⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ val and virginia routledge ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

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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!

【 SEASON 2 EPISODE 1: PART TWO 】

Clara and Sarah walked together down the lively streets of Nassau, the heat of the day still hanging in the air despite the time of evening. The city seemed to hum with energy, its vibrant mix of tourists and locals blending into a kaleidoscope of colors, voices, and activity. Yet, amidst the chaos, Clara felt a tightening in her chest, a subtle anxiety that refused to let go. She could feel Sarah's confidence beside her, calm and steady as always, but Clara couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her gut.

"Sarah, are you sure about this?" Clara asked, her voice quieter than she intended. Her eyes flicked over to Sarah, who was walking purposefully toward the towering glass and steel structure ahead of them: The Fairmount Hotel.

Sarah didn't hesitate. She didn't even look at Clara as she replied, her tone filled with quiet assurance. "It's the safest place for us to be."

Clara raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "A five-star hotel?" She chuckled nervously, her gaze fixed on the pristine façade of the building. "Are you sure we're not just walking into a trap?"

Sarah met her gaze then, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "Trust me, Virginia. We're undercover."

Clara narrowed her eyes in disbelief. "Undercover? In there?" She motioned toward the glimmering marble columns of the hotel. "We stick out like sore thumbs."

But Sarah simply shrugged, her confidence unwavering. "Just follow my lead."

Clara hesitated, but there was no backing out now. They had come this far, and if this was the best option for their safety, she would go along with it. They stepped through the massive revolving doors, and as soon as they did, the air seemed to change. The temperature dropped, replaced by the cold, crisp scent of polished wood, the faint traces of expensive perfumes, and the sharp, sterile clean of freshly mopped floors.

The lobby was grand, almost intimidating in its elegance. Overhead, massive chandeliers glittered with countless crystals, casting prismatic reflections on the polished marble floors. The entire space seemed designed to impress, to awe. Clara felt out of place immediately.

"Okay, this is way too fancy," Clara muttered under her breath, glancing at her sun-bleached clothes. Her dress was faded from the beach, the fabric crinkled from travel, and her hair, still damp from the ocean breeze, was a tangled mess. "We're definitely not dressed for this."

Sarah didn't look at her, but her lips twitched in a barely perceptible smile. "Just act like you know what you're doing," she said, her voice low and smooth. "You're fine. Just follow my lead."

Clara sighed and nodded, forcing herself to stand taller. I can do this, she told herself. Just act confident.

They walked deeper into the lobby, and Clara couldn't help but feel every pair of eyes in the room on them. She tried not to glance around too much, tried not to feel the weight of the suspicious gazes. They passed a well-dressed woman on her phone, and Clara instinctively flashed a bright, wide smile. The woman barely spared a glance, too focused on her conversation to pay attention to them. Clara exhaled, grateful for the moment of normalcy.

But then, Clara almost made a mistake. She started toward the elevators, not realizing she was headed in the wrong direction. Sarah's hand shot out, grabbing Clara's arm and pulling her back with surprising force. Clara blinked in surprise, but Sarah's expression was firm. "We're heading this way," she said in a low voice, directing them to the grand staircase instead.

Clara nodded, feeling a bit flustered. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so out of place, so unsure. They had to stay focused, though. This wasn't about them-it was about survival.

As they ascended the staircase, Clara glanced around, still feeling like she was standing out. Then, a well-dressed employee in a black suit approached them. His shoes clicked sharply against the marble floor, and his professional air made Clara feel even more like an intruder.

"Excuse me. Excuse me. May I help you?" he asked politely, his eyes flicking from Sarah to Clara and back again.

Sarah smiled smoothly, her posture shifting into something more confident. She didn't flinch under the employee's gaze. "Actually, yes. Do you have any bottled water? Maybe Voss, Fiji, or-" She rattled off a list of expensive water brands, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Clara blinked, not sure where Sarah was going with this. But before she could think too much about it, the employee's attention was distracted by a waitress passing by with a tray of drinks. Without hesitation, Sarah grabbed one of the glasses off the tray, holding it out to Clara.

"Thank you. I am so parched," Sarah said with exaggerated relief, her voice filled with practiced sweetness. She took a sip of water and motioned for Clara to do the same.

Clara's confusion deepened, but she followed along, accepting the water with a grateful smile. "I cannot wait to get out of these clothes," Clara said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What about you, Val?"

Sarah's lips curled into a small grin. "Oh yes. Very. Long day at the beach," she replied smoothly, never missing a beat.

Clara tried to keep up the charade. "Right! Virginia, what time is our reservation?" she asked, glancing down at the phone Sarah had handed her earlier.

"4:30," Clara replied, feeling a little more sure of herself. We've got this. Just keep it together.

The employee raised an eyebrow, his eyes lingering on them both, seemingly a little skeptical. "Reservation?" he echoed, his tone skeptical.

"Yes," Clara replied confidently. "We have a harbor-view king on the third floor. We've been patrons of your hotel for years, and I'll be sure the manager hears about your hospitality. Elliott, thank you."

Sarah's voice was laced with a quiet authority that left no room for doubt, and the employee's face shifted slightly, clearly unsettled by her words. He didn't argue further. "Yes, of course," he said, his tone faltering as they turned away.

Once they had walked past the employee, Clara couldn't hold it in anymore. "That was hot," she said, laughing softly to herself.

Sarah smirked, winking at Clara. "Keep this up, and we'll have the whole hotel thinking we own the place."

