Coralina Routledge, twin sister of John Booker Routledge, needs a distraction from the chaos of her life. Her father, Big John, known throughout the North Carolina island of Kildaire as a crazy treasure hunter is always running off and leaving his...
"JJ, she's like 85. I think we can out run her. We'll meet you in the basement," Coral told him, kissing him quickly, "Let's go," she told Sarah, "You coming Kie?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Yeah, girls trip," Kie muttered sarcastically as they left the boys and crept through the overgrown grass.
"She must have a generator hooked up," Kie whispered as they made their way around the house. Creeping up the porch steps Sarah aimed her flashlight on the circuit box, "There it is," she whispered.
Opening it slowly the girls stared inside, "Shit, where are the breakers?"
Shining her flashlight up the wall Coral followed the electric line up the wall and into the house, "Fuck, it goes inside. JJ's gonna kill me," she muttered, pushing down on the handle of the screen door she eased it open before turning the knob on the door.
Sighing in relief when it wasn't locked the girls crept into the house.
Shining their flashlights around Kie nudged her pointing up to the electrical line coming from the porch. Following the line they jumped in fright when a cat screeched, "Holy hell," Kie muttered.
"Good God," Coral whispered, heart racing, as she continued following the line. Turning the corner she found the box in the kitchen, "Guys," she whispered opening the box. Squinting at the handwriting inside the box she flipped the breaker marked exterior light, "Did it go off?" she asked.
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Hurrying towards the front of the house Sarah looked outside, "It's dark so I think it worked," she responded. Gasping when the cuckoo clock went off Sarah whispered, "There's probably a way into the basement," she said shining her flashlight around the house.
"This house is like a maze," Kie hissed as they searched for the basement. Opening a door they shined their flashlights inside, "What the fuck?" Coral whispered staring at the chained padlocked door, "Where do you think that goes?" she asked.
"I don't want to know," Sarah responded, shutting the door behind them. Hearing thumping coming from up above all three girls froze. Wide eyed Coral motioned for them to move when she realized the thumping was a cane and it was now coming down the steps.
Scrambling out of the front room they hurried back down the hall towards the kitchen. Pressing themselves against the wall they held their breath as they could hear old lady Crain muttering to herself as she thumped her way down the hallway.
"She's coming this way," Coral hissed as Kie grabbed her hand and squeezed.
"Leon it's late," Crain was calling as she thumped her way into the kitchen, "You need to come to bed, now," she said turning her hazy eyes on the girls.
Squealing in fright they took off running, "Which way?"
"I'm so turned around," Kie huffed looking around wildly, "Shit we lost Sarah," she realized.
