Outer Banks (JJ Maybank x Reader) Book 1

The Crain House

"I'm sorry. You're staying where?" Kie asks as she walks behind the counter of the Wreck. "Tannyhill," John B shrugs. "So you're living with Sarah Cameron?" She asks, grabbing a stack of cups. "Okay, look, the only reason I'm living there is because her dad bailed me out, alright?" He sighs, standing up to follow her. "And it's way better than foster care, which, by the way, is where I was about to go if Ward didnt-," John B says. "That's not true, Ward bailed y/n out and she's living with JJ," Kie shrugs, pursing her lips. "That's right," JJ grins, placing his hands on my shoulders as he stands behind my chair. "Hey, so like, do you have a membership to the clubs now?" Pope asks from the chair next to me.

"I don't know, Pope," John B mutters, taking a seat next to us. "What about those little golf carts they get to drive around? You get one of them?" JJ asks. "Does it come with a sweater-vest, or do you have to buy one on your own?" Pope asks, lacing his fingers behind his head. "Look, you promised," Kie shrugs defeatedly. "You said you weren't with her," She says. John B gives a defensive shrug.

"Bro, just own it. She got you," JJ says. "Look, if you wanna hang out with her, that's fine," Kie shrugs. "But I'm letting you know right now that I'm not doing anything with Sarah," She nods. "I second that," I say, laying my palm on the table. "Do you guys see her here?" John B asks. "No, right. Okay, a little focus would be fantastic," He says. "We've got the map, right?" He nods at JJ. "Well, it's all outta whack 'cause the guy was ganja'd when he drew it," JJ says as John B lays a pencil down on the map. "Parcel Map" is labeled on the bottom, showing where each parcel on the plantation is located. "It's cause the coast has changed," Kie rolls her eyes.

"So we just have to look for landmarks that haven't changed," Pope says as JJ nods. "What about the old forts?" John B asks, looking up at us. "Battery Jasper," Kie realizes, pointing to the old ruins on the map.

~~~~~~

"We're in battery right here," Pope says, pointing at the map as we look out over the horizon. "So, if this is parcel nine, then it's gotta be somewhere northeast of here," Pope says, dragging his finger across the map before pointing over the rocky cliff. "Somewhere over there," Kie nods, pointing. "Right," Pope agrees. "Over there? Guys, that's not Tannyhill, that's a subdivision," JJ says. "Tannyhill plantation used to be the entire island," I remember.

"It got sold into smaller pieces over time," John B nods. "Okay, so, we're just looking for an old stone wall," Pope says, showing us the landmark drawn on the map.

~~~~~~

"Okay, so the road should split up here," Pope nods from the passenger seat, glancing between the map and the road as John B drives. "Okay."

"Alright, you're gonna take a left." Our van pulls down a dusty dirt road, hidden by ivy, and, a stone wall. "That looks like a stone wall to me," JJ grins as John B stops the car. "This is it," Pope nods. "Not the Crain house," John B mutters as we face our destination. "Are you kidding me?" Kie asks, walking up to the wall and looking at the old house. "Worst case scenario," JJ nods, taking a deep breath. "Why'd it have to be here...," I groan. "Of all places," Pope shakes his head.

"I heard that Mrs. Crain buried her husband's head on the property," JJ says, glancing sideways at me.

"Look, you guys know who's house this is right?" Kie whispers as we creep past the stone wall and into the overgrown lawn. "Oh, yeah. No, I do," JJ says, nodding his head aggressively. "Honestly, I don't really believe the stories of this place," John B says. "Shh," Pope hisses, glancing back at him. "What?" He shrugs.

"Which stories did you hear?" JJ whispers to Kiara. "The one where she killed her husband with an axe and that she's been holed up ever since," Kie says. "On certain nights, when the moon is full... you can see her in the window," Kie whispers, wiggling her fingers. "No, Kie, it's not funny," JJ says, grabbing my hand absentmindedly. "Wahhh!" Kie giggles. "'Cause it's all true!" JJ defends in a whisper. "I swear to God, guys, this is all real, I knew Hollis... jeez!" He hisses as he jumps away from a low hanging breath. I smirk. "J...," I laugh, nodding at his hand clutched tightly around mine.

"Shut up," He mutters, not letting go. "Wait, you knew Hollis Crain?" Pope asks as we stop next to the house. "Yeah, dude," JJ nods. "Dude, how do you know Hollis Crain?" Pope mutters, pushing him slightly. "She was my babysitter man, she told me all about it," JJ says, serious. "Told me the truth... about her mother... and what happened in this house," JJ explains, glancing up at the old building. For a second, I think I see a curtain close in one of the windows.

"So, as a kid, she heard all the stories that her mother killed her father, and... she was a murderer and all," JJ says. "Hollis didn't believe it," He says, glancing down at me. "Until that night," He mutters. "What night?" John B asks. "It all came back to her," He says, his face solemn. JJ turns, glancing out over the overgrown yard. "When Hollis was six years old, she heard her parents arguing downstairs," He says, turning to us again. "So she goes downstairs to see her mom, washing her hands in a sink... full of blood," He says, taking a step towards Pope. "Her mother just says that she cut her finger," JJ continues.

"The next morning she says that her father and her split up. But then Hollis noticed something," JJ says, narrowing his eyes. "Her mother going into the parlor, constantly, in and out and in and out with plastic bags," JJ whispers. Kie glances nervously towards the house. "Weeks pass, and Hollis decides to use the outhouse. And as she's using it, she looks down, and there, in the outhouse, is her father's head looking straight back at her," He says dramatically.

"God, you are so full of shit," John B sighs. "Dude, I swear to God, man," JJ defends. "Did she call the police?" Pope whispers. "She didn't have time be- wait, hold on, hold on, hold on!" JJ shouts, grabbing John B as he starts to walk towards the house. "What, dude?" John B snaps, turning to face us. "What?" He asks again. "You sure you wanna do this? She's an axe murderer, man, you got a cast on," JJ says. "I don't give a shit if she's an axe murderer, okay?" John B sighs. Pope's eyes widen at him. "I got nothin' to lose, right?" John B asks, looking at JJ and I. "You comin' or what?" He asks before turning back to the house.

JJ scratches his shoulder, looking back at me. "Come on," I say, nodding my head and dragging him behind us.