Where The Wild Things Are [Continuation]

8| THE SHADOW

8| THE SHADOW

            HIS body curled as he coughed, as his eyes snapped open. He was instantly blinded by light. He gasped at the sudden stab of pain in his eyes.

            He then gingerly opened his eyes again, hand blocking the Sun's light. He could feel the heat soak in his pores, causing a light sweat to break out on his forehead. As his eyes adjusted he took the scene in. The sky was blue, bright and radiant. Not a cloud in sight. No sign of the storm he endeavored the previous night.

           Suddenly memories from the previous night swept his thoughts, flooding in a frenzy of choked sobs and hoarse pleas. An abrupt chill rattled across his skin, causing him to stiffen.

            With his sore muscles taunt and alert he shakily stood up, the crown slightly leaning toward the right side of his head. He squinted as he took in the scenery before him, the sunlight reflecting the surface of the water.

           Once his eyes adjusted his stomach dropped. His heart leapt in his throat. The water was absolutely still.

           Not even a faint ripple or a soft breeze to break the spell. Anguish exploded in his brain, deteriorating any rational thought.

            Blinded by his emotion, he crumbled to his knees. He grasped the edge of the boat so tightly that his fingers turned white. His breathing trembled with his body, his crown tilted slightly forward.

            "Fuck."

           He slammed his fists against the edge, suddenly rising to his feet. He rubbed his sweaty face with his sticky hands. "God damn it."

           He was stuck in the middle of the ocean, and going to die of heat exhaustion. He knew it.

           Wallowing in his misery he suddenly heard a splash from behind him. His heart almost stopped.

           He swallowed thickly. His muscles tight in anticipation as he slowly stepped to the other side of the boat and leaned over. The ocean crystal clear, the water still rippling. He squinted his eyes to get a better look.

           Suddenly he heard another splash from the other side of the boat; he whipped his head around just in time to see a shadow scurry into the depths of the sea.

           Something was definitely here.

          Slight ripples still teetered the boat, as he tried to convince himself that it was dehydration to cause these illusions. But how could he explain the rocking of the boat? There was no wind. He shook his head as he squinted more into the sea, the Sun's rays reflecting on the ocean, he blinked, there was nothing. Fear coiled around his lungs like a snake, suffocating him.

           He plopped down on the floor, pressing the heel of his hands into his eyes. "Just breathe," he whispered to himself over and over again. "You're just fine."

           The scene of the shadowed creature under the water still played in his head on repeat. Maybe it was just a trick of the light? He thought. He took another deep breath, focusing on the air floating down his throat and in his lungs only to circle back up out of his mouth. He leaned his back against the creaky wall of his boat.

          He sighed and licked his lips. The taste of salt still stained on them. He looked up toward the sky to see it a bright blue, still no clouds to take him away from the beating of the Sun, just for a moment. His eyes burned with exhaustion, he closed them.