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【 SEASON 2 EPISODE 1: PART ONE 】

The boat drifted gently on the calm water, the soft creaking of the wooden hull blending with the quiet lull of waves lapping against its sides. The air was warm, tinged with the salt of the ocean and the lingering scent of bonfire smoke from earlier. Above them, the sky stretched out wide and infinite, a sea of stars shimmering in the dark, mirrored faintly on the rippling surface of the water below.

Clara lay on her back near the bow, the damp fabric of her shirt clinging lightly to her skin from their earlier swim. Her gaze was fixed upward, but she wasn't really looking at the stars. Not when Sarah was right there beside her, curled up on her side, wrapped in one of the worn blankets they kept on the boat for nights like this.

Sarah had fallen asleep not long after they'd climbed back aboard, her hair still damp, curling slightly at the ends where it fanned out over the edge of the blanket. The moonlight cast a pale glow over her face, softening the edges, making her look so peaceful it almost felt wrong to break the silence.

But Clara couldn't help it. The words had been sitting there, pressing against her chest for too long, and the quiet felt too perfect to let it slip away.

She shifted, propping herself up on one elbow, her eyes lingering on Sarah's face for a moment longer before she whispered, "Sarah."

There was no response.

Clara smiled to herself, leaning in a little closer. "Sarah," she whispered again, this time reaching out to gently shake her shoulder.

Sarah stirred, letting out a sleepy groan as she burrowed deeper into the blanket, her face still turned away.

Clara hesitated for half a heartbeat, then-before she could stop herself-murmured, "Do you wanna get married?"

The silence that followed was only broken by the rhythmic rocking of the boat. For a moment, Clara thought Sarah had fallen back asleep. But then-

A faint smile curled at the corner of Sarah's lips, barely visible as she kept her face hidden, still facing away. Her voice, soft and teasing, broke the quiet.

"No."

Clara blinked, startled. She'd expected some kind of sleepy mumble or sarcastic retort-but a flat-out no?

She let out a soft laugh, eyes narrowing as she nudged Sarah gently with her elbow. "What do you mean, no? Why not?"

Sarah shifted slightly but still didn't turn to face her. "No."

Clara scoffed, clearly amused now, leaning closer as she rested her chin on her hand. "Oh, come on. How come?"

Sarah finally peeked open one eye, her lips curling into a lazy smirk that Clara could only barely see. "You don't have any prospects."

Clara gasped in mock offense, pressing a hand to her chest. "I don't have any prospects? Wow. Rude. That's rich coming from you, by the way."

Sarah hummed, her smirk widening.

Clara crossed her arms with a teasing glare. "You don't have any either."

Sarah let out a soft, dramatic sigh, rolling her eyes. "Ouch."

Clara grinned, clearly not done yet. "Well... not anymore, anyway."

That made Sarah freeze for a split second. Her smirk faltered, just a tiny crack in her usual bravado, before she covered it with a light laugh.

"So it's not about the money, huh?" Sarah teased, her voice softer now but still testing.

Clara's grin faded just a little as the teasing edge melted from her tone. She shifted closer, brushing a strand of damp hair away from Sarah's cheek with an almost shy smile.

"Well... I guess not."

Sarah's eyes flicked up to meet hers, the teasing nearly gone now, replaced by something quieter. Curious. Expectant.

Clara hesitated-just for a heartbeat-before adding, even softer, "You're really pretty."

A flush crept up Sarah's neck, blooming across her cheeks despite the cool night air. She scoffed, elbowing Clara gently in the ribs.

"Stop," she whispered, turning her face further into the blanket to hide her grin.

Clara laughed under her breath, clearly pleased with the reaction. "I'm serious," she whispered, her fingers grazing Sarah's arm as she leaned closer, voice dropping to a more vulnerable softness. "Now come here."

Before Sarah could protest, Clara hooked her arm around Sarah's waist and gently pulled her closer, pressing their foreheads together.

Sarah let out a content sigh, finally relenting as she relaxed into Clara's arms, her head resting lightly against her shoulder. The blanket had slipped down slightly, exposing the pale curve of her shoulder where her damp hair clung.

"I'm trying to sleep," Sarah mumbled, though the smile was still there in her voice.

Clara grinned, brushing her fingers along the edge of Sarah's jaw, tracing the curve of her cheek with the gentlest touch.

"Okay," Clara whispered, pressing her lips briefly to Sarah's temple.

A few heartbeats passed in comfortable silence. The stars above seemed a little brighter, the ocean a little quieter, like the whole world had stilled just for them.

