▌Prologue ─ Searching In The Dark ▌
▌Part 1 ─ Season 1 ─ Episode 1 ─ Pilot ▌

      ━━━━━ "I OFTEN WONDERED what death would be like, the impending question became more real when Nancy and I lost our mother. I knew I was different from my sister, simply because I was always thinking about death. Thinking about the way I'd die when my time was here. Thinking about what others went through when it was time for them to die. But the question of what death would be like became more real when I knew it was always following me around like a ghost."

In the late night of August 31st 2000 Lucy Sable gave birth to two twin girls at the Bluffs. The young teenager had handed them over to Kate and her husband Carson Drew. The husband and wife looked down at the two girls that each of them held in their hands. When Carson was the first to look up Lucy Sable was no longer there. Handing the child he had in his hand over to his wife he moved over to the edge of the cliff but saw no sign of Lucy. She died that night and became something of a legend in the town of Horseshoe Bay.

Kate and Carson took their new found daughters and left the small town moving to London. Eventually they moved back to Horseshoe Bay to raise the girls there. Alora and Nancy Drew had a knack for trying to solve any type of mystery that would fall into their laps. However when they got older and their mother got sick it was just one mystery they couldn't solve no matter how hard they tried searching for an answer. Alora walked through Horseshoe Bay reminiscing over her memories.

"Horseshoe Bay's most infamous Sea Queen wore her crown for only one night. People say she still haunts our town."

Alora stood with Nancy's friends as they spun her around. "Three, four, five. You'll never get out of here alive!" They shouted, pushing her towards Lucy Sabel's gravestone. "You're our Sea Queen, Nancy Drew." Alora smiled at her sister as she looked at the gravestone. She then turned to look back at them.

"Seriously, guys?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah, put it on there."

"Yeah. You have to put it on the gravestone, or else it's not official." Nancy briefly looked back at them. "Come on."

Alora watched her sister take the crown off the top of her head and walk closer to the stone placing it on top. It was placed with the other crowns that lay on top.

"Now you're one of them."

"Ooh! You are now."

"All hail the Sea Queen."

"Yeah. All hail the Sea Queen."

Nancy's boyfriend then jumped up from behind the gravestone causing the four to scream. Soon their screams turned into laughter.

"I totally got you." He said, as Nancy kissed him.

Alora glanced passed the two, she saw something in the fog, something that felt familiar to her. She started walking past Nancy's friends, Nancy followed behind her. Alora was certain that she and Nancy had seen the same thing. A ghost.

"But Nancy and I don't believe in ghosts. We believe in looking for the truth. At least I think we do."

Little Nancy and Alora stood outside in the backyard looking at their mom and dad as they dug something up from the ground.

"Our parents called it curiosity. Said we were just born that way. But I know that's not the whole story. I've always felt that there were missing pieces to the story."

The twins watched as their mother walked up to them pointing the flashlight at them. "It's just a dream, sweethearts. Here, take Mommy's flashlight." She said handing it over to Nancy and then picking the two off the grass.

"It wasn't a dream. But what was it? After that night, Nancy and I began to chase the shadows. And Horseshoe Bay had a lot of them."

Nancy and Alora walked behind their parents searching for the missing child named Rose. The rest of the town was also out searching for her.

"When a local child went missing, the whole town went looking, but the Drew sisters are the ones who saved her."

Nancy and Alora exchanged a look watching the only man who hadn't been searching for the child walk down the sidewalk. They proceeded to follow after him making sure to keep their distance so he didn't know they were there. Alora and Nancy came to a stop watching the man move under a fence. The two pulled out their beanies and placed them over their fiery orange hair.

"We found Rose Turnbull behind a hidden staircase. Nancy and I ended up getting grounded, but it didn't matter. We were hooked. Mysteries were everywhere, and we loved solving them, together. It was more than just a hobby. It was part of who we were."

Alora was in her room, typing out a college application like her sister had been doing. The two wanted to go to the same school; they didn't want to be separated. However, Alora looked away from her laptop when she heard her mother crying. Standing up she walked out of her room just as Nancy did. The two then walked down the steps.

"We'll get a second opinion in Boston." Carson said, as the two came to a stop at the end of the stairs.

