Waters Edge

Chapter Three: A Sirens song, and a Sailors Struggle

I am sitting at the edge of a dock, my feet dangling in the cool water. The full moon shines down illuminating the waves as they lap against my ankles. I can hear someone, someone singing out in the water. A beautiful melody that doesn't have words. I can feel the melody calling to me, slowly drawing me in by its aura. Before I can think twice I am jumping into the water and swimming toward the noise. The water is much darker and colder now I swim far away from the dock and the shore. I can see giant rocks sticking out from the water. The marker from the bay to open ocean. The waves crash and slam against them loudly now and I know that I should swim back. But the song calls to me, pulls at my heart and I must follow it. The voice sounds much closer now, probably just on the other side of one of the rocks, I swim faster and there he is. He is sitting gazing up at the stars, his mouth emitting the sweetest noise I have ever heard. I close my eyes and let the noise fill my senses. I feel the current pulling me the waves crashing closer. I open my eyes quickly when the music stops and I scream as his eyes lock onto mine and the tide takes me under the water, I see the rock coming a giant black mass I am being pushed helplessly toward I close my eyes and brace for impact.

I sit up with a start to complete darkness, letting out a loud agonizing scream as I wrap my arms around myself. I can't stop until I feel that there is no water, I can breathe. My hands shake as I reach for my lamp and I wrap my hands back around myself immediately after. One of my worst fears is drowning, because you're helpless slowly sinking and you know its happening and can't do anything to stop it. They say that it when you breathe in the salt water your lungs flood with blood and usually that is what kills you. I shiver and take deep breathes.

I try to even out my breathing, I stare at the wall and rub my hands through my hair. Why was I dreaming of the creature from the water? The dream, or rather nightmare had felt so real, the singing was so beautiful and like no other voice I have ever heard in my life. I squeeze my eyes shut, why is this happening to me? Me, of all people, has had enough bullshit for one lifetime. Why do I have to dream about some half-man half-fish mutant monster?

I lay in bed until the sun rises again. Part of me wants to never see that thing ever again, another part, a far more darkly curious one, wants me to find it again. Who, or better yet what was that thing beyond the wake?

I know that today I won't be able to go out on my boat so instead, I dig around for my old fishing rod and gear. After about an hour of pulling fishing lures out of questionable places in my house, I finally have most of my equipment together. It is still really early in the morning so I decide to pack some food to last me down at the beach. I frown when I open the fridge and the only actual food item is pickles. As well as a black container which on further inspection contains molding noodles. I wrinkle my nose, it smells like something died in there and seal the container before chucking it back into the fridge. I grab the pickles and open the jar to eat one. Not the best breakfast but it will do for now.

I hope I can catch something to eat for later, surviving off pickles is not the best way to go. I put the jar in a cooler and grab everything else I need and walk out the door and make my way down the beach.

The beach I go to is on the far point of the island, a place hidden in rocks and quite the hike for anyone who comes in off the pier, as they are at opposite ends of the island. There is another beach which is much more popular and closer to town that usually distracts all the tourists away from my hidden beach. I walk along the barely-there trail stepping around rocks and the small shrubs. I curse when I get a pebble in my sandal but it thankfully shakes out without much effort.

I let out a happy sigh when I see the beach completely empty of all people, some tourists are far too determined to avoid other tourists it is ridiculous the lengths they go to, but as it is probably around 6:30 in the morning it does not guarantee I will be alone the entire day. I dump most of my stuff in the shade of one of the large boulders on the beach and then wade out into the shallow water with my fishing pole and lawn chair. This beach has a drop off about ten meters offshore. Another reason this beach is not popular, no one likes getting about knee deep and then falling into the open ocean. I cast out my line and then sit in my chair, sure your butt gets wet but you don't have to stand so bonus. The sun glistens on the waves and a few seabirds squawk overhead and occasionally dive into the water. It is actually a pretty relaxing space.