Romans & histoires Hoping This Cold Blue Water

My blonde hair ruffles and plays in the soft Hawaiian breeze. My tongue darts out to wet my full lips as I tilt my shades down and reveal my baby-blue eyes, fringed with long lashes. I poke one toe into the water and goosebumps prickle up on my skin. It’s just cool enough to feel really, really good against my sun-warmed skin. As I make my way down the concrete steps into the cool blue water, I see that the man I care about, the only one whose attention I truly crave, is looking my way. Just like I planned.

“Alright, you two, enough. One minute you’re fighting and the next you’re like best friends who can’t be separated.” Haley shifted Alex’s attention. “Look out the window, sweetie. See the ocean in the distance? This is Coldwater Bay. It’s different from the beaches you’ve seen before.” “Coldwater Bay?” Alex asked, his curiosity piqued. “Is the water cold all year?” “Not always,” Haley explained. “It’s only cold in the winter. During extreme weather, there can even be ice tides. Its unique geography creates this phenomenon. The seafood here is incredible, especially in September when it’s at its freshest and tastiest.”

Four soft tones. Like a heartbeat. Like a countdown. Like the sound of something trying to remember its name.

Then, when I was 28 years old, I watched one woman after another appear by his side… The images flashed before my eyes in a deafening blur and vanished into the distance behind me. I thought to myself, "We're done, Nathan." I was about to go to the stretch of blue sky my parents had guarded until their final moments, and I would never come back.

Although breaching the lines was straightforward, penetrating the city's headquarters felt as challenging as reaching the sky. Gideon focused his attention on the Blue River. "Blue River originates within the city. Is there a chance we could access the city by following the river?" "In theory, it's doable. But the Spirale Clan has likely established a lot of defenses throughout Blue River. Plus, the river itself poses hazards." "Are there sea beasts?" "That's part of the worry. The primary concern is that the blue water possesses a mysterious energy that greatly affects the human body." Gideon considered this information. He looked up at the sky, observing as the sun slowly moved toward the

"How are things going out there?" “Threat of a breach,” he corrected. He’d opened the door a little wider, leaning on the frame. “We found nothing, but just to be certain, we’ll stay out there.” “Do you need…” “I’ve got company, Annie,” he interrupted quickly, throwing his head over his shoulders for a fraction of a second. But I caught it. How could I miss it when every part of me was attuned to him? “I’ve got to go.” And then, the rose appeared from behind. He stretched out a hand to me, angling his head. His hair grazed the under of his ears softly, even if there was nothing soft about the Enforcer of the Blue Moon Pack.

Lu, who was used to seeing blood and viscera and the most hidden and secret of things, blushed and looked away. *** “It’s as beautiful as I had always hoped.” Rocky. Blue. The water churned and pulsed far below them. Montessa pulled herself as far forward as her bound hands allowed. “Do you ever let people go out there?” He looked at her. “What?” “People. Girls. Your bodies. Do you ever . . . in the ocean?” “Sometimes.” She watched the water with something exquisitely close to hope. “Would you possibly consider . . . ”

“Run if you want, Blue. But remember this—you can’t escape me. Not now. Not ever.” The words clung to Blue like a curse as he disappeared into the night, his heart pounding with fear…and something dangerously close to hope.

"The ring was for Red's mom. The last time we visited her, she'd painted her nails blue" It clicked. Red's mum was dead. My heart broke at the sound of Red throwing up in the other bathroom. Lee groaned and slid down the wall, rubbing his eyes. He was crying quietly. Instantly, I felt the tears well up my eyes. What sort of monster does such a thing?

Even if they’re out there in the fog, I doubt they could yell loud enough for us to hear. “I think we need to go out into the water a little ways,” I tell my companions. Dad nods, taking my hand and stepping forward with me. Radar and my mom are on the other side of me. The Miracles follow behind. “Geesh, it’s cold!” Sneak complains before we’re more than four or five steps out into the water. “What did you expect?” Radar asks him. “Bathwater? You said you wanted to see mermaids, so stop complaining.”