CHAPTER SIX

Lucy’s POV 

“Mom! Wake up! It’s beach day!” 

I groaned into my pillow. It was still dark outside. It was six in the a.m. But Noah was already jumping on the bed like it was Christmas morning. He was very excited.

“Stop it, Noah.” I muttered, pulling the blanket over my head. 

“No! We’re going to Blair’s beach! You promised!” he whined, bouncing harder. “Get up, get up!” 

Tom stirred beside me and yawned, stretching like he hadn’t just slept through me tossing all night. 

“Let him be excited.” he mumbled, turning away from both of us. 

Easy for him to say. He didn’t have to pack the bags. He didn’t have to make the sandwiches or worry about sunscreen and safety and whether our son could drown at some secret beach. 

Noah finally climbed down and ran out to change. “I’m wearing my shark trunks!” he yelled. 

I sat up. My body, already sore. My shirt stuck to me, my thighs felt swollen from yesterday’s walking, and my eyes stung from sleep. I could already tell that this wasn’t going to be a good day.

We arrived at Blair’s so-called secret beach just before noon. The sun was high, the breeze was salty, and the sand was scorching. The place looked untouched, probably because people knew better than to come here. 

“This is it!” Blair twirled around with a grin. 

Her red sarong flew like she was in some perfume commercial.  

“Welcome to Seluna Beach!” she said like she owned the place. 

It was beautiful. But something about the silence here felt wrong. It was too quiet. I pulled out my phone to search for a signal. I had no bars. But one thing managed to come through, flashing across the screen. 

High surf advisory Warning. 

“Blair! Tom!” I said, holding it up, “There’s a warning. We shouldn’t—” 

“Lucy, seriously? I come here all the time. It’s fine.” She waved me off like a child. 

Tom sighed like he was already tired of me. 

“Lucy, don’t be too nervous. We’re going to be fine.” he said. 

Fine? The warning that flashed across my phone screen clearly stated otherwise.

“Mom, please don’t spoil the fun again!” Noah kicked at the sand. 

I remained silent and put my phone back inside the bag, trying not to be the debbie-downer everyone was accusing me of. But anxiety was revived up to ten.

“Here. Drink this. You’re too uptight. Maybe it will help you relax.” Blair handed me a drink from the cooler. 

She said she made it. It was bright orange, probably loaded with sugar and vodka.  But for some reason, I felt suspicious.

“It’s just to help you calm down.” Tom said, already pulling off his shirt. 

Blair added with a smile, “It’s safe, Lucy. Just something sweet to give your body a little energy.” 

Even Noah chimed in, “Come on, Mom! Just a sip won’t hurt.” 

Reluctantly, I brought it to my lips. It was too sweet, oddly strong. I swallowed anyway. 

They both assured me again it was fine, then hurried off to the water with Noah. 

I stayed behind, sinking into the beach chair as I watched them surf not far away, laughing, shouting, and playing like a perfect little trio. 

The sun pressed down on me as I gradually noticed my limbs grow heavier by the second.  And then... I started to drift. 

When I woke up, everything felt wrong. I could feel the waves on my body. My skin was cold. I blinked hard, and the sky wasn’t the same soft blue I remembered. It had turned gray. 

And the water wasn’t calm anymore. Waves slammed over my legs, soaking the beach chair.  I started to panic.

I sat up fast, my heart jumping into my throat. I got worried when I couldn’t spot them. I gasped for air. 

“Tom?!” I called out, my voice cracked and hoarse. 

I stood up, stumbling forward. My feet sank deep into the wet sand as the tide rushed around my ankles. I turned and scanned the shore, the water, and the rocks. 

And then I saw them. Blair’s hand gripping Noah’s, while Tom on the other side. They were running away from the water. They were running away from me.  

My legs were so weak, I could hardly move. A desperate cry muted in my burned throat, my voice unable to make a sound as I tried to yell for help.

“Tom!” I screamed again, louder this time. 

But they didn’t stop. They didn’t even look back like they had forgotten about me, or like I didn’t exist.  

I screamed again until my throat burned raw. Maybe…maybe he didn’t hear me. So, I just…kept screaming. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

But the wind swallowed my voice. The waves laughed at it. No one turned around. I watched their silhouettes get smaller and smaller. 

My knees gave out, and I collapsed into the wet sand. The sea was climbing up my legs like it wanted all of me. The chair I’d been lying on was already gone, floating uselessly behind me like the rest of this damn trip. 

A wave slammed into my side, knocking me flat. Salty, cold water filled my ears, then my mouth, and my nose. 

“He--ahh!” I tried to scream again, but the water choked me out, filling my lungs until all I could do was gasp.  

My arms flailed uselessly, heavy, drunk from the drink Blair handed me earlier. I tried to crawl forward, to stand, but the sand slipped under my hands. The ocean yanked at my waist harder. And then I was under. I couldn’t breathe. I kicked once. Twice. But there was nothing to push against. The water kept pulling me deeper and deeper.  

Was this my ending? But as hope waned, I began to come to grips with the fact that maybe drowning was the better alternative to living this way…

Then, I was grabbed by a strong hand just as my vision went dark.