ミ★ season 1, episode 1
𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 { 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 by tate mcrae }
0:26 ———♡——— 3:50
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☆ ELIANA GOT ROPED into going with John B to the Cameron's' boat to steal the scuba gear. She tried to warn them that it was a bad idea but JJ and John B had already been set on it, so she went along to soften the blow if they were caught. She didn't feel good about stealing from her best friend but as of right now, she had no other option.

They were silent on the five minute boat ride to the Cameron's, Ellie was too nervous to talk or do anything other then breathe. Once they arrived to their destination, she helped John B tether his boat to My Druthers and they hopped off of their boat and onto the bigger one. It didn't look like anyone was on the boat which was in fact, a good sign.

They were quiet as they walked over to the locked glass door to enter the cabin. Ellie looked over to the house and was left shocked to see her parents sitting on the outside patio with Ward and Rose having lunch. She smiled to herself at seeing her parents laughing happily.

They had never really had close friends before Ellie and Sarah became best friends, they were always too caught up in their kids lives and with the hotel. When the two teenagers became friends, their parents met each other and clicked instantly, also becoming best friends with one another just like the girls. It also caused her parents to branch out and make new friends, resulting in everyone knowing the two parents and loving them.

So now ever since seventh grade, the Cameron's and Delacroix's are two intertwined families. If you knew one then you would for sure either see or hear about the other. Ellie was also pretty sure Ward had hopes she'd marry Rafe, but he was way too weird in her eyes. I mean seriously, the hair gel is a bit too much.

As Ellie snapped back to reality, she noticed John B was also staring at the adults. She swatted him somewhat gently and motioned for his to open the door. He did as she asked and they stepped inside the air conditioned room. Ellie sighed once she felt the gust of cold air hit her body, sending chills down her spine.

"I'll go get the tanks. Stay up here on lookout." John B touched her arm and walked away, leaving the girl by herself.

As he left and descended the stairs to below deck, Ellie plopped on the couch and sighed. She could hear the rattling of the tanks below, slightly giggling to herself on how John B wasn't even trying to be quiet.

John B came back up once he was done and headed out of the cabin to go put the tanks in the boat so they could leave but paused when he Ellie on the couch with her eyes closed. "Yo El, come on let's go." She groaned at his words, not wanting to get up.

"But it's so comfy." She heard him leave and opened one eye, checking he was gone before up and taking a big stretch. It was comparable to her stretch in the morning right after she gets up, but not quite as good.

She heard talking from outside and quirked an eyebrow up before walking out and closing the door behind her. She was met with her best friend standing there glaring at John B.

"Oh! Hey, Sarah." Ellie smiled sheepishly.

"Hey El? What are you guys even doing?" Sarah asked, accusations in her voice.

"Well we were just gonna top off these tanks." John B walked past Sarah and went down to the lower part of the boat that his own was attached to. Ellie followed him blindly, climbing in to help him put the tanks in there. Sarah also followed them down, wanting to ask John B a question.

"Hey um, are you alright? That eye looks a little gnarly." She asked, pointing to her own eye.

"Yeah uh, you know what? You can tell Topper that he won the first round. I'll get him next time." John B climbed onto the boat once the tanks were safely in.

"So there's just gonna be a reign of terror on the island now?" Sarah asked, annoyed to no end.

"You know, wars have been started for less." John B stated.

"Okay yeah no. No wars are starting and there will not - I repeat - will not, be a next time. Okay JB? You hear that?" Ellie scolded the boy.

"Loud and clear ma'am." John B sarcastically retorted.

"Yeah I'll believe it when I see it." Sarah scoffed and turned to her best friend. "Hey, come over tomorrow?"

"Yeah of course Sar. I'll text you later!" Ellie waved to the girl as John B started the motor and steered the boat away from the Cameron's.

"Seriously though, no more fights. You can't afford to get worse then a black eye." Ellie told him once they were well away from the Kook side of the island and halfway to John B's.

"Are you worried about me?" John B smiled teasingly at the girl.

"No, I'm worried for Pope's sanity. Now keep on driving bucko." Ellie returned his teasing smile and turned her head from looking at him to just admiring the landscape around them.