But Clara couldn't resist just one more question.

"You wanna be a Pogue for life?" she whispered, half-teasing but with something more serious lingering underneath.

Sarah's eyes opened, her gaze finding Clara's in the moonlight. Her voice, quiet but steady, carried more weight than Clara expected.

"If I say yes... you're not allowed to die."

The teasing drained from Clara's face instantly. Her throat tightened, her hand cupping Sarah's face more carefully now as she brushed a thumb over her cheek.

"I promise," Clara whispered, voice trembling just slightly as she held Sarah's gaze, "I promise not to die."

Sarah stared back, her lips parting as if to say something-but instead, she just nodded, closing her eyes again as she pressed closer, burying her face in Clara's neck.

And for the first time that night, it felt like the whole world had faded away. Just the two of them. The water. The stars.

Nothing else.

Upstairs on the boat, the sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet, while the gentle lapping of the waves filled the quiet space. The ocean stretched endlessly beyond the cabin window, a vast, shifting canvas of dark blue rippling beneath the fading daylight. Marley stood with her arms folded across her chest, leaning against the weathered wooden frame of the window, watching the water instead of facing the knot twisting tighter in her stomach.

The air inside the cabin was warm and humid, the scent of salt thick enough to cling to her skin, but the tension was what truly made it stifling. Something had felt off all day.

Cleo sat nearby on an overturned crate, absentmindedly flipping her switchblade open and shut with practiced ease. Snick. Snick. The soft metallic click echoed in the small space, steady as a heartbeat. The blade caught slivers of fading sunlight each time it snapped open before vanishing into her palm again. Cleo's dark eyes were distant, her face unreadable as usual, but the repetitive motion spoke louder than words-bored, maybe restless. Definitely not concerned.

But Marley was concerned.

She hadn't stopped thinking about the girl they had tied up below deck-the one with the wide, scared eyes who hadn't said a word since they'd hauled her aboard. Clara Liu-Routledge. She didn't look like a criminal. She didn't act like one either.

Suddenly, footsteps pounded up the steps from below deck. Heavy. Rushed.

Marley turned just as Marcus stumbled into the cabin, clutching a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. His curly hair was damp with sweat, and his wide eyes flicked from Cleo to Marley with urgency.

"Guys! Look at this!" he shouted, his voice cracking slightly.

But Marcus wasn't looking where he was going. He charged in too fast and collided headfirst with the low wooden beam over the cabin entrance.

THUNK.

"Shit!" he yelped, staggering back, clutching his head as the paper fluttered dangerously close to slipping from his grasp.

Marley blinked, then let out a sharp, dry laugh, unable to help herself. "Real smooth, Marcus."

Marcus shot her a glare, wincing as he rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up-just look at this!"

Before Marley could even respond, Terrance emerged from the galley below deck, drawn by the commotion. His towering frame filled the cabin doorway, his gaze sharp and calculating as always. Without a word, he reached out and plucked the crumpled paper right out of Marcus's hands.

"Hey!" Marcus protested weakly, but Terrance ignored him, smoothing out the flyer with a practiced motion.

"What's that?" Cleo asked from her seat, arching a brow as she finally sheathed her blade and sat up straighter.

Marley leaned closer, standing at Terrance's shoulder, and the second her eyes scanned the bold red letters stamped across the top, her stomach dropped.

ALERT: B.O.L.D. ALERT

Below the headline, there was a black-and-white photo, slightly grainy but clear enough-Clara. Same messy dark hair, same wide, startled eyes. The resemblance was unmistakable.

WANTED: CLARA LIU-ROUTLEDGE

$50,000 REWARD.

Marley's breath caught.

"Holy shit," she whispered under her breath, staring at the price tag plastered beneath Clara's face.

Terrance let out a low whistle, holding the flyer higher so everyone could see. His lips curled into a grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Well, well, well... Would you look at that?"

Cleo, still leaning back on the crate, raised an eyebrow. "Look at what? What's it say?"

Terrance flipped the flyer around so Cleo could read it properly.

"Wouldn't have pegged the kid as a cop killer," he muttered, shaking his head.

Marley blinked, heart pounding a little harder now. Cop killer?

Cleo took the paper and scanned it closely, frowning as she absorbed the words.

"Fifty grand?" Marcus piped up again, still holding his head but now more focused on the reward than his headache.

Cleo let out a low whistle of her own this time, lips curling into a grin. "Damn. That's a nice chunk of change."

