Waves

Chapter 13

"Good morning." A voice calls to me out over the street.

My head pops up and I see Harry standing on his own balcony directly across from me. I smile at the sight of him, he really is beautiful.

"Hello." I say. "What are we going to do today?" I ask him.

"We're doing something today?" He asks with a tilt of his head.

"Of course. I've spent everyday of my summer with you so far. I was thinking maybe we could go-" But I am cut off by an earth shattering scream before I can complete my sentence. The scream is coming from the beach

I look over the edge of my balcony and out onto the beach.

I see the usually blue ocean dotted with red.

I see something that looks like a large fish swimming around the red.

I see a group of men pulling the body of a small boy out of the water.

I see them pulling out Ryder.

I see them pulling my 8 year old brother out of the bloody ocean.

"Oh my god!" I scream throwing my book aside and rushing out the door down the stairs. My feet can't seem to go fast enough.

"Leighton!" I hear Harry scream.

I rush out of my house and onto the street. Moments later Harry is running beside me and we both dash to the beach.

When I hit the sand, I stumble and fall.

This can't be happening.

"Ryder!" I scream. I feel my body shaking and tears stinging my eyes.

My mother is standing beside him sobbing uncontrollably. My father and a couple of other men that I recognize from around the neighborhood are next to Ryder talking to him, trying to keep him awake and bandage his leg.

His leg.

There's so much blood. It's so gruesome looking. I almost have to look away.

"No no no no no no." I bury my face in my hands and sob. "This can't be happening."

I feel Harry's arms wrap around me, comforting me, trying to keep me calm. Surprisingly, his touch calms me. I feel protected and warm for a few seconds before I come back to reality and remember what's happening.

My poor brother just got attacked by a shark.

I hear ambulance sirens wailing in the distance.

I can barley see paramedics rush onto the beach, load my brother onto a gurney, and take him away through my tears.