Kie's frozen look.

She reached her hand around the line and pretended to tug.

"Uh," Cory called out. "I can't get it."

Kie moved to help her, but Cory shook her head.

"What?" Rafe asked.

"I need some help," Cory said.

Rafe glanced down at the unmoving Kie. Kiara just shrugged at him, gesturing over to Cory.

"Goddamn, do I have to do everything?" he mumbled, making his way over quickly.

Rafe moved over to the line, putting one leg over the fence as he began to untie the boat.

Behind them, Kiara had quietly moved up to the wheel.

Cory stood, watching closely. The second Rafe had untied it, she moved forward, pushing him off the front of the boat.

"Go, Kie!" Cory yelled, hearing the splash down below her.

Cory moved, sprinting over to stand next to Kie as the engine started up.

"Cory!" Rafe's voice called out from the water. "Hey!"

The engine rumbled as they started forward.

"Where you going?" Rafe yelled. "You don't know what you're doing! Hey! Shit, I'll find you guys! You're gonna regret this shit!"

Cory grimaced, refusing to look back at his yells slowly got quieter and quieter.

Once they were a good distance away from him, she sighed in relief, giving Kiara a small smile.

"Hey, we did it," she said softly.

"Good work, us," Kiara said, reaching for a fist bump. She reached into her pocket, pulling out the phone. "Hey, take over."

Cory obliged, grabbing onto the steering wheel and continuing to move the boat out to sea.

Kiara began typing on the phone.

"Pull into the marina up there," Kiara ordered.

"What's the plan?" Cory asked, steering the boat in the direction of the marina.

"We send them our location," Kie said, turning the phone to Cory. It showed a text to 'Portis' that had a pin that tracks the phone.

"Perfect," Cory said. "And you think they're okay?"

"They have to be," Kie said, a worried frown crossing her face.

The girls were down underneath the boat, trying to prepare it for long distance travel, while also trying to remain out of sight.