less waves. The rhythmic crash of the ocean against the shore should

lla, and a cooler packed with snacks. The air smelled of salt and su

ted, stretching my arms. "The bea

now, sweetheart. That's why I suggested it. You shou

A fresh start. That was all I had been thinking about f

was bein

ists. Surfers. A family was struggling to build a sandcastle

d y

t the nape of my neck. The sensation crawled ov

iculous thought. Get

k," I told Mom, alrea

nt of suspicion. "Stay

steps already leading

hing is

o kiss my ankles before retreating. The salty breeze tugg

I sa

sym

edges were too deliberate, too perfect, to be drawn by accident. The design

, my pulse

d ancient

uched down, hesitant

grazed the pattern, a sh

, my skin prickling wit

darkened, as if something ben

d t

ye

Watching me from

al growl rolled

my breath hitchi

called out their sales, and the waves rolled in

t I

embling fists. I wasn't im

ing wa

hing s

retreating toward Mom's direction as casually a

nseen presence pres

he D

nd turned, my mind a st

. The eyes.

on pulled me under, m

to the night sky. Shadows curled around the trunks like living t

ash

Nothing b

e to

t sent a shiver through my bones,

gerously close

he

den

he darkness like twin

my body was frozen in place. T

ul. A presence that felt like t

Lyc

n buzz, my breath hitch. He stepped closer, th

you?" I

an

ome from his mouth. They slithered through my mi

are

Awake

a violent gasp,

unnatural. My breath came fast, shallow, as I

thing was

r, I stared at my refle

yes stared

the brief

gold bled in

bli

on

kles white. My entire body thrummed with something u

was changin

atever

alread