Chapter Three: Waves That Remember
685 Words
The sun dipped low over the Pacific, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink as Ella stared at the photograph in her hands for what felt like the hundredth time.
Find the lighthouse before it's too late.
Those words refused to leave her mind.
She slipped the photograph into her journal before Michelle burst into her room.
"There you are!" Michelle exclaimed. "I've been calling your name for five minutes."
Ella looked up. "Sorry... I was distracted."
Michelle narrowed her eyes. "You've been distracted ever since yesterday. Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
Ella hesitated.
"I... I found something."
Before she could continue, another voice echoed from the living room.
"Michelle! Hurry up, or we'll be late!"
"That's Favour," Michelle said with a grin. "She's impatient as always."
A few seconds later, a young woman with caramel skin, bright eyes, and shoulder-length curly hair walked into the room without knocking.
"There you are!" she laughed. "I've been waiting forever."
Favour Williams had a personality that could brighten the darkest room. She was Michelle's cousin and a final-year media student who believed every problem could be solved with enough determination.
She hugged Ella warmly.
"You look like you haven't slept."
"I didn't."
"I can tell."
Michelle grabbed Ella's hand.
"Come on. Oliver's beach party starts in thirty minutes."
"I don't feel like going."
"Exactly why you need to."
...
Oliver Bennett's family beach house overlooked the ocean, its wide glass windows reflecting the sunset. Music drifted through the air as students laughed, danced, and gathered around a bonfire.
Michael spotted Ella the moment she arrived.
"You came."
"I almost didn't."
"I'm glad you changed your mind."
His smile was enough to make her forget, if only for a moment, the strange photograph hidden inside her bag.
Nearby, Oliver was introducing everyone.
"Ella, this is Vivian Scott."
A tall young woman stepped forward, extending her hand.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
Vivian carried a camera around her neck and wore an expression that suggested she noticed details everyone else missed.
"I'm studying investigative journalism," Vivian explained. "I ask too many questions."
Favour laughed.
"That's an understatement."
"Someone has to uncover the truth," Vivian replied.
The conversation was interrupted when another luxury car pulled into the driveway.
Out stepped Victor Reynolds.
He was tall, sharply dressed, and looked older than the students—perhaps in his early thirties.
Oliver greeted him warmly.
"My cousin finally made it!"
Victor smiled politely, but the moment his eyes met Ella's, his expression changed.
Shock.
Just for a second.
Then it disappeared.
"...Impossible," he whispered under his breath.
"What was that?" Oliver asked.
"Nothing."
But Victor couldn't stop looking at Ella.
She looked exactly like someone he had known many years ago.
Someone he believed was gone forever.
...
As night settled over the beach, everyone gathered around the bonfire.
Stories were shared.
Music played.
Laughter filled the cool evening air.
Michael and Ella wandered toward the shoreline, letting the waves wash over their feet.
"You seem happier tonight," Michael said.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
"I'm trying."
Michael smiled gently.
"That's enough."
Neither of them noticed a black SUV parked on the hill overlooking the beach.
Inside sat Torgan Blackwood.
Beside him was Princess Monroe.
Torgan watched Ella silently before speaking.
"So..."
"She's finally growing close to Michael."
Princess nodded.
"Yes."
Torgan's face hardened.
"That cannot happen."
Princess turned toward him.
"You can't keep controlling her life."
"I'm not controlling it."
"Then what are you doing?"
"I'm protecting the truth."
"The truth has already begun finding her."
Torgan looked toward the ocean, where Ella and Michael laughed together beneath the moonlight.
His voice was cold.
"If she discovers who she really is..."
"...everything we've built will fall apart."
A tense silence filled the car.
Far below, another pair of eyes watched from the shadows.
Loki Rivers stood beside his motorcycle, speaking quietly into his phone.
"I've confirmed it."
A voice answered from the other end.
"Is she ready?"
Loki looked toward Ella.
"No."
"But she will be."
And when that day came...
California would never be the same.
- Writer
