Son of the Raging Tide

Chapter 3

One of Kai's most vivid memories from childhood was of the time he'd nearly drowned.

His family had taken a trip they'd been planning for months down to the beach. He hadn't known how to swim yet, but he didn't think that getting his toes wet could be so dangerous. He was just trying to wade into the shallows, but before he knew it, the tide had latched on to him and yanked him under.

Kai had just enough time to suck in a lungful of air before he was dragged under the waves. He flailed his arms, trying to gain some purchase as the ocean closed over his head, but the current spun him this way and that until he didn't even know where the surface might be anymore. Rocks grazed his elbows and knees as he was battered against the seabed. He tried desperately not to let out any air until the current finally let up and he bobbed back to the surface for just a moment.

It was long enough for him to take another deep breath, but in the next instant, a second wave dunked him under, and this time a bit of seawater got into his mouth.

His mouth snapped shut and he held his breath like he would hold to the edge of a cliff. For a few, long moments, the only thing he could think about was fighting the urge to breathe.

Kai's back struck against something hard and let out a few air bubbles. He felt like he wouldn't be able to hold on any longer until the current released him and he broke the surface again.

This time he tried to scream for help, but another wave was fast coming and he only had just enough time to breathe in again before it shoved him back down. He had a brief moment of hope that someone would notice he was missing. Then the thought struck him that his parents might not notice in time. He could die out here and no one would know until it was too late.

A sense of terror and helplessness washed over him as the current tugged him this way and that like a ragdoll. He resurfaced once again, took a deep breath, and was under once more before he could blink the water from his eyes.

But then the current shifted direction and pulled him along with it. It dragged him over the ground until his head finally broke the surface again. He gasped, but instead of going back under, he found himself back on the sand. He held his breath when a new wave came towards him, but this was much smaller and only washed over his knees.

"Kai!"

He was too shocked to look around or try to stand up. He stared at the waves, still thinking about how close he had come to dying. His eyes were glued to the gently rolling waves, unable to understand what had saved him when suddenly his mother was in front of him, cupping his face in her hands.

"Mom?" he whispered hoarsely.

"Shh, just breathe, sweetie. Breathe."

His breath was coming in short, hitched gasps and he realized that he was shaking all over. His mother helped him to his feet and led him further up the shore a ways before letting him collapse back to the ground, now out of reach of the waves.

"Is he okay?" His father ran over to meet them, and Kai could hear his own fear reflected in his father's voice.

"He's breathing, but he's in shock. Call an ambulance, quick." His father ran off without another word. "Not you, Nya," his mother said. "Stay here."

Kai couldn't process much of what was going on, it was all pushed aside by one prevailing thought that was stuck in his mind like the sand stuck to his skin: he'd nearly died out there, all alone. And no matter how hard he had fought, he'd been powerless to save himself.

As Kai shivered on the beach, his mother drew him close, talking softly. "It's alright, baby. It's over, you're safe now."

Kai suddenly became aware of how cold he was and curled up closer to her. She felt warm and steady, comforting. Nothing like the unforgiving ocean.