4. The Beach
4
THE BEACH
I came to, lying on my back. I was outside. It was dark—nighttime—and I could tell I was on a beach. I felt sand under my fingers and heard the crash of waves nearby.
Sitting up, I glanced around, not sure what I was doing here, how I d gotten here, or even where here was.
I m not even sure if I could answer who I was.
I just knew I was alone on a beach in some residential area. There were cottages not far behind me, and a fathomless dark sea stretched in front of me.
Hoping maybe I could find some sign of life in one of the cottages, I pushed my way to my feet.
When sand squished between my toes, I glanced down, wondering why I was barefoot.
This didn t seem right. I couldn t remember what I d just been doing, but I was pretty sure I hadn t been on a beach.
Or barefoot.
A night-light shone from a bungalow a couple of houses down, so I started that way, only to glance out toward the water yet again. It was dark and loud and gave me no answers until I spotted a small figure out by the edge of the waves.
Hey, I called. Hey!
Another human.
Maybe they could help me. But as I jogged closer, I realized the boy who whirled around to gape at me in shock was just a child, only six or seven or eight years old. He had a head full of beautiful blond hair that reflected off the moonlight, making it look almost like a glowing golden-white halo, and he wasn t wearing a shirt, just swimming trunks, and his feet were as bare as mine.
Where did you come from? he asked with some surprise. You re not supposed to be here.
I… I looked down at myself, then back up again. I don t really know what I m doing here. Or even where here is. Do you know where we are?
He squinted at me as if I were crazy before telling me, We re at the beach, as if that should be obvious.
I rolled my eyes. Right. I never would ve guessed.
As I glanced around again, it finally struck me that no one else was nearby. This kid had just been standing here by himself, staring out at the water. Are you out here alone? Where s your family?
Oh, my brother s headed this way, he answered easily enough, motioning down the strip of sand. I was just waiting for him. Hey —he tipped his head at me— do you need some help? I bet he could help you. He s the most helpful guy ever.
I… I glanced around for this mysterious brother, not seeing anyone before I said, Yeah. Yes, I think I need help.
I m not sure what I needed help with , but if I could find anyone who gave better answers about what was going on than this kid, that would be awesome.
Because I had a lot of questions.
Great! The boy brightened and started away, waving for me to follow. He s this way. Hurry. I ll take you right to him.
O…okay. But—hey! Wait. He raced off so fast that I had to run to keep up, and even as I did, he disappeared ahead of me into the dark. One moment, I could see his blond head bobbing in the moonlight. The next—he was gone.
Little boy! I cried, starting to panic.
Hayes, I heard him call from ahead of me. My name is Hayes.
So I yelled, Hayes ! Wait for me.
Well, stop dawdling. I don t want to miss him.
Grumbling under my breath, I hurried faster until—suddenly—the terrain under my feet switched from sand to…
I glanced down, not sure what that was. It was prickly and sharp and—what in the world?
I was jogging on shingles, like shingles that people put on the roofs of their houses.
Plowing to a stop, I glanced around to realize I was indeed on top of a house, and I d been about to run right off the edge of it.
What the…?
I lifted my arms to catch my balance and regain my equilibrium which seemed to take a dramatic nosedive.
But this was wrong.
This was all just…wrong. I d just been on the freaking beach. I was sure of it.
Hadn t I?
Beginning to breathe a little harder, I glanced around until I found the beach still there, but I was farther away. I was now on top of one of the cottages I d noticed when I d first woken.
Okay, then, I announced aloud with a steadying nod. No more alcohol for me.
After creeping to the edge of the roof and peering down at the ground below, I swallowed thickly and retreated again.
Hayes? I called tentatively, hoping the towheaded boy would reappear, but he was long gone.
I shook my hands at my sides, beginning to freak out. Someone? I hollered. Anyone ?
But all the someones and anyones in the world appeared to be gone, too.
Great. I heaved out a calming breath, not sure what to do now. I was stuck on a freaking roof in the middle of the freaking night next to a freaking beach.
With only the moonlight and that distant night lamp from another house to guide me, I tiptoed my way around the roof in search of a way to get back down.
I d just made it to the other side of the house, cursing when I scraped my toes on the rough shingles for about the third time when a gust of breeze from the surf made me look up and glance over. When I swore I could make out some movement in the dark, I squinted harder at the beach until—there—a figure was slowly approaching, just meandering along with his hands in his pockets as if taking a moonlight stroll.
It couldn t be Hayes. This figure was much taller and broader, plus he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, not just swimming trunks.
He looked like an adult who might actually know what the hell was going on, so I waved my hands over my head to get his attention.
Hey! I yelled. Hey, could you help me? Hello ?