five minutes last an hour

afloat

plip

plop

I watch intently as droplets fall from my index finger and into the water, as dark as night, crouching over a the edge of a boardwalk that was once a cargo container. 

plop

plip

The entire earth has been engulfed by water, no more soil or terrestrial plants to be seen for miles. Because the oceans are only rising, civilization has been continuing to do the same. What remains of the structures still above the surface have been built on top of again and again, stories added one atop another so roofs can be as far out of reach of the water as possible. 

Despite the fact that most of the sidewalks and streets have only been completely submerged not too long ago, the population has already greatly diminished. Such is why despite the vast amount of buildings around, there are hardly any boats. But just as I do, a majority of people left prefer to walk on what remains of the streets or on discarded rubbish large enough to at least have one foot on.

I get up and walk along the boardwalk that encompasses the outskirts of what's left of our rising sunken city.

Piles of junk stacked on varying heights of submerged sand hills to make an archipelago of small metal islands surround the boardwalk. I jump onto an island and hop hop hop my way across castoff wheelbarrows and floating doors to get to another.

Suddenly, heads of children pop out of the water on either side of me,  one by one as I make my way from the city. Although I know of everyone in town, I don't seem to recognize any of these faces.

Unsure why, I feel pulled towards the horizon, and my feet move on their own. I want to turn back, afraid and apprehensive, but I'm too far out to make a run for it anyways.

I keep walking forward.

As I pass each child, they turn their heads to follow me, their glares piercing into my skin and sending shivers down my spine. I dare not look them in the eye, keeping my focus on the vanishing point at where the sky meets the ocean.

blink blink

They blink simultaneously, as if timed by a pendulum.

blink blink

I start to run.

blink blink

Just how many children are there hiding under these waters?

splash.

I've come to the point where even the metal islands can no longer keep me completely out of the water's reach, some starting to descend below the water, just underneath the surface. I continue running regardless,

splish, splash, splish

away,

splish, splash, splish

hoping to escape the stares of these mysterious children

splish, splash, splish

The further away from the city I go, the less ground I have to walk.

splish, splash, splosh

The sand hills are going down.

splish

splosh

I'm losing my pathway.

splish

splosh

The water seems denser, heavier. Harder to walk through. 

splish

My feet can't touch the ground.

I can't swim.