Strangers of Sea & Land

Chapter 4

My hand slammed onto my alarm clock. Rising groggily, I groaned at the sunlight that streamed through my blinds.

My hair fell around my shoulder in a tangled frizzy mess, a few strange falling in my face.
Blowing them away, I rolled out of bed.

The warm carpet was soft between my toes. I yawned and stretched. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I walked down into the kitchen.

My BMT shirt was wrinkled and oversized, almost covering my blue shorts.

Mom and Dad were sat at the dining table, concern written on their faces. There were also some papers laid out in front of them.

"Katt, sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Mom started.

"I'm alright," I shrugged. "A little shaken but I can't wait to get back to the beach."

They looked at each other nervously.

"Sweetie, your mother and I have been talking, and we think that you shouldn't go back to lifeguarding without a few sessions with Dr. Emerson." Dad's gruff voice was tense with emotion.

"What?"

"This must have been traum—"

"I'm not seeing some therapist, I'm perfectly fine!"

"Kattherine, it's for your own good. Many people have lasting PTSD from things like this." Mom stated sternly, determined to get her point across.

I slumped into my seat and grumbled. Poking at my pancakes with a fork.

"Trust us, sweetie. Mr. Emerson is a great doctor, we're sure he'll get through to you."

"Alright..."

Mom pecked the top of my head and smoothed down my hair. Dad shuffled together the papers and smiled.

"Great! You're first appointment is at 6:30 tonight. Jiujitsu can wait until after."

Shifting in my chair, I frowned.

Now they're taking BJJ from me too?

"Eat up now. You have the whole day to yourself, how about that?"

"I guess so," I shrugged up at her. Dad was already leaving for work.

"Have a good day, Dad."

-

Tail flicking against the strong ocean currents, I dove straight for a large field of ferns and weeds. The tall stalks swaying ominously, brushing against my skin.

I shivered as the water cooled, gripping tight to my satchel. Feeling the weight of it as I clutched it between my webbed fingers.

Pushing through the last thick walls of seaweed, I came into a clearing.

Illuminated by spikes of glowing quartz. A large piece of circular stone was embedded in the grey sand.

As I swam towards it the stone rose until it was the height of my waist. I smoothed my hands over it. The cracked edges burned to the touch.

Dark magic coursed through the dark marble veins. A shallow dip was carved into the center, there were runes as well.

Runes that I had deciphered a long time ago. 

I dug into my satchel and pulled out several shiny scales, their color bright against my grim surroundings.

Some were still stained red, some are chipped. Their silky texture shone even in the little light that was this deep down.

Placing them carefully, I muttered a spell.

"Qui affecto protego, mixitisque iubas serpentibus et posteris meis stirpiq. Tui gratia lovis gratia sit cure."

The words snapped from my tongue as I focused intensely.

-
I finished my breakfast and hurried up to my room as Mom put away the dishes.

I plopped down onto my bed and sighed into the pillows.

How could this get any worse?

Sliding onto the floor, I sat cross legged, staring at the wall bored.

My phone dinged.

SnapFish-
Lawrence is typing...

From Lawrence.

Raising my eyebrows, I picked up my phone and opened up the app.

A message from Law was the first but soon a few more came in. Messages from Sarah, Starla, Dan, and Izzy all showed up.

I smiled, glad to know they cared.

I texted all of them back. All their messages were get well sayings. It was almost monotonous, the constant thank you's and reassurances I gave out.

Time flew by as I chatted away with my friends, pushing the memories of last night away.

A few minutes turned into hours and soon I would have to leave to see him.