The Clearwater

Chapter Three

Chapter Three:

         “I came as quickly as I could. Is she all right?” Mom said as she pushed open the front door. She dropped her bag on the front table and walked quickly over to the couch. I stood from where I was sitting at the kitchen counter. I had called her soon after I got in.

          “I don’t know. She hasn’t been awake long enough for me to figure out.” I walked over and stood behind the couch, staring down at the girl. I made sure to put her under blankets and I even turned on the fireplace, anything to help her wake. Mom felt her forehead.

          “She doesn’t have a fever. Her breathing is normal, will you hand me that flashlight?” She pointed to her keys, which held her emergency flashlight keychain. Mom was a very protective person. I tossed them to her; she quickly lifted the girl’s eyelids and shone the light on them. Before Mom moved the light, something in the girl’s eye reflected sliver light. I gasped leaning forward to get a better look, but Mom was done. She hadn’t noticed, “Her pupils are normal I don’t see why she isn’t awake. You’ve kept her warm?” I nodded. I stared at the girls closed eyes. What was that?

          “I’m pretty sure she was caught in the tide.” I said, shaking my head. I was seeing things. Mom walked into the kitchen.

          “Clive, that’s impossible. She’d be dead.” I had a feeling she wouldn’t believe me. I was having a hard time myself. She opened a cupboard by the fridge and grabbed a pot, “I’ll make hot chocolate for when she wakes, why don’t you find her something dry to wear? There should be some of Jayda’s old clothes in the guest room.” I nodded a headed upstairs.

          Jayda is my mom’s younger sister. Her parents sent her here for a summer once, and then she came back a few times before heading off to college. She left a few pairs of clothes here just in case she needed to drop by. She hadn’t for a few years.

          I pushed the door to the guest room slowly. The curtains were drawn and the ocean extended as far as the eye could see. The sun was just beginning to set, the dark water a tint of orange. I opened the drawers of the long dresser against the window that filled the whole west wall. I found a small white t-shirt and some black shorts. I silently hoped they would fit her as I walked back down stairs.

          “Those will be perfect.” Mom nodded as I set them on the arm of the couch. I smiled. I walked over and sat in one of the arm chairs facing the girl. I hadn’t really taken the time to get a good look at her. Even though her dark chocolate hair was in tangles, she was still very beautiful. Her eyelashes were long enough to reach the top of her cheeks. Her lips were perfectly round. I didn’t recognize her as anyone from town. Which made me question everything even more. How did she get in the cave all alone? I leaned toward her as she began to stir.

          “Mom,” I urged her over. The girl slowly opened her eyes and blinked. They began to grow wider as she looked around the room. They were a very bright green. A green you wouldn’t think was natural. She glanced at me, her eyes meeting mine. There was fear, strong fear.

          “Where am I?” Her voice was soft. Mom smiled at me, and walked back to the kitchen.

          “You hit your head. I think,” I said slowly, “You’ve been unconscious. I found you.” She sat up, not looking away from my eyes. It was intimidating. I looked down. 

          “W-What day is it?” She asked. Her voice was beginning to tremble. I looked back up, but didn’t meet her eyes.

          “It’s the twenty-fourth of September.” I answered.