Infinite Ocean of Sumsa

Chapter 3 - The Beach House

Phoenix kept screaming even though her throat felt like it was on fire.

Her hoarse voice managed to utter another loud "HELP!"

She stopped screaming when she heard the heavy thud of feet marching down some sort of staircase. Then, the door flung open agressively. Phoenix gasped in both horror and shock, staring up and down at the dark figure planted in front of her. It was him, Paul Zimmer.

"Shut up.... now!"

"Why am I here? Why are you here? Why are you doing this to me?"

Scratching his head he said, "Woah! Too many questions at once."

"Well, I think I have a right to know why I'm here, on my own."

"You're with me."

"I wasn't until now."

"Look Phoenix, you honestly don't remember what happened to you last night?"

She blurted out "No?!" in confusion.

"You almost drowned out there." Paul pointed at a poky window covered in cobwebs and dust behind her that she only became aware of now.

"I don't get it though. I got to Maryland last night and fell asleep on the couch in my cousins' office. No swimming was involved in that."

"Maybe you started sleep walking to the beach. A lot of crazy stuff happens around here."

"What?!"

"Nothing."

"Wait, how did you know my name?"

"The same way you know mine."

"From the Internet?"

Paul laughed, "no, from the neighbours actually."

"But I only arrived to town last night. I'm from Ireland."

"I know. There was a talk about your brother last weekend at church. No secrets are kept in this town. Well, I try keeping mine but... that's it."

Phoenix looked into his beautiful eyes and her heart skipped a beat or two. They weren't a light or emerald green colour but, the deep green eyes she witnessed last night before she fell asleep. All the memories started to magically seep back into her head.

She screamed, "You psycho!! Why did you try to kill me?" 

Paul backed away from her, "What?"

"You were the one who pulled me into the water. I remember everything now!"

Paul crossed his arms, "You clearly don't. I was the one who dragged you out of the water."

Phoenix was forced to believe him judging by the hurt expression on his face.

"But.... your eyes... They're the same! You were staring at me last night from the balcony door."

"I am not a stalker either", Paul stated sarcastically. "What's with you accusing me for everything?! Do I have to spell it out to you? I saved YOUR LIFE last night!"

Phoenix, being both proud and stubborn in character, hated being in the wrong so she tried to sound bold and fierce like Paul, by lying right to his face, "I don't believe you! If you really did save my life, you wouldn't have me held hostage here in this disgusting shed or whatever this is, tied up."

"This is protection. Nothing more, nothing less."

She started to get impatient and fed up of hearing all of these explanations that weren't making sense to her, "Against what?"

Dodging the question he asked her, "Wait a sec, who was staring at you last night?"

She replied sassily, "Answer my question first."

"Stop trying to flirt with me! I need more co-operation from you because you clearly haven't helped me out one bit yet."

"Excuse me?! Why would I be flirting with you?"

"Because you're a crazy fan girl." Paul gave Phoenix a cruel smirk as he read the look of utter embarrassment mixed with rage on her hot, red face.

"Go to hell!" 

"Answer my few simple questions and I'll let you go."

"No!" She folded her arms and stuck out her tongue at him like a spoilt child.

"You're messing with the wrong guy. If I were you, I would do what you're told because life isn't fun down here when you're on your own throughout the night. If I can remember correctly, the house mice and rats love hiding away in this old beach house."

"You make me laugh! Do you actually think I'm afraid of the dark or, squeamish of mice and rats? Or is it that you think I'm scared of you?!"

In the blink of an eye, Phoenix felt a sharp pain rise from her left cheek up to just beneath her eye. Paul, the boy she adored had just slapped her across the face! Then, he turned his back on her and headed in direction to the dilapidated door saying, "I'll be back when you're willing to work with me."