Marley felt her chest tighten even more. Something wasn't adding up. Clara wasn't acting dangerous. She wasn't fighting back, screaming, or trying to escape. She'd been... scared. Quiet.

Marcus leaned in, nodding eagerly. "I mean, it's fifty thousand bucks. What are we even waiting for? Call it in, right?"

Marley hesitated, voice quieter when she spoke. "Should I call it in?"

Terrance was already shaking his head, folding the flyer and tucking it into his back pocket. "Call it in? Marley, we've got six kinds of contraband on this boat right now. She's not going anywhere. We'll turn her in when we get to Nassau-clean, easy, and fifty grand richer."

Marley swallowed, nodding mechanically, but her mind was still racing.

It wasn't right.

Cleo seemed to pick up on her hesitation because as soon as Terrance left the cabin, she shifted closer, her gaze narrowing.

"Oh, I know that look."

Marley blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What look?"

Cleo tilted her head, crossing her arms. "That 'I'm-starting-to-feel-bad' look. Don't even think about it, Mar. We're not playing heroes out here."

Marley opened her mouth to argue, but Cleo cut her off.

"She's got a fifty-thousand-dollar price tag on her head, Marley. You think people get that kind of bounty for no reason?"

Marley exhaled slowly, pressing her lips together. "I don't know... She just-she doesn't seem dangerous, Cleo. She's a kid."

Cleo's eyes hardened. "So are we. You forget that?"

Silence hung heavy between them, the tension thick enough to cut.

Finally, Cleo's voice softened just slightly. "Look, I get it. But you can't get soft now. Not out here. We're the ones in trouble if we make the wrong call. So stop second-guessing and remember why we're doing this."

Marley said nothing as Cleo turned and walked away, but her stomach remained twisted in knots, the image of Clara's frightened face lingering in her mind long after the conversation ended.

And despite everything Cleo had said-

Marley wasn't sure she believed Clara was guilty. Not yet.

The salty sea breeze drifted in through the cracked window, filling the cabin with the scent of the ocean as the gentle rocking of the boat kept time with their heartbeats. The soft glow of dawn filtered in, casting golden streaks across Sarah's face as she leaned closer, her lips pressing against Clara's in a slow, lingering kiss.

Clara's hand tangled gently in Sarah's hair, holding her there as if she never wanted to let go. Sarah smiled into the kiss, and for a moment, the rest of the world disappeared-the danger, the uncertainty, all melting into the warmth of each other.

But the illusion shattered as the cabin door clicked open with a loud clunk.

They jerked apart instantly, both wide-eyed and breathless, scrambling to look innocent. Clara's heart pounded as she turned toward the door, where Terrance stood leaning casually against the frame, arms crossed and a knowing smirk on his face.

"Morning, lovebirds." He raised a brow, clearly amused. "Hate to break up the moment, but we're coming into port. Best not be onboard without a passport, if you know what I'm saying."

Clara nodded quickly, still catching her breath. "Yeah. Yeah, got it."

Sarah swallowed, brushing a hand through her tousled hair. "Right. Thanks, Terrance."

Terrance jerked his head toward the stairwell. "You can go up on my bridge. Lay low there. Stay outta sight."

Clara exchanged a glance with Sarah before lacing their fingers together. "Hey, thanks, Captain," Clara said sincerely.

Sarah nodded too. "Yeah, thank you."

Terrance's expression softened just slightly, but his voice remained firm. "Stay put. Don't come out. We clear?"

"You got it," Clara promised, gripping Sarah's hand tighter as they slipped past him and climbed the narrow stairs toward the bridge.

Once the door clicked shut behind them, the tension in Clara's chest eased a little, though the adrenaline lingered. She drifted toward the large windows of the bridge, staring out as the boat gently cut through the turquoise waters toward the bustling shoreline in the distance.

"Oh wow," Clara whispered, her breath fogging the glass slightly as she pressed closer. Her wide eyes took in the pastel-colored buildings, the palm trees swaying lazily in the breeze, and the docks crowded with locals preparing for the day.

Sarah joined her, standing just behind as she gazed out over the view with a soft smile. "Welcome to Nassau."

Clara exhaled, a slow, awed breath. "It's... it's so beautiful."

Sarah's expression warmed, but then she extended her arm, pointing toward a grand white villa perched on a lush hill overlooking the port. The house stood out, pristine and luxurious, the kind of place that practically screamed old money.

"That," Sarah murmured, her voice softening, "is my family's house."