The Outer Banks was truly paradise on Earth. The tourist loved it here for a reason after all. The beautiful beaches, the houses, the people, honestly everything. It was truly home. Even if Ellie had dreamed of places bigger than this, she would always come back to here. After all, home is where the heart is, and her heart was here with all of her favorite people.

꧁☀️꧂

☆ "DUDE SERIOUSLY? THESE are all empty." Kiara looked at John B in disbelief.

"Okay well uh, this one's a quarter full," John B tried to defend himself. He swung the fuel gauge over to Kiara so he could prove he wasn't lying.

"Oh great. Enough for one of us." Kiara shook her head, still annoyed at the boy.

The group shared looks between each other, as if silently voting on who to send in.

"Love it when a plan comes together." Pope said sarcastically.

"Does anybody know how to dive?" Kiara made hand gestures like they were all completely hopeless, but before Ellie could speak up, JJ beat her to it.

"Well it's uh, kind of a Kook sport."

"I mean I read about it." Pope offered.

"Great, Pope read about it, someone's gonna die." Kiara rolled her eyes.

"Look, you put the thing in your mouth and breath, how hard could it be?" JJ tried to make it seem not as dangerous as it actually was.

"Well if you come up too fast Nitrogen gets in your blood and you get the bends." Pope informed the blonde, who of course made a joke out of it.

"Bends like, bend over?" JJ arched his back and Ellie burst out into laughter, finding it funny how JJ always made light out of a bad situation.

"The bends kill you." Pope said seriously, causing JJ's smirk to be wiped right off of his face.

"Now that you guys are finally done talking, I can do it." Ellie smiled. Seeing them argue over who would do it when they had someone who had already dived before was comedic for her to watch.

"You can do it? Have you ever even dived before?" John B looked to the girl, unsure.

"Yes John B, I have." She rolled her eyes before looking over each of them. "I was in Mexico like last winter or some shit, I was fine but I did get the bends and have to stay in a hyperbaric chamber for six fucking hours, but I was fine. Now I know better. So, I'll do it so none of you guys die. Lord knows you wouldn't be able to afford the bills if one of you did it wrong." Ellie clicked her tongue and stood up, taking her shirt off so that she could get the tank and gear on. Below her clothes, she was wearing an all black bikini which helped show off her tanned skin to the max.

"Ouch?" JJ looked to the girl, not really meaning it though because he knew she was right.

"Okay well just let me make the calculation real quick. The boats about thirty feet down which means you need to do your safety stop about ten feet down." Pope informed the girl.

"Here, I got you." Kie shed her shirt and dove into the water without warning, only Ellie knew what she was doing.

"What just happened?" John B looked at the still bubbling water in confusion.

"I don't know, but I liked it. A lot." JJ admitted.

"Ew JJ. Gross." Ellie shook her head rapidly, as if trying to shake JJ's words out of her head.

"Make your safety stop for two minutes. You got that?" Pope looked at his friend worriedly.

"Yeah Pope, I got it. Thanks." Ellie smiled softly at the boy.

"Okay uh, when you're down there look for the cargo hold. Stick this thing inside, twist and pull. Alright?" JJ handed her a key looking thing which she took gently.

"Yup."

"Hey El, I tied my t-shirt ten feet down for your safety stop." Kiara informed her.

"Okay perfect, thanks Kie." Ellie grabbed the tank and fitted it over her shoulders, adding the tied string with the key hanging off of it around her neck.

"Breathe as little as possible." Pope patted her shoulder before moving to sit back behind the drivers seat.

"Think Zen." JJ told her seriously.

"Right... thanks?" Ellie shook her head confused but amused none the less.

"Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh, we're basically screwed, so better get a move on." Pope added.

"Right, noted. Okay uh, see you guys soon?" Ellie turned around with an odd look on her face, the situation a little awkward.

"Hey wait, uh, be careful. Y'know. Don't die - or anything." John B whispered nervously, grabbing her arm so she would listen.

"Yeah I got it John B, don't worry I know you wouldn't survive without me." She patted his cheek sarcastically and pulled the mask over her face. Then, without hesitation, dove into the water waiting below.

When her body touched the water, pure serotonin shot through her veins. This is where she felt the most alive and seen. No one to judge when it was just her, the water, and the sea creatures below. Most people were scared of anything hiding in the deep blue, but not Eliana. She didn't want to be a marine biologist or anything, but the intricate and fascinating life of the sea always left her shaking with excitement.

