Thursday, 1000 A.M., 2021

@explorewildwithjo

"So here's the update as promised... we're at the beach waiting for a boat to take us to the retreat, but what I didn't realize is quite how remote Cary Island actually is... I reckon it's a twenty-minute boat ride from the mainland at least." Jo flips the phone's view from her face to show the sea, a glimpse of the island visible in the distance.

"I've had loads of people asking about LUMEN, so I'll explain the vibe. LUMEN's a luxury retreat on the gorgeous island you've just seen, off the South Devon coast. The architect was inspired by Mexican legend Luis Barragán, so we're talking luxe, candy-colored villas nestled in woodland with views out to sea. There's some pretty special stuff: an outdoor yoga pavilion, a glass-bottomed pool, and this crazy rope swing stretching out over the water... you can drop straight off into the sea. One of the most spectacular features is an amazing villa on a private islet—that's for all you honeymooners. I couldn't get my mitts on that one as it's already booked, but it looks stunning.

"I'll be taking you out on the kayaks with me later today, but to give you an idea of the wellness activities on offer, they've got paddleboarding, meditation, kayaking, hydrofoil surfing, and loads more." She pauses. "Now for the creepy bit: I love the backstory to this place. The rocky outcrop on the side of the island, you can just about see it from here, it gives the island its nickname: Reaper's Rock. Spooky, right? And according to a lot of the locals, the island is cursed. Apparently"—she lowers her voice to a hushed whisper—"the rock is said to be a manifestation of the Grim Reaper. During the plague, people were quarantined here and then left to die. So the story goes, their souls are still wandering and will only be at peace when the Reaper takes a new victim. Stay too long and you'll be next..."

Jo flips the camera again to show her mock-terrified face. "Eerie, isn't it? But that's not the only thing. There was an old school on the island that burned down back in the day. Abandoned until it was used by the local council as an Outward Bound center in the late nineties. All fine and dandy until a group of teenagers were murdered at the hand of the island caretaker, Larson Creacher, in 2003." She lowers her voice again. "Is it wrong to say all the spooky stuff kind of adds to the appeal?"