Mega Worm Apocalypse

Two

Kayla and Maddie were high on adrenaline, giggling and laughing and congratulating each other as they pulled into the dock. They didn't even acknowledge Justin as he worked to tie knots and secure the boat.

"Next time," Maddie was saying, "I call dibs on first shot."

"What? You got the Mako in the end!" laughed Kayla, hopping onto the dock.

"I wanted the White."

Justin tied off the last of the ropes and stood. "Successful trip?"

Kayla stopped, as if she were surprised to see him. The smile and glow from her day on the water vanished immediately and she sighed. When exactly did he start having that effect on her? He was acutely aware of the ring, suddenly heavy in his pocket.

"It was decent," she said with a shrug. "You should come next time."

Maddie snorted. "Heard likes to wait for the bastards to come to him. Isn't that right, Heard?"

She was joking, of course. That was Maddie's way. Playful teasing. But the look of agreement on Kayla's face annoyed him. "Enough find their way to shore that I don't really see the point in seeking them out," he said. It was reckless, if he could tell the truth. A stupid and an unnecessary risk. But he'd fought with Kayla enough to know telling her what he thought about it was not welcome.

Too late though. Kayla's lips pursed in that way they did whenever she was deciding whether or not to start a fight. "I guess I just don't see the point in letting them set the terms." Decision made.

Justin shook his head. Today of all days. A tense silence followed. He didn't want to do this. Not in front of Maddie. And not today.

"What do you want, Justin?" she said. "Have you been waiting on the dock all day just to lecture us?"

Her words, her tone, her glare. It all stung at his heart like little hooks, threatening to pull him apart. What was happening to them? Why did everything he said and did seem to frustrate her? He always frustrated her, he knew that. Since they were kids. But she used be so quick to forgive him. To understand him. To help him. Now, she just didn't seem to want to anymore.

"Dyer wants to see us," he said.

Kayla blinked. "You and me?"

"Not me?" asked Maddie, unable to hide her disappointment.

Justin shrugged. "That's what Robbie said."

Kayla thought a minute, her calculating eyes on the ocean. "Did he say what for?"

Justin shook his head.

Kayla looked to Maddie. "Ugh, do you mind?"

Maddie waved them off. "You guys go, we can catch up on the last episode Summer Cheaters when you're done."

Summer Cheaters? She was planning to watch some terrible reality tv show with Maddie tonight? Had she completely forgotten what day it was?

"Thanks Maddie," said Kayla, heading up down the dock to shore. "I'll be fast, I promise."

Fast. Anger flashed cross Justin's cheeks as he hurried to follow. What did she mean she'd be fast? Either she had forgotten it was their anniversary, or she didn't care. Neither answer was a good one. And either way, if that was how she felt, then why didn't she just end it?

"So Dyer didn't tell Robbie anything?" Kayla said as they walked to the Victory.

"Nope."

Another awkward silence.

"....Alright," she said.

"Yup."

Kayla stopped, throwing up her arms. "What, Justin? What's with he attitude?"

"Oh I'm sorry, you care now?"

She rolled her eyes. He hated when she rolled her eyes. It made him feel as small and pathetic as a crusty slug on a sidewalk. "What is that supposed to mean?"

He shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling the little ring hidden there. "Summer Cheaters?" he asked, accusingly.

"You have a problem with the shows I watch now?"

"Forget it." He turned away, hating that she was oblivious to the problem. Which meant she forgot. Which meant it wasn't as important to her as it was to him. And that made him feel more pathetic than the slug.

She followed a couple paces behind him, the two of them silent the whole way along the shore to the warf where the Victory loomed. And with every step he thought she'd ask him to explain the problem and she didn't, the hooks in his heart pulled harder. Were they really at the end? After everything?

Finally, as they plodded up the ramp to the deck of the Victory, he couldn't take it anymore. Couldn't take the idea of facing Dyer as Justin and Kayla instead of Justin & Kayla. He stopped and turned to face her. "You really don't know why today is important for us?"

"Important?" She looked surprised. "What do you mean?" 

She forgot. She really did. And the truth of it crushed his insides to pulp.

"One year," he said. "It's been a year since you kissed me and we...." He swallowed, remembering the chill of the water that swallowed Point Chester, his body submerged up to his chest. Remembered Kayla reaching for him, her arms, her legs, wrapped around him in the cold Atlantic waters. Both of them shivering. The threat of the sharks weighing down on them. Together they survived it. Together they won. "We've been us for a year."

The irritation in her face melted away, giving way to something else -- pity. He wanted to crawl under a rock and die. "Justin, I --"

"Heard!" The unmistakable truck-muffler growl of Captain Dyer barked from back down on the warf. "Girard! Get down here, double time."

The angry captain was standing with a pair of civilians, a boy and a girl, about their age. It was an understatement to call it wierd, seeing civilians in Point Chester. But that wasn't what made Justin's heart freeze in his chest, wasn't what made Kayla grab hold of his arm, the tips of her fingers pressing into his skin in alarm. 

Standing behind the guy and the girl was the biggest, most monstrous horse Justin had ever seen.

"Justin," Kayla nearly choked, "is that--?"

She couldn't say it. Just like he could barely let himself think it. Because the thought was crazy. The thought was impossible.

But the two meters of glistening tusk protruding from the creature's face was hard to deny. And after all, Justin and Kayla had seen sharks rise from the dead. He'd learned well enough to trust his own eyes even when his brain didn't want to process what was in front of them.

The creature standing with the strangers was undeniable -- a fucking unicorn.