untitled

Chapter Three

Two hours later and Colie's applying her tanning oil while I settle myself onto her oversized, pink beach towel. After a strong cold front that lasted a week, we were finally granted a fairly warm, cloudless day. Although the water was sure to be ice cold, I could see a few people swimming in the distance ahead of us. There's not as many people here as usual today but that's not surprising for the end of November. We live on the "college side" of town so not many tourists frequent this part of the beach and most students are still finishing finals. The ocean is absolutely stunning today with turquoise water and soft-powdered sands under my fingertips. The tide is low this afternoon and the waves are unusually calm. Normally they're breaking against the shore with a vengeance and only experienced swimmers would dare to enter the choppy waters. As the sun continued to beam down on us, I quickly regret wearing my thin olive green leggings and oversized university hoodie. Atleast I was smart enough to wear my sandals! Colie, on the other hand, decided to wear her neon green bikini with her black flipflops and overly excessive straw hat. When she had returned from the bathroom earlier, I was staring at her in disbelief just knowing today wouldn't be as warm as she predicted. She had looked at me with feigned innocence and said, "What! I'm taking advantage of the warm weather. This may be my last chance to tan this winter! Besides, I'm telling you, it's not going to be cold on the beach, you'll see!" As usual, she was correct.

Hearing Colie giggle brought my attention away from my thoughts and into the present, "You're regretting the outfit aren't you?"

“Not yet but you’re scary when you’re right about that stuff. I was definitely expecting another cold, gloomy day,” I huffed.

“Hey, don’t blame me,” she said as she rolled onto her stomach, “Just be glad I respect your unworldly fear of the ocean, otherwise I’d drag your ass in. Look at those brave souls. We could be brave souls, Jessa.”

“Uhm, yeah, no. Even if I wasn’t scared, which I’m not, I wouldn’t go in. It’s gotta be like 50 degrees out there. Plus, I’ve told you a million times I’m not terrified of water, I just can’t swim. You know my history.”

“Yes, yes,” she said, rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses, “It still makes no sense to me. Like, don’t get me wrong, I love your parents like crazy. But you were raised on a freaking island! How do you not take your kid on boat rides and beach trips every weekend. Hell, how do you not atleast teach them how to swim! That’s so dangerous. And to make it worse, your brother basically lives on the water and always has. So not fair, Jess.”

I looked down at my hands, still dragging my fingers through the sand. I hate talking about this and she knows it but she’s completely right. My parents have always been so peculiar about the water. More specifically, me around water. Growing up I was never allowed within twenty feet of the ocean but my brother was always swimming. If he wasn’t sleeping or eating, you could find him at creeks, swimming pools,or anything consisting of water that wasn’t a bathtub. Even my parents participated in water activities. Although they were more discreet or blatantly lied to me about where they had been. Late night walks on the water’s edge when they thought I was sleeping or going to parties at friends’ homes, just to come back with damp hair and guilty faces. They never explained to me why and eventually I stopped complaining. “I don’t know what to tell you, Cols.That’s just how it’s always been. Enough about that. Are you still hanging out with Thomas tonight,” I ask, politely letting her know I’m done with the conversation.

“Yeah, we’re going to a party at one of his friend’s house. Oh! You should totally come! Finals are finally over for us this semester and you need to socialize with the rest of us college kids,” she laughed letting me know she was just kidding with me. I socialize enough in my opinion, I’m just not a fan of parties and she fully accepts that about me and I love her even more for it.

“I don’t know I’m pretty tired after spending last week staying up all night studying. To be honest I don’t see how you could even go,” I laughed, “ I’m thinking about just staying-” Suddenly, something caught my eye in the ocean and I quickly turned my head towards the ocean. There was a big splash far past the waves and a tail? Yes, a tail! A wide tail, so similar to the one in my dream last night except this was bright pink and coral. Even squinting in this far distance, I could see how bright and magnificent it was. I quickly turned back to Colie and exclaimed, “Colie, did you see that? Over there past the waves,” as I pointed towards the place where I saw the splash. But as I turned my head back towards the water there was nothing to be seen, not even the ripples from the splash. Confused, I squint more against the sun looking for any evidence of what I had just witnessed. I must be losing my mind!

“See what, Jessa? Are you okay,” she asked, frantically looking at me and then the ocean. “I don’t see anything. Was it a shark? We need to let those people know!”

Frantically, she began getting up to run towards the swimmers when I grabbed her wrist before she screamed and caused unneeded attention. Last thing I needed was for people to lock me up into an institution for seeing what looked to be a mermaid's tail.

“It must’ve been a reflection from the sun or I’m just seeing things. It’s gone now whatever it was. It definitely didn’t look like an animal so sit down before someone pulls out their phone and makes us viral with all that arm waving you’re doing. People are already starting to stare,” I said as I nervously laughed and waved at a nearby family staring at us with raised eyebrows. “I think I’m just going to head back inside, Cols. I’m suddenly not feeling good. Must be these hot clothes.”

With concern in her voice, she asked me, “Do you want me to come with you? It’s not a far walk but I wanna make sure you get to the room okay.”

“No no. Enjoy the day, I’m just going to change clothes and maybe take a nap. If I’m still sleeping, let me know when you leave for the party please. Loves you boo”

“Loves you, bear! Feel better!”

I had just picked up my things and began the short walk up the beach towards our dorms when I heard them. Whispers. Several voices swarming me from all directions, whispering all at once.

“She’s coming.”

“Her time is near!”

“We shall all rejoice!”

“Jessa, we miss you, my love.”

“You’re one of us, child.”

“Your family awaits you.”

My head was spinning and I could feel my heartbeat pounding against my chest. I frantically turned around in all directions, looking for people that weren’t there as they began chanting louder and faster. All the voices merged together, I couldn't understand them any longer until I heard a whisper so faint, yet I could hear it over all the turmoil. I began shaking fiercely as I heard their words in a voice full of disdain and hatred,

“You don't belong here. Do not come, you are not wanted by many. We are watching.”

The world went black.