The sea breeze was cool against Emily’s face as she checked her watch. The boat was late, but it didn’t dampen her excitement. A weekend picnic on the abandoned Blackstone Island it was the kind of adventure their group thrived on.

“Relax, Emily,” said Jake, leaning against a weathered post at the dock. “The boat’ll be here. It’s not like the island’s going anywhere.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “I’m just making sure we have enough daylight when we get there. The plan is to set up before sunset.”

“Do we even know why it’s called Blackstone?” Liam asked, flipping a stone into the water. “Sounds spooky.”

“Because of the cliffs,” Maya replied, her voice steady. “They’re made of volcanic rock, dark as midnight. That’s the whole appeal untouched and dramatic.”

“Appeal for who?” Nora grumbled. She sat cross-legged, inspecting the contents of her bag for the third time. “I still think it’s weird no one ever goes there anymore.”

“Oh, come on,” Jake said with a grin. “That’s what makes it fun. A picnic on an abandoned island? We’ll have the whole place to...