Shadows Beneath the Waves
1166 Words
Dinner at our house was usually the quietest moment of the day.
The four of us sat around the wooden table that had been in our home for as long as I could remember. A single lantern hung above us, casting a warm golden glow across the room. Outside, the evening wind rustled softly through the trees of the village.
Kiara sat across from me, slowly eating while watching everyone carefully. Keldee sat beside her, leaning slightly back in his chair with the tired expression he always had whenever an argument seemed close.
Kadeem sat at the head of the table.
And when Kadeem was quiet for too long, it usually meant he was thinking of something unpleasant.
For a while, no one spoke. Only the faint sound of spoons against bowls filled the room.
Then Kadeem finally broke the silence.
“The villagers are complaining.”
Kiara raised an eyebrow.
“About what?”
Kadeem wiped his mouth slowly before answering.
“Fish.”
Keldee sighed softly under his breath.
Here we go.
Kadeem leaned forward slightly and rested his arms on the table.
“They say the supply has been low lately.”
I kept my eyes on my bowl.
“I’m sure the ocean still has fish,” Kiara said calmly.
Kadeem’s eyes shifted toward me.
“Oh, I’m sure it does,” he replied.
His voice carried a faint edge of sarcasm.
“After all, Konin used to bring back more fish than anyone in the village.”
I finally looked up.
“But lately,” Kadeem continued, “there hasn’t been much.”
Kiara’s eyes narrowed.
“Just say what you want to say.”
Kadeem smiled slightly.
“Alright.”
He looked directly at me.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time at the sea lately.”
I shrugged.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Busy?” Kadeem repeated with amusement.
“With what exactly?”
Kiara immediately stepped in.
“That’s none of your business.”
Kadeem ignored her completely.
His eyes stayed locked on mine.
“The villagers depend on that fish.”
Keldee rubbed his forehead.
“Can we not start this tonight?”
But Kadeem wasn’t finished.
“They’re starting to wonder what their chosen one has been doing lately.”
The sarcasm in his voice filled the room.
Kiara slammed her spoon down.
“That’s enough.”
Kadeem leaned back in his chair.
“I’m just asking a question.”
Then he looked directly at me again.
“Aren’t you the chosen one?”
Silence spread across the table.
Keldee shook his head.
“You two are exhausting.”
He pushed his bowl aside slightly.
“Some of us would actually like to finish dinner.”
I stood up from the table.
“I’ll bring fish tomorrow,” I said calmly.
Kadeem shrugged.
“Good.”
But his eyes told me something else.
He wasn’t just questioning the fish.
He was questioning me.
I left the house before the conversation could go any further.
The beach was peaceful when I arrived.
The setting sun stretched golden light across the ocean, making the waves sparkle like moving glass.
Tracy was already there.
She stood near the water, her yellow dress swaying gently in the breeze as she watched the horizon.
When she saw me approaching, her face lit up.
“Hey!”
I smiled slightly.
“Hey.”
She pointed toward the small wooden boat resting on the sand.
“Ready to go fishing?”
I nodded.
“Yeah.”
Together we pushed the boat into the water before climbing inside.
I grabbed the oars and began rowing slowly away from the shore.
For a while neither of us spoke.
The only sounds were the quiet splashes of the oars and the gentle movement of the sea.
Tracy leaned over the side of the boat, letting her fingers trail through the cool water.
“This place is incredible,” she said softly.
I followed her gaze.
The ocean stretched endlessly around us.
Peaceful.
Calm.
But suddenly a strange feeling tightened in my chest.
My senses sharpened.
Every sound seemed louder.
Every movement in the water felt clearer.
My sidekick ability.
Danger.
I looked out across the sea.
Everything appeared normal.
No waves.
No strange shapes.
Nothing.
“Konin?”
I blinked and looked back at Tracy.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“Nothing.”
She studied my face for a moment, then smiled again.
“So,” she said playfully, “are you actually good at fishing?”
I laughed softly.
“You’re about to find out.”
She leaned back slightly and crossed her arms.
“You know… I still feel bad about something.”
“About what?”
“Your sister said the village depends on the fish you bring.”
I sighed dramatically and leaned back, mimicking Kadeem’s voice.
“Well, Konin,” I said in a deep mocking tone, “aren’t you the chosen one? Shouldn’t the chosen one be a little more useful to the village?”
Tracy blinked.
Then she burst into laughter.
“Oh my God!”
She held her stomach while laughing.
“Wait—who was that supposed to be?”
“My brother.”
“That was amazing,” she said, still laughing.
“You make him sound terrifying.”
“You haven’t met him yet.”
She wiped a tear from her eye.
“So basically,” she said, “if you don’t bring fish home tonight, you’re in serious trouble.”
“Exactly.”
“Well,” she said with a playful grin, “you better catch the biggest fish in the ocean.”
I smirked.
“Careful what you wish for.”
For a moment we both laughed.
The boat rocked gently on the calm water as the sky slowly darkened around us.
Neither of us noticed the shadow moving beneath the surface.
Then suddenly—
The water beside the boat exploded.
A massive dark shape burst upward, sending waves crashing violently against us.
Tracy screamed.
The boat rocked dangerously as something huge moved beneath us.
A long scaled limb shot out of the water and wrapped around Tracy’s waist.
Her eyes widened with terror.
“Konin!”
Without thinking, I lunged forward and grabbed the creature’s arm.
Its skin was rough and cold like stone.
The monster roared as its massive body twisted beneath the waves.
I pulled Tracy toward me and struck the creature with all my strength.
The impact sent a shock through the water.
For a brief moment, its glowing eyes appeared above the surface.
Then the creature retreated into the dark ocean.
The waves slowly settled again.
Silence returned.
“Tracy?”
She didn’t respond.
Her body went limp in my arms.
“Tracy!”
But her eyes were closed.
She was unconscious.
And suddenly the quiet ocean didn’t feel peaceful anymore.
It felt like something down there was still watching us.
- Writer