She swam through the water slowly, finding Kiara's t-shirt and coming to a stop. She counted to 120 in her head and then continued down, deeming it safe to do so. The little particles of sand and other substances in the water clouded her vision, but eventually she caught the outline of the boat and grabbed on to one of the poles to use as an anchor.

The former white boat now had a green look to it from the water, making the image look even more eerie then before. But she didn't let that scare her away, not yet at least. She moved around the boat effortlessly, trying to find the cargo hold that JJ had mentioned. It took her not even a minute to find it and relief fled through her.

She tugged at the string around her neck harshly, causing pain to erupt from where she was tugging it from. Eventually, it gave in and broke in two, the water wearing it down and making it easier to break. Ellie put the key in and twisted, pulling off the lid of the compartment after it was unlocked. She put the key in the triangle part of her swimsuit, the key making her boob look weird but hey, gotta do what you gotta do.

She pulled up a black duffel bag that was almost weightless, only being dragged down from the abundance of water. She didn't really know if it was what they were looking for, but she hoped it was as she took it all the way out and started to make her way out from in the boat.

She slowly ascended like she was supposed to, taking about two minutes to get back up to where Kiara's shirt was tied. Ellie could feel her tank start to empty out from oxygen and tried to stay calm about it, but then she saw a boat parked right next to theirs.

Ellie pulled up her fuel gauge and started to freak out even more once she saw she only have one minute left. If that boat didn't leave soon, well then she would be dead. She took slow breaths, saving as much of the element as she could, but then she saw the outline of a figure step up on the bow of the boat and look out into the water.

shitshitshitshitshit. oh my god i'm so dead.

Ellie could feel her breathing pick up, the fear behind getting caught eating at her. She took her last deep breath when she saw the number turn to zero, hoping the person would leave soon and she wouldn't pass out from lack of air.

She let her body float gently while keeping herself tethered to the string of the anchor. About thirty seconds after she ran out of oxygen, she could feel her head start to throb and her throat constrict, her body slowly starting to shut down. Luckily though, she noticed as the boat started to drive away, the motor stirring up with water above.

Eliana tore off the mask as if it was drowning her and swam frantically for the surface, dying to get a mouthful of air. She broke through the surface, a loud gasp coming from her as she kept breathing in fast pants. The air was like the most sacred thing to her in this moment, keeping her anchored to the earth.

The group would've made jokes in that moment, but from the look on her face it was anything but funny. She looked like her soul had been ripped out and put back in. Like she had been through hell and back.

"Holy shit El. Are you good." Kiara had the urge to jump in and help her friend.

Ellie didn't respond, instead just gave them a thumbs up as she went to float on her back, catching in more and more air as time went on.

"Just," she breathed deeply. "Give me a," she took another breath. "Minute." She finished, letting her throat rest for talking as she worked on slowing her heart rate and getting her head back to feeling normal and not all foggy.

Not even a minute later, she opened her eyes to be met with the blinding sun, making her snap back to reality. It had felt like hours by the time she started to swim towards the boat, black bag in hand.

"Holy fuck. I am never diving again." Ellie reached the side of the boat and saw John B and JJ hold their hands out to pull her up. She looked at them gratefully and grabbed on, but not before throwing the bag on board.

"We so thought you were a goner." Pope commented, glad to see his friend alive.

"Yeah, I thought I was too. I'm never taking air for granted again." Ellie laughed chokingly, still not fully okay from the lack of air. When she got both feet on board, she took the key out from the triangle part she put it in and threw it to the floor, she then unstrapped the tank and put it next to the others. She then decided on going over to the bow and laying down on her back, hoping her senses would come back to her fully soon.

The boys started to haul the anchor up so they could get out of there so as to not cause suspicion, but then Kie spotted something.

"Um you guys, bogey two o'clock." Ellie's head lifted up at that and she sat up, not liking the tone Kie had said it with.

"Do you recognize that boat?" Pope asked, looking over at the unfamiliar vessile.

"Nope, never seen it." Kie affirmed. "What are they doing here? The marsh is closed." Kie crossed her arms over her chest, confusion labeled throughout her body.

"Kie we're here and the marsh is closed." Ellie pointed out.

