Tales of tails: The Island (Book 1)

Ch. 1: The dream

I find myself surrounded by darkness and coldness. My head goes underwater before I have time to react.

Some air enters into my lungs as I gasp for air.

A strong current surrounds pulls my body farther and farther away from the surface and into the deep dark waters.

The small amount of air in my lugs wasn't enough. It's impossible to hold my breath any longer.

It seems like the water has a life of its own. On the surface it appears calm, refreshing and inviting, but on the bottom it's full of wonders.

It's peaceful when you look at it from far away, but if you are not careful you can drown. The ocean is full of mysterious things.

The pressure inside my brain increases, along with the burning sensation consuming my lungs.

It feels like a bomb about to explode obliterating everything around.

Is this it? Is this how I die? Is this the end? I slowly close my eyes and accept my death, relaxing my muscles and trying not to think about the world above.

I feel my energy slowly slipping away with the current.

Time floats by and it seems to slow down.

Suddenly, the pressure in my lungs is gone.

I open my eyes slowly, not sure on what I should expect to see.

I blink once, then twice, just to make sure that my eyes aren't playing tricks on me.

Somehow I manage to take a deep breath. There is a bright light coming from somewhere above. Did I make it?

Everything is so peaceful and free, there is no ground beneath me. Am I flying?

Bubbles float and head up, towards the surface.

Wait, what? The surface?

How is this possible? I'm breathing.....under water?

That's how the dream always ends.

I wake up and look at my clock.

12:30

Seriously? Why do I have to wake up in the middle of the night?
I groan and turn to the other side. With a sigh I close my eyes again and try to go back to sleep.

A cold breeze comes into my room through my open window sending a chill down my spine.

Before getting up to close the window, I stare at the ceiling for a few seconds and take a deep breath in, then I slowly get up and put my sandals on.

Since it's chilly, I grab the sweater on top of the chair next to my bed and make my way towards the window.

Well. I think to myself. At least now I have an excuse to be up at night instead of blaming it on the weird dream.

Here is the thing, I've being having this weird dream ever since........we'll ever since I started having dreams.

When I was younger I couldn't remember much, but now the picture is vividly printed in my mind.

Even though I basically live on the beach and my father is a fisherman, I don't go into the sea.

My father says that before I was five I wasn't scared of the water. That's around the age when the dream appeared.

When I told my parents about my dream, they said that I didn't have to worry, that maybe I had heard of someone drowning from school or the news and that's why I'm having the dream.

I accepted that just because I didn't want to feel like a freak, or like I was going crazy.

Anything was better than wondering why the dream was there.

As far as I know, I have never been close to drowning.

Once I reach the window I look up into the dark starry night. If you look carefully, you can see different constellations.

The full moon shines it's light into my room.

Everything is just so calm and peaceful.

I sit by the window and continue to watch as the waves come and go.
Slowly rising and falling.

I close my eyes and listen to the waves crash against the shore.
Maybe it's not so bad to be awake at this time.

I open my eyes again taking a deep breath. The air smells salty but I love it.
As I stare at the distance and something beautiful catches my eye.

The Island.

It looks alive under the moonlight. It beams with beauty like a giant pearl in an oyster.

I smile to myself, it's quite a view I have from my window.

After admiring the beautiful view for a while, I turn back and look at my bed. I should probably go back to sleep.

Although tomorrow is Sunday, I want to wake up early to walk on the beach.

Before I go to bed I slowly walk down the stairs towards the kitchen. The wood stairs creak as I put my weight on them.

Sometimes it's just impossible to not make a sound.

Once I reach the kitchen I get some water and drink it.

As I drink, I feel something soft and fluffy brush against my leg.
"Meow" I hear from the ground and look down to see my cat. His green eyes reflecting the light.

He jumps on the sink and waits for me to open the window.

I chuckle and let him go outside. I better go back to my room now.

Before I go back to bed I look at the island one more time.

Maybe someday I will be able to go.

With the thought of the island and the sound of the ocean, my eyes grow heavy and I finally go back to sleep.