I run until the beach is desolate and I’m beyond all of the houses that back up onto the beach. Until I can pretend I’m the only person in existence and the rest of the world isn’t trying to beat me for a reason I haven’t worked out yet.
I come to a stop, lifting my hands to the back of my head, and suck in lungfuls of air before downing water like it’s going out of fashion.
Echoes Cove, in a lot of ways, is the same as I remember, but something definitely changed while I was gone, and I have no fucking idea what it is. I don’t remember the people here being so… secretive. So sadistic and twisted.
My mind wanders back to the four boys who were once my saviors. I wonder what happened to them to make them so twisted. I get that the parents in Echoes Cove aren’t the most attentive… The greed here makes me sick, but the sadistic streak in Maverick is worse than I ever remember it being, and Lincoln was always dark and broody, but the anger that seems to fuel him is insane. I can’t quite get a read on Finley, but something definitely isn’t right there either. The only one who seems reasonably unscathed is East… And none of it makes any sense.
Not that I expect it to, but Indi’s comment about deadly secrets has been swirling around in the back of my mind since she said it. Part of me wants to just put it down to the rivalry she mentioned… But another part of me tells me not to be so dismissive.
Echoes Cove has always been a web of lies and deceit.
“I can’t stay here with all of this, Stone, we need to get out. Now. Before they come for Octavia.” My mom screams at my daddy, and I rock back and forth in the pantry with my hands over my ears. All my parents seem to do now is argue and shout. I wish I could make it stop.
“There is no way out of this, Camille. What part of that don’t you get? The best thing we can do for V is to just do what we need to do.” My dad’s voice gets quieter. He sounds so sad.
A glass smashes, and my mom shrieks again. “Why do you have to be such a fucking doormat? I didn’t sign up for this, Rob. I’m taking our daughter, and I’m getting as far away from this cesspit as possible.”
“If you run, they will chase you. It’s what they do.”
“We can’t just let them dictate our lives like this. I’ll suffocate if I stay.”
“You think they’ll let you live if you leave… if it’s not on their terms? What about that is safe for her, Cami?”
I don’t understand any of what they’re talking about, so I stay quiet. No one knows I’m here, and I don’t want them to yell at me too. Mom yells all the time now. Ever since they went to that party I wasn’t allowed to go to. I wish I’d never made such a fuss. Maybe then they wouldn’t fight anymore.
“Have either of you seen Miss Octavia?” Smithy’s voice interrupts them, and I scurry into the back corner. If they find me here, I’m going to be in trouble. I push harder on my ears and close my eyes, counting my numbers like Daddy asked.
I wish they wouldn’t fight about me all the time. Maybe if I was better they wouldn’t fight. Maybe if I could just learn my numbers, the yelling will stop.
I drop to my knees as the memory hits me, the ache in my chest growing. I don’t have that many memories of my mom from before she left me… or so I thought.
What even was that?
I take a deep breath and close my eyes, racking my brain for more of the memory. What on earth would my parents have been trying to run from?
I shake my head, trying to clear the memories. Before who comes for me? Surely my dad wouldn’t have sent me back here if it wasn’t safe? All he ever tried to do was keep me safe.
That’s why he took me on tour, he wanted me with him after Mom left. It was our big adventure, a way to keep us together. I was safer with him on tour than here in the Cove on my own.
None of this makes sense, and I only have a fragment of the puzzle. It’s probably nothing, just my stressed out brain trying to manifest my trauma or some bullshit.
My phone buzzes in my arm strap, so I slide it out. Any distraction is better than this.
Indi: You doing okay? Did you get the car sorted out?
Me: I’m fine, just out for a run. Smithy is getting the car taken care of, but it’s going to take at least a week. FML.
Indi: Want a ride in the morning? I don’t mind playing taxi for a week if you need me.
Me: You are a lifesaver, floofy coffees are entirely on me the whole week.
Indi: See this is why we’re going to be BFFL. You understand me on a baser level.
I can’t help but laugh at her. Coffee is definitely one way to this girl’s heart. That, reality TV shows, and good music. I can get down for most of that. The train of thought gives me an idea.
Me: Exactly… speaking of BFFL, when is your birthday? A good bestie requires this information.
Indi: Uhm… it’s actually in a few weeks. I don’t usually do much, birthdays aren’t a big deal in my family.