"Dad? Mom, what's wrong?" Nancy asked, the two walking forward slightly.

Carson stood up with Katherine briefly and looked at her children, both could see the tears falling down her face. She then placed the papers on the table, turning to look at the twins.

"Mom?" They asked.

"But then life dropped a real mystery into our lap. One that couldn't be solved. One that we were desperate to solve. But the truth is, we couldn't no matter how much we put our mind to it."

After they had been told what had been happening to their mother the two began to work to find a way to save her life. But it wasn't enough. The twins stood together holding hands as they looked down at their mother's gravestone. Alora felt that she had failed their mother, that it wasn't enough, that they could've done more to save her.

"Neither of us go searching in the dark anymore. Not after the darkness found us."

Nancy had finally caught up to her. Alora was of course on her final seconds of her break ending, while Nancy on the other hand was in fact late. The two walked past a group of teenager's, one of whom would be crowned this year's Sea Queen.

"Hard to believe that was Nancy a year ago. Or maybe what's harder to believe this is, Nancy and I now. Things are different, and I have this feeling that it'll continue to change, that it'll get worse." She thought to herself as they proceeded to take off running towards the back of the Claw.

"Hey, Nancy, Alora."

"Hey, guys." The twins called out.

"At least until this time next year." The two proceeded to walk into the staff room. Nancy headed to her locker while Alora went towards the steps.

"Ooh, look who's late. Getting to be a habit." George said, as she walked by her.

"Sorry." Nancy said, opening her locker and pulling her jacket off.

"As I'm sure you're aware, this isn't high school. You work for me now."

"Super aware, George. 100% total awareness every time you bring it up."

Alora smiled and moved out of the way as George passed her, Nancy turned around to look at her and then at her sister.

"George Fan, manager. Former high school classmate, major holder of grudges, especially towards Nancy."

Alora walked into the kitchen grabbing some plates while George walked towards the other door but looked into the staff room to see Nancy still standing there.

"Drew! Clam chowder, table eight. Gosh..." George said, as she exited out of the kitchen. Nancy then closed her locker and walked into the kitchen. She assembled a plate and bowl and looked to the box to see no crackers.

"Hey, what happened to all the crackers?" Nancy asked, looking at Ace.

Alora smiled at him. "Ace. He has no last name, well he would never tell me anyway. It's part of his whole 'Zen and the Art of Dishwashing.' But at least he doesn't judge my sister and I for tanking our grades last year and bailing on the college applications. Or maybe he forgot that Nancy said something during one of his smoke breaks. He also helped me mourn my mother. But he has no idea that I have the biggest crush on him, that I love him."

Alora grabbed the plate of food and walked out behind her sister, leaving Ace in the kitchen. She passed by one of the new workers and walked over to the table placing the food down in front of those who had ordered it. She briefly turned to look at the new girl who watched George walk away from her.

"Bess Marvin. Not from around here. As if the Cartier watch and Chanel flats didn't give it away. Taking a gap year from life in the city, crashing with her rich aunt in a mansion on the bluffs..." Bess proceeded to break some glass. "...and not a natural at the hospitality game."

───── ☾☾☾ ─────

Alora's shift was almost over, it was painful watching the clock strike down the minutes ever so slowly. The orange haired woman walked with her sister over to the window. She then watched as she pressed the record button.

"What's that for?" Bess asked the two.

They turned to look back at her. "I'm recording the fireworks." Nancy answered. "It's the, uh- it's the first year since we were little that our family hasn't been able to watch them together."

"And this way you can when you both get off work. That is so sweet."

"Um, actually..." Someone proceeded to bang on the door, cutting Nancy off. "Oh, my god." They both looked to see Ryan Hudson look into the building.

"Sorry, we're closing early today for the parade." Bess went to tell him.

"Um, we could stay open a little longer." George said, walking over to the door and opening. "Mr. Hudson. Welcome to The Claw. I don't believe that you've been in here before."

"Thank you. We need a, uh, quiet table for a private conversation." He said, looking at George.

"Of course. Right this way." George walked over to Nancy grabbing the menus from her. "Bess, do the fork thing."

