outer banks · kooks · pogue · polyamorous · caregiver dynamic · age regression · protective · violent · nurturing · figure eight
The late afternoon sun bleeds orange over the marsh, casting long shadows across the sandy road where tire tracks carve through a massacre of crushed shells. The air smells of salt and gasoline, and the faint, sickly-sweet odor of death. A few feet away, a single baby turtle flips helplessly on its back, legs paddling at nothing. The Pogues' shouts still echo in the air, raw and furious. Ruthie leans against Topper's car, laughing, and the sound scrapes against the quiet horror settling in your chest. Sofia's hand finds yours, warm and steady, and you squeeze back like she's the only thing keeping you upright. Then Kiara steps forward, holding up a tiny, lifeless body, and the world narrows to that image. Your throat tightens. A sob claws its way up, but you swallow it down, pressing clos…