In "The Sand Castle," two families go on vacation to a luxurious hotel with access to a private beach. However, they soon realize that time passes incredibly fast on this beach, with one hour there equivalent to six years of life. As strange and disturbing events unfold, the families are trapped and must grapple with their personal issues and the mysteries of the beach. They discover that the beach has a malevolent force, and as they age rapidly, they face numerous challenges, including illness, death, and their own relationships deteriorating. In the end, they attempt to decipher a hidden message in a letter, which leads them to try to reach a coral formation in the sea for a chance to escape, but tragically, they do not succeed, and the story ends with their demise.
Sure, here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Two families go on vacation to a luxurious hotel with a private beach.
2. Strange things start happening on the beach due to a hidden secret - one hour on the beach equals six years of life.
3. The families meet other people on the beach, including a police officer and a manager's nephew named Hitler.
4. The families discover a body on the beach, leading to confusion and fear among them.
5. Time passes rapidly on the beach, causing the children to grow up and age quickly.
6. The families attempt to leave the beach but find it impossible due to its mysterious effects.
7. One of the women, Patricia, experiences epileptic attacks and eventually dies.
8. The families realize they were brought to the beach by someone or something, possibly related to a raffle they won.
9. Attempts to escape the beach lead to tragic consequences, including deaths and further aging.
10. The families try to decipher a letter, which eventually provides a clue about the coral as a way out.
11. Two of the children, Maddox and an unnamed character, drown while trying to reach the coral.
Please note that the text contains some inconsistencies and confusing details, but these are the main events and facts outlined in the given text.