Ryan was the last to pass by, he briefly looked at Nancy and Alora smiling at them. "Ryan Hudson, heir to his family's business empire, carrying on their tradition of summering in Horseshoe Bay."

"And, uh, can you bring something to my wife? She's outside in the car." Ryan asked, looking up at George.

"Oh, your wife is here?"

"Yeah. Uh, and make sure it doesn't have a bun- um, salt, sauce, basically anything that makes it taste remotely good."

"Got it."

George then walked away from them as Bess began talking. George walked over to Alora and Nancy looking between the two.

"Wife needs good. I need a minute. Little help, please."

Nancy took the pad, while Alora watched her walk out of the room. "Since when does George need help with anything?"

Nancy had gone out to hand Ryan's wife the food, when she came back in she grabbed a glass and the carton of wine and proceeded to pour it into the glass.

"Please tell me this isn't the last box." Nancy said, looking at the three.

"Sorry, I was thirsty." Ace answered, looking at Nancy.

Bess turned around to look at her as well. "I will go check the storeroom." Bess said walking out of the room. Alora watched Ace turn to watch her leave, he then looked back at Alora and Nancy.

"I'm growing on her." Ace said.

"Like a fungus, Ace."

Shortly after Nancy had said that the light proceeded to flicker until they eventually went off. "It wasn't me."

Nancy walked forward grabbing the glass. She then walked over to the counter on the front counter. Ace jumped off and walked past Alora who walked up behind her sister.

"I'll be right back." Nancy said.

"You want me to come?" Alora asked her.

"Sure."

"The whole marina's out."

They walked to the front and Nancy grabbed her phone, stopping the video. Then they walked over to the front door exiting out of the building and heading to Mrs. Hudson. Alora pulled out her phone and turned the flash on as Nancy did the same thing.

"Mrs. Hudson?" Nancy called out as the two looked around, fog had made an appearance. "Hello?" The two turned around, looking for the woman. Nancy stepped on some glass causing the two to look down on the ground. "Mrs. Hudson?"

Alora looked up at the sky as the fireworks started to go off. The two looked over the car, seeing the body of Mrs. Hudson on the ground.

"Oh, my God." Nancy breathed out. The two then walked over to her, Nancy feeling for her pulse. "Help! Someone? Help!"

Alora looked up watching George, Bess, and Ace run out of the Claw and down the steps. They ran towards them until eventually coming to a stop in front, as Nick Nancy's current fling ran over to them.

"Nancy?" Nick questioned, as he stopped next to them.

"What happened?" George asked them.

"You okay?" Nick asked Nancy.

"She's dead." Nancy said.

Soon enough the sirens of police cars were going off as they drove towards the Claw. Alora turned to look at them.

───── ☾☾☾ ─────

The six were back in the Claw, Nancy and Bess sat in a chair while Ace stood in between Bess and Alora. Nick leaned on a chair next to Nancy and George stood next to Nick. Chief McGinnis walked in through the door looking at the group. Two officers stood behind him.

"So, what do you six have to say?" Chief McGinnis asked them.

"I'd ask you to check the cameras in the storeroom, because I'd totally be on there, time stamped, looking for wine. But we don't have any cameras in the storeroom." Bess spoke.

"I was in the ladies' room, and it's a single stall, so, yeah... by myself." George said.

"I already said the repair shop was closed. I figured that implied it was empty. That's why I was headed here for dinner." Nick answered.

"Ryan Hudson can verify my whereabouts. I delivered food to him and his friends when the lights went out. Yeah, since the waitresses were nowhere to be seen. Not that I think they did anything wrong." Ace said.

"I was with Ace and Nancy when the lights went out. I asked my sister if she wanted me to come with her and she said yes. So I went outside with her and we found Mrs. Hudson out there next to her car." Alora told him.

"Alora and I found her. My fingerprints will be on her plate. Other than the person who may have done this, I believe I was the last one to see her alive." Nancy said.

Chief McGinnis turned to look back at the others. "Ace here has an alibi."

"What?" Bess asked, looking at him.

"Bring the rest down to the station. Tell Mr. Hudson and his friends they are free to leave." Chief McGinnis said.