They continued to walk further into the hotel, their steps light but purposeful. As they passed a maid pushing a cart, she glanced at them with a quick smile. "Hey. Good day," she said casually.

Clara's eyes flicked to the cart, and her heart skipped a beat. A phone, laying face up and unattended, sat atop the maid's cart. Clara acted on instinct, her fingers brushing the phone as she quickly swiped it off the cart and slipped it into her pocket.

Sarah shot her a curious glance. "What's up?"

Clara hesitated for a second before answering. "Nothing. Just... we need to keep moving."

They continued up the stairs, but Clara felt a surge of urgency. She needed to contact her friends, to let them know she and Sarah were still alive, still in the game. The moment was fleeting, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins was undeniable. The danger wasn't over yet-not by a long shot.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting an orange-pink glow across the sky as Clara and Sarah made their way up the stairwell to the roof of the hotel. The crisp ocean breeze tousled their hair, carrying the salty scent of the sea. It was a tranquil scene-one that felt worlds apart from the tension they'd been running from, the chaos they'd left behind. The gentle waves crashing against the shore in the distance only added to the serenity. Clara paused for a moment, gazing out over the ocean, her mind momentarily lost in thought.

"You never told me you lived on a beach filled with rollers that just slide in all day," Clara remarked, her voice teasing as she gestured toward the surfers riding the waves below. The surfers seemed like a dream-free, graceful, at peace with the ocean. Their effortless movements only made Clara feel more grounded in the reality of her own situation.

Sarah, standing beside her, took in the sight of the surfers with a quiet smile. "Yeah, we used to come here as kids when we were building the vacation house right over there," Sarah said, her hand sweeping out to indicate a sprawling estate nestled just beyond a line of palm trees. The house was impressive, with large windows that reflected the fading light of the day and a sprawling balcony that overlooked the beach.

Clara squinted in the direction Sarah pointed, the outline of the house barely visible in the dimming light. "I bet that's where the gold is," Clara said, her voice laced with playful curiosity. There was always a treasure waiting to be found in every place they visited, or so she liked to think.

Sarah gave a light chuckle, but her expression grew serious. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid," she said, turning to Clara with a knowing gaze. "You've been pulling a lot of John B moves lately."

Clara laughed at the mention of their friend John B. "I don't know," she said with a grin, "I think my brother is rubbing off on me. I might pull some more of his moves."

Sarah didn't look amused. She held Clara's gaze, her tone soft but firm. "Promise me."

Clara's smile faltered for a second as she realized the seriousness behind Sarah's words. She exhaled a long breath, then nodded. "I promise," she said, her voice steady but her thoughts racing. It wasn't that she didn't trust herself, but she understood the weight of their situation. Everything was unpredictable right now.

Satisfied with her response, Sarah's demeanor softened a bit, though her eyes still held a flicker of concern. "Now let's message our friends and tell them we're alive," Clara suggested, pulling the phone from her bag.

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you get that?"

Clara smiled mischievously. "Borrowed it," she said, her tone light as she powered it on. "I need to let them know we're not dead."

Sarah shook her head but grinned. "Classic Clara," she muttered under her breath. Then, as the phone powered on, Sarah added, "You're lucky you didn't get caught with that."

Clara waved her hand dismissively. "If I can steal a phone, I can get us out of pretty much anything," she said, a wink accompanying her words.

She quickly opened the camera app and pulled Sarah close for a quick selfie, the light from the setting sun illuminating their faces with a soft golden hue. The warm colors made the moment feel surreal, almost like they weren't in the middle of an elaborate game of cat and mouse. Sarah smiled naturally for the camera, while Clara's grin was more playful, a mix of relief and exhaustion on her face. The tension between them hadn't completely dissolved, but for the moment, they were alive, they were free, and they were together.

Clara quickly snapped the photo and added a caption: "We're alive!!! Clear my name! I want to come home."

Once the picture was sent, she stared at the screen for a moment, waiting anxiously for a reply. Every second felt like an eternity, but eventually, the first notification pinged.

John B's reply came through first: "If you are Clara... tell me who you like to write letters to."

Clara's heart skipped a beat, and she laughed softly at the familiarity of his question. She typed quickly: "Sarah. Love you, bro."

The next message came from JJ: "Clare bear!!! Miss you."

And then Kie: "Please come home. We're gonna clear your name. XO."

Clara felt an overwhelming sense of relief as she read through the messages. It was like a weight had been lifted off her chest. Her friends were still there for her, still supporting her despite everything that had happened.

She showed the phone to Sarah, a smile breaking through her exhaustion. "They miss us," Clara said, her voice quiet, the words carrying more weight than she intended.

Sarah nodded, her lips curling into a small smile. "I know. And we'll get you back there," she said, the determination in her voice clear. "We'll figure this out."

Clara's heart swelled with a mixture of hope and gratitude. It had been so long since she'd felt like she had a chance to return to something resembling normal. For the first time in a while, she allowed herself to believe it was possible.

Then, without another word, she turned back to the view of the ocean, the waves still rolling in, their rhythm soothing. "I think it's about time we go home," Clara whispered, almost to herself.

Sarah stood beside her, her gaze following the horizon. "We will," she said softly. "We'll get you back there."

ASH SPEAKS!!!

I STILL FORGOT TO MAKE A NEW GIF LMFAO

sorry for the short chapter!!! but i cant believe tiktok gets bsnned for me (since im in the US) in 2 hours :(

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!