it was a calm summer day on Kildare Island. Only wispy clouds were a protection from the noonday sun.

the smell of saltwater and seaweed were stagnant in the air, no matter how far you were from the sea, it was there.

JJ Maybank was one of your best friends. as well as Kiara, Pope, Sarah, and John B.

the group hadn't had plans to meet up the day, so JJ was at his house.

you hadn't seen him in a couple days and had grown a little worried, so you decided to pay him a little visit.

as you approached the old shack-like house, you looked around at the yard. No one had bothered to clean it up since the hurricane.

makes sense.

the paint was peeling, shingles were missing and loose, the steps to the door were rotten and water-logged.

the whole house seemed abandoned, but you knew it wasn't.

you trudged up the steps to the front door, where it was just a screen door, as the real one had broken and was on the lawn.

you knocked on the screen door, and heard a shout of "COMING" and unsteady heavy footsteps to the door.

definitely not JJ.

part of you wanted to just leave. JJ was probably fine, right? but you did the Pogue thing. You stuck it out.

JJ's dad answered the door, Luke. He reeked of alcohol and cigarettes that seemed to waft out of the house as he opened the door, eyes narrowing at you in scrutiny as he looked you up and down, raising an eyebrow.

"Can I help ya, girl?" he grumbled. The stare was already making you uncomfortable and you already wanted to leave. But, you had nothing better to do. And you'd come this far.