"Okay guys whatever, let's not stick around and find out what they want." JJ commented, him and John B speeding up in taking the anchor out of the water. Ellie went to sit at the drivers seat bench, shaking from nervousness and from the chill of the air on her soaked body. John B told Pope to get the stern while leaving JJ with the anchor, coming around behind the wheel next to Ellie to get them out of there.

"Maybe they're fishing." Pope offered.

"No Pope, let's go!" Kiara raised her voice at John B, urging him to hurry.

"Act freaking natural." Ellie mumbled at them.

"Go into the marsh!" JJ told his best friend, finally finishing the anchor and hopping down from the bow to join them on the same level. Ellie turned around just to see the men on the boat speed up towards them.

"Guys. Guy! They're speeding up." Ellie started to hit John B lightly, taking her anxiety out on him.

The boats sped through the water, making waves flow out behind them in their wake. John B swerved through the marsh perfectly, doing everything he could to get them out of there. Ellie was the only one who was sitting down, the rest of them standing for some odd reason. Or actually, maybe it was because she had taken the only real seat available.

The loud motor was the only sound Ellie could hear, other then the wind ripping through her hair like it would drag her down with it. Next thing she knew, a shot rang out and everyone started yelling.

"Holy shit guys! Get down!" JJ moved to tug down Pope and Kiara, John  B getting down as low as he could while Ellie just hunched over in her seat.

"What the fuck?" Ellie shouted over the wind, the whole situation somehow became out of hand and she didn't know how they even got to this point. Another shot rang out, this time Pope spoke up.

"Oh my God, we're gonna die." Pope sunk further into the side of the boat, getting as low as he possibly could. Ellie covered her head, hoping it would somehow protect her if another shot ran out, her heart pounding in her ears.

It had soon turned into the only thing she heard, she no longer paid attention to the loud motors, the swish of the water, the wind, or the shots. Just her heart and the racing of it in her chest, reverberating at a fast and steady pace.

She came back to the present once she saw key stand up, but still hunching over.

"Kie what the hell are you doing. Get down!" Ellie yelled at her. Soon enough, just like clockwork, another shot rang out. This time Ellie screamed as tears started to leak from her eyes and roll down her face.

Kie threw a net into the water and eventually, the boat finally stopped following them. When it was all over, Ellie reached out to John B blindly, needing to feel another person was there and that he was okay. Her breath came out in pants, not wanting to believe that that had just happened.

"This is officially the worst day of my life." She muttered.

Kiara and JJ on the other hand, were celebrating their escape, Pope being the only other one who was freaked out over it. Ellie shook her head roughly, trying to erase the memory that would now haunt her for months to come.

꧁☀️꧂

☆ ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES later, clouds had covered the descending sun and they were close to darkness, only the light from the sky to guide their way. They arrived to John B's dock, Ellie being the first one off. She let out a sigh of relief at finally being back on solid ground.

John B was off the boat next with the black bag from the wreck in his hands, the others following soon after him. When he got to the covered part of the deck he went to his knees immediately and opened the bag, eager to see what was inside. Ellie on the other hand, couldn't care less right now, she just wanted the past hour to be gone from her memories.

"What do you guys think it is?" Kie asked.

"Well it's gotta be money or something." John B replied.

"That or a couple of keys with street value to the low to mid mills." JJ patted John B's shoulder excitedly.

"Can we please just open the bag?" Pope raised his voice at the boys.

"Woah Pope. That was a rare outburst of emotion." John B teased, the other joining in while Ellie still remained quiet.

"Okay, you guys are literally killing me with anticipation." Pope crouched down so he could be level with John B.

His words caused John B to speed up, pulling out yet another bag which brought them to be met with a canister. He twisted the top off in a hurry and took a look inside. He turned it over and a circular thing fell out and into his palm. He flipped it open and was met with a compass, leaving him stunned.

"Oh wow. That's about right. Good job everybody, we found a compass." Pope complained. Ellie couldn't help but feel disappointed that all of them had basically put their lives on the line for nothing. But then she noticed John B's expression and looked at him confused.

"You good John B? What is it?" Ellie asked softly.

"This was my fathers." John B didn't break his stare from the brown compass, entranced by it.

"What. The. Fuck."

authors note
FINALLY get to move on to episode two oml

i'm excited for the next couple chapters... they'll be long asf but a lot will be happening

love you guys,

jordyn <3