Shadow Child

On the Outer Banks, summer poured from the sky like pouring asphalt—thick, hot, unbearable. JJ Maybank lay on the deck of an old boat, legs dangling over the side, beer in hand, eyes glued to the sky. Next to him was Haillie, tanned, wind-ruffled, with that look in her eyes that always said, "I know something's about to go wrong."

And of course, she was right.

John B was tinkering with the engine, Pope was reading a book, Kie was arguing with a seagull over a chip, the usual. Everything was quiet, idyllic. Until a crash echoed in the woods—right on the shoreline. Like someone slamming their body against a tree.

JJ looked up.

"Did you hear that?"They didn't have time to answer. Something... no, someone... burst out of the bushes. A child. But not in the "aww, kid" kind—it was a size-small wreck. Emaciated beyond belief, face pale as a sheet, eyes wide open, as if he'd just seen the devil himself. Dirty hands trembling. Pants soaked in something dark—mud, blood, maybe both. Barefoot. Wounds on his legs. Eyes so terrified they looked like they were about to explode.

Haillie instinctively took a step toward him.

"Hey, hey, calm down... Don't be afraid, you're safe—"

But the kid wasn't listening.

He roared. Literally—like a caged animal. He bared his teeth. He pushed aside the branches and took off running. JJ barely had time to back away before the kid flew past like a tornado. Pope even dropped his book.

"Oh fuck," JJ muttered, disconcerted.