Merboy

Prologue

A/n: To be honest I don't really like prologues all that much. But this one was quite necessary.

Hope you enjoy it

Two girls skipped stones along the beach on a dusky afternoon.

They had spent the entire morning there, playing from the break of sunrise until the sky dissolved into the honeyed afterglow of twilight. Countless summer days began here, neither finding anything more enjoyable than the warm sand sliding between their little toes, and cooled by the gentle caress of the ocean tide. Not many spectators flocked to this beach, so it remained mostly deserted, it's natural beauty unaltered by the hands of man, it's water clear of all trash and debris. The only sounds heard were the light swishing of the waves, and one of the girl's exhilarated cry.

"Race you!" the dark-haired one shrilled. Her smile was devious as she launched across the sand, leaving her companion little choice but to sputter after her.

"No fair!" she whined, "You cheated!"

Her small lips formed a pout as her curly hair curled in the wind.

"Fair is for wusses!" the dark-haired girl teased over her shoulder. And just as the words left her mouth her foot snagged a stray rock, causing her tumble head-first into the water with a resounding 'splash!'

"Kerrie!" her friend shrieked in alarm. She waded over to the injured girl, concern evident in her large hazel eyes.

"Laney!" Kerrie exclaimed hysterically ,"My arm-it's stuck!"

"What?"

"Look. It's stuck. I can't pull out. Help me will you?"

Both children tugged with all their might, but to no avail. Their hands were rendered useless, sliding right off the surface of the slippery rocks. Frustration was beginning to surge within them with each failed attempt, rising in sync withe the tumultuous tide. What should they do?

"What do we do?" Kerrie whispered, voicing both girls' concerns.

Laney avoided her gaze. She knew her friend wasn't going to like what she was going to say next, but it had to be done.

"I'm going to go get Erin."

As predicted, Kerrie scowled.

"No." She hissed, appalled that the other girl would dare to suggest such a horrid idea. "I'd rather drown then have her help me."

Laney sighed exasperatedly. Her friend could be so difficult sometimes.

"She's your sister Kerr." She attempted to reason. Sometimes she wondered just how the girl had survived so long with such flawed logic. "Your parents aren't home and she's the only one that can help you."

"Are they ever ?" Kerrie sniped bitterly. Just the thought of her parents made her stomach twist unpleasantly. Perhaps she should drown. Then maybe they'd stick around long enough to attend her funeral. " And I still say no."

Laney decided to ignore her friend at that point. Obviously she wasn't in her right frame of mind.

Did she want to drown?

Perhaps she had hit her head a little too hard. And she'd heard stories of what head trauma could do to people. Makes them say and do all kinds of crazy things.

And at the moment Kerrie was clearly beyond reasoning, so she wouldn't reason with her anymore.

"I'll be back shortly. Try not to move too much okay?"