Clara blinked, leaning closer against the glass to get a better look. "Holy Kook."

Sarah snorted at the nickname, shaking her head with a laugh. "Yeah, well. They always liked to show off."

Clara shifted, her mind already racing. "I mean, maybe we could crash there for a couple of nights? You know, lay low?"

Sarah shot her a look like she'd just grown a second head. "How?"

Clara shrugged. "I don't know, just call your dad and be like, 'Hey, Dad, I'm alive! By the way, I'm thinking about getting married. Can we crash at your fancy mansion for a few nights?'"

Sarah blinked, deadpan. "Yeah. Okay, Clara. That'll go over great."

Clara winced. "Fair point." She paused, then bit her lip. "Well... what if we tried to find the gold? You know, the gold he stole from us? That'd solve a lot of problems."

Sarah sighed, turning to face her fully. "Clara... we are fugitives right now."

Clara's smile faltered. "Yeah..."

Sarah stepped closer, holding her gaze. "In a foreign country. Without passports. Without backup. Without a plan."

"Yeah," Clara repeated, softer now, lowering her head.

Sarah exhaled, her voice gentler as she touched Clara's wrist. "Look, I get it. But we have to be careful. One wrong move, and it's not just my dad we'll have to worry about."

Clara nodded reluctantly, her eyes drifting back toward the beautiful, distant shore. "Okay... careful. Got it."

But the idea of getting back that stolen gold? That spark hadn't quite left her eyes.

The guilt was unbearable. It gnawed at Marley's chest like a wild animal, making it hard to think, hard to breathe. She had kept quiet for too long, watching Terrance scheme and plan, weighing the promise of reward money against the two girls in the cabin who, deep down, didn't seem capable of what they were being accused of. And now it was too late to keep pretending she wasn't part of this.

The boat had slowed, drifting toward the dock, the sound of the engine rumbling low and steady. Marley caught sight of the approaching officers-uniforms crisp, faces stern. They were talking to Terrance now, who was too calm. Too smug. The way he played things off made her stomach churn with dread. She knew what was coming next.

She had to act.

Without another second of hesitation, Marley spun on her heel and rushed below deck, heart pounding against her ribcage. She didn't hesitate when she found Sarah and Clara tucked away in the cabin, their bodies pressed close as they whispered to each other.

"You guys need to go. Now." Her voice came out a harsh whisper as she burst into the room.

Sarah and Clara both jolted upright, startled.

"What?!" they exclaimed in unison, their faces pale as they exchanged frantic glances.

Marley could feel her pulse hammering against her temples. There wasn't time to explain-but they deserved at least some truth.

"My-my dad," she stammered, chest heaving. "He found out about your little escape from the Outer Banks. He called it in. There's a B.O.L.O out for both of you. Look-"

Sarah's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering. "What? But-"

"I don't believe it, okay? You seem too-too kind to be cop killers! I don't know what happened, but that's beside the point right now." She swallowed hard, her voice desperate. "You need to run. They're coming. I'll find you again, I swear-but you have to go. Now."

Clara's voice was barely a whisper. "Marley-"

"No time!"

Acting on impulse, Marley grabbed a rusted metal pole from the corner and, with a grunt, swung it hard against the cabin's small window. The glass shattered outward with a loud crack and shards scattered onto the damp floor. The wind rushed in, bringing with it the sound of shouting from above deck-officers barking orders and the unmistakable clanking of boots hitting the dock.

"Go!" Marley urged, voice cracking as she stepped aside, clearing the way.

Sarah didn't hesitate. She grabbed Clara's hand and together they climbed awkwardly through the jagged opening, glass slicing into Clara's arm as she braced herself against the frame.

"Thank you," Clara gasped, voice breathless as she looked back at Marley one last time.

Marley forced a tight smile, ignoring the weight pressing on her chest. "Run. Now."

The moment their feet hit the dock, Sarah and Clara took off in a dead sprint. The officers' voices echoed behind them-"Stop! Hey, stop right there!"-but they didn't look back.

They leapt over the low fence separating the dock from the market district, the impact jarring Clara's already aching knees, but adrenaline kept them moving. They ducked low as they pushed through a throng of people, the shouts behind them blending into the buzz of the busy street. Vendors called out their wares. Someone dropped a crate of oranges. A woman yelled in surprise as Sarah shoved past her.

"Keep moving!" Sarah hissed, fingers still tightly interlaced with Clara's.

They twisted through a narrow alley, Sarah leading them into the shadows. Clara's lungs burned, legs screaming for relief, but fear propelled her forward.

Ahead, the street opened into a bustling outdoor market. Colorful stalls pressed close together, crates of fruit and baskets of spices crowding the walkway. Sarah yanked Clara into the cover of a vendor's stand selling fabrics, the vibrant cloth shielding them from view as they crouched low behind a stack of crates.

They stayed silent, pressed together, bodies trembling from exertion. The only sound was their ragged breathing and the distant hum of life around them.

Sarah finally broke the silence, her voice hoarse but steady. "Okay. I-I think I know a place where we can hole up. Just for a little while. We need to lay low, figure out our next move."

Clara nodded, still catching her breath. "Yeah... yeah, okay."

Sarah offered her a small, reassuring squeeze of her hand.

Then, without another word, they sprinted deeper into the market, disappearing into the crowd once again.

Terrance stormed back onto the boat, his heavy boots pounding against the wooden deck with each furious step. The officers had dispersed after their failed chase, barking into their radios, but the tension clung to the humid air like a storm waiting to break.

Marley barely had time to wipe the sweat from her brow before Terrance's voice thundered through the cabin.

"What the hell did you do, Marley?!"

She flinched, her back pressing against the wooden wall of the cabin as he loomed closer, towering over her with his face twisted in rage.

"I-" she stammered, chest tightening.

"You let them escape!" His voice echoed off the narrow walls, bouncing around her head like a hammer. His face was red with fury, veins visible on his neck as he gestured wildly toward the broken window. Shards of glass still clung to the edges. "We had fifty grand coming our way, and you just-what? Felt sorry for them? You think this is some damn charity case?!"

Marley's eyes burned, hot tears threatening to spill, but she shook her head fiercely. "I-I couldn't! Terrance, they're not-"

"Not what, huh? Not fugitives? Because guess what-" He jabbed a finger in her face, voice dropping to a low snarl. "They are. And now they're out there. Running. Because of you."

The tears finally broke free, hot streaks down her cheeks as her breath hitched. She pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to hold back the sob building in her chest.

"I just-" Her voice cracked. "I couldn't let them get arrested for something they didn't do! They're not cop killers! You didn't see them-Sarah was scared and Clara-she-"

Terrance shook his head, disgust twisting his features. "You let your feelings get in the way of the score, Mar. This ain't how it works. You made us look weak. Do you understand that?"

Marley nodded weakly, voice barely audible. "I'm sorry..."

But Terrance wasn't done. His voice dropped lower, almost a growl.

"You should be sorry. Because next time? You're the one getting left behind. Don't think for a second I'll cover for you again."

He spun on his heel and stormed out, the door slamming shut so hard the entire cabin seemed to rattle.

The moment he was gone, Marley crumpled. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, hands pressed over her face as she sobbed quietly. The guilt mixed with shame, the ache in her chest unbearable.

A soft rustle caught her attention, and suddenly, Cleo was there.

She didn't say anything at first-just crouched beside Marley, her presence calm and steady as she rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Hey..." Cleo's voice was soft, but firm, cutting through the thick fog of Marley's crying. "Hey, it's okay. Breathe."

Marley tried, but the tears kept coming, choking her words. "I-I messed up, Cleo. I-he's right. I ruined everything-"

"No." Cleo shook her head, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You didn't ruin anything, Mar. You did the right thing. Those girls-if you hadn't helped them? Who knows what would've happened? And Terrance? He only cares about the money. He doesn't see the bigger picture. But I do. You do."

Marley sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "But I-"

"Listen to me," Cleo interrupted softly, tipping her chin so their eyes met. "You got a good heart, Marley. Don't let him take that from you. Okay?"

Marley nodded slowly, still shaky but comforted by Cleo's words.

"Yeah... okay."

Cleo offered a small smile, wiping a tear off Marley's cheek with her thumb.

"Good. Now come on," she said, standing up and offering her hand. "You're not facing him alone. I got your back."

Marley hesitated, then took her hand, letting Cleo pull her back to her feet.

She wasn't sure what would happen next-but with Cleo by her side, she felt just a little stronger.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

I FORGOT TO MAKE A NEW GIF SO NEXT CHAPRER SHOULD BE A NEW ONE!!

anyways season 2!!! whoop whoop!!! i hope we like marley so far :)

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) PLEASE JUST STOP BEING A GHOST READER!! ITS ANNOYING!! PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE. ITS NOT THAT HARD!!! PLEASE! please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters

im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up bt votes not its hard for my motivation!