Bodies jump onto bodies, trying to fake drown one another. Waves drag us up and down. Laughter and yelps hurt my ears before the roar of the ocean muffles my eardrums.
Hair sticks to the front of my face, blocking my vision.
All of us become one.
The fun stops when a wave almost sends me deep into the water. Kicking up in panic, I gasp and cry out as salt burns my eyes. The ocean seems angry. Like it’s telling us we shouldn’t be in here. Not having any energy left in my lungs and cold seizing my bones, I huff and puff back to the shore as fast as I can, the wind biting my skin.
When I press my knees to the sand, a cough travels its way from the bottom of my throat, and I spurt out salty ocean water. Wincing at the taste and the burning in my eyes, I attempt to rub away the pain that’s making me unable to see.
“Lily, are you okay?” I hear Amelia’s concerned voice.
She runs