Sunken

01 Liquid Courage

"Thea," a voice faded in and out.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Thea," the voice called again.

"Who are you?!" I called into the darkness.

"Thea! Run!"

I jumped out of bed, sweat lightly coating my skin as I tried to catch my breath. These dreams just keep getting stranger and stranger.

Thea... Nobody calls me Thea.

I got up from my tangled white sheets and pushed back the matching curtains. My eyes squinted as enormous amounts of sunlight filled my room. The sound of the waves crashing against the beach calmed my racing pulse.

"Cali! Breakfast's ready!"

"Coming!"

Lynn was already sitting at the kitchen table while mom was frying bacon over the hot stove.

"Why do you look all sweaty?" Lynn asked.

"Don't worry about it guppy," I sat down.

"Another nightmare dear?" Mom asked.

"Something like that, I think," I rested my forehead against my hand.

I don't think you can really call those nightmares. Everything is usually dark and I can just hear voices from some sort event.

"I'm going to be late!" Lynn shouted as she looked down at her phone.

"Here, I'll meet you in the car in two minutes," Mom handed her the keys

"Why can't I start walking on my own like the bigger kids," Lynn frowned.

"You're only ten," I said. "You can get lost. Then who else is going to make me laugh until I cry everyday?"

Lynn smiled that cute innocent smile at me.

"The school's close to the other side of the beach," She shrugged her backpack on. "And the stingray would just guide me back."

"What?" Mom and I asked at the same time in surprise.

"Nothing," she shrugged. "Let's go Mom!"

Tiny Lynn tucked her brunette hair behind her ear as she exited the house.

My little sister has always been on the stranger side of things. If we didn't have the same chestnut hair and sapphire eyes, I wouldn't think we're related.

We looked a lot like our mom, minus our intense eye color. Her eyes were muddy brown, I'm guessing we got the same eyes as our father.

I can't really remember what he looks like very well, the image of him in my mind is vague. I always feel guilty for not remembering him well after he died when Lynn was really young.

We have no pictures of him, I sometimes question if he ever really existed at all. The only thing of his I have, is the shell necklace I wear around my neck everyday. The shell is called a bronze shark eye, apparently it's supposed to bring you luck.

Key word, apparently.

"I'm glad she's being a normal-ish kid for once and enjoying school," I spoke.

Mom turned around with a sad look in her eyes.

"You know why we can't send you to high school this year," Mom told.