Trapped

Chapter 27

Jughead breathed in the smell of the sea. The dried salt made his skin ache. He could feel the small rocks under his towel. The sun was kissing his skin causing a pleasant warmth to spread throughout his body. There was a light breeze that prevented him from heating up.

A loud splash made him crack his eyes open. Just a few meters further there was a huge rock. The waves attacked with rigor. The rock itself was still standing tall but at the base, it was already starting to dissolve. Little holes had formed. It had taken years of salt and water violently splashing against it. And after many, many years more, Jughead knew, it would cease to exist.

He turned his head to the side. Jellybean was laying next to him. She was younger than Jughead remembered. She couldn't be older than five or six. Her hair was wet and sticking to her cheeks. She was fast asleep, her head laying on his shoulder. This was strange. Just as he was about to wake her a big hand brushed through his hair.

He looked up to find FP smiling down at him. He looked younger too. His hair was dark like his, without all the little grey strands Jughead remembered. There were fewer wrinkles around his eyes too. He looked more well-rested, more...healthy. He opened his mouth to ask him how but the older man just shushed him.

"Shhh, it's okay. Just close your eyes. Can you hear the waves?"

Jughead nodded.

"Good. It's nice isn't it?" He whispered fondly. "Falling asleep by the sea?"

Jughead took a deep breath, feeling his body relax. There was something oddly familiar with this. He let his mind wander through memory lane, till he knew exactly where he was.

"This is a memory, isn't it?" He didn't open his eyes. He just waited for his father to reply.

"It is"

"I was...nine?"

"Ten" FP replied with confidence. His hand hadn't stopped petting Jughead's hair.

"I wish we could stay here forever. I want nothing to change" he turned, nuzzling closer to the touch.

"But everything already has"

He frowned at the melancholy of his father's voice. He gasped his body convulsing in shock. Freezing water suddenly engulfed him. He jerked up. The beach was empty. The sky was dark. Clouds hid the sun. The low rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance. The wind was howling making him tremble.

He turned to the sea. The water, reflecting the sky was now pitch black as well. The waves were much more brutal now. They'd clash with his back and drop him to his feet in pain. He shuffled away and onto the land. He turned around and around but there was no one in sight. The clap of thunder made him jump. It started pouring.