The Ocean's Secret

Chapter one - Discovery

A/n : Please note that being able to relate to events including names and interactions between characters are all coincidental. The setting of novel is fictional as I chose random names and random states in America.

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Raven's Wood , Virginia

Sarah's feet sank into the cold sand as she gazed out at the ocean, her eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of John's surfboard. He had been out there for hours, and she was starting to worry. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the waves.

"Where are you, John " she whispers under her breath as she close her eyes. Her body felt the embrace of someone behind her as she lean in the crook of the person's neck.Her curly long brown hair lean against the person chest as he ran his tanned slender fingers decorated with rings in her hair.

She smelt the blend of saltwater, coconut sunscreen, and a hint of citrus. His messy, sun-bleached blond hair that always seems to be perfectly imperfect came into the rear of her eyes as he plants a small gentle peck on her cheek.

She hears he murmurs something but shake it off as she continues to say in his arms. She was drawn back into reality by the cold sea breeze as it hits her face violently. She sighs as she realizes that she was dreaming about John being with her .

Her feet still hang off the dock as the once soft golden moment on the waves had turn into a dark mysterious moment for the sun was completely gone now.She lets out a soft breath of feeling disappointed and defeat before turning towards the house.

The house is a cozy, beachside bungalow with a warm, inviting atmosphere. The exterior is clad in weathered wood, with a soft gray paint job which she remembers her and John fighting over the color to paint the house.

She turns the knob of the door before she was attack by their golden retriever dog named Max. They had him for three years as a symbol of them starting their family together. Sarah feeble place her hands to cover her face to protect her from Max wet kisses.

"Okay Max" she giggles as she tries to move from Max greeting action. She makes her way to the bedroom with a happy Max wiggling his tail behind her .

The bedroom is a serene oasis, with a plush bed covered in crisp, white linens and a large window that faces the ocean. The walls are adorned with framed photos of Sarah and John's adventures, and the room is filled with the soothing scent of saltwater and the sound of waves crashing outside .

She strips herself and puts on one of her favorite night outfit both she and John love. Max barks as she admires herself in the mirror to show her his approval of the outfit."Me too, Max " she says before walking over to the bed where Max had acquired for himself as he observe her.

She aims to fall asleep but the other side of the bed feels warm without John there to wrap his arms around her as his chiseled jaw press gently on her head. The only thing she had felt in the bed was Max fur as he shifts in the bed making her sticking to her side of the bed.
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She small bright green eyes opening to find Max licking her face and his two paws pressed down in her chest. "Max " she groans happily as she takes the good morning kisses from Max.

She drags herself to the kitchen where she reaches into the cupboard and takes down both a mug and max's dog food. She removes the lid off the dog food and pours it out into Max's container before filling the kettle with water.

The kitchen is small but efficient, with a large window above the sink that offers stunning views of the waves. The countertops are made of worn, sea-weathered wood, and the cabinets are painted a cheerful shade of blue that matches the sky on a sunny day.

She occasionally would wonder along the waves hoping that John with his blonde hair dripping of water would be walking up to the house as he carries his surf board under his arm. She imagine Max jumping into his arms as he is showered with Max's kisses and  she stares at both of them.

She imagine him being in front of her and grabs her waist as he smash his lips against hers. The soft scent of the ocean on him flares into her nostrils as she wraps her hands around his neck to make the space between them less.

She imagine him breaking the kiss to say softly to her as both their foreheads touch "Only God knows how much I love, Sarah ".She would smile gently as he cups her face and plants a kiss before heading into the town with Max beside him.

He would be back around the hours of five to six as both him and Max came into the house enthusiastically to find her. Max would be the first to find her on the out skirt of the house as she wonders the beach to find idea relating to her out coming book.

When he had found her, she notice that he always had a worried look on his face when he found her near the shore. She always tease him that the evil sea monsters could not take her because she was protected by the necklace he gave her engraved with the their initials.

His face would contour to a relieve expression and would simply laugh at his wife humor but days he would often be upset and would apologize later on in the night as he explain to her he is only worried about her well being.

Raven's Wood, the small coastal town where Sarah and John live, has a dark and mysterious side.The town's residents are wary of newcomers, and few people ever move to Raven's Wood from elsewhere. Those who do are often met with a chilly reception, and it can take a long time for them to gain the trust of the locals.

The silence in Raven's Wood is not just a lack of noise, but also a lack of openness and communication. The town's secrets are closely guarded, and outsiders are not privy to the whispers and rumors that circulate among the locals.

After having her morning coffee she decides to take Max on a daily walk to clear her mind.As she walked closer to the water's edge, she saw it - a shape floating in the distance. Her heart began to race as she realized it was John's board, but where was he?

She ran into the water, her eyes scanning the surface until she saw a hand, limp and still, rising and falling with the waves. Sarah's scream echoed across the beach as she fought her way through the water to reach her husband.

The next thing she knew, she was holding John's lifeless body in her arms, while the ocean's secrets swirling around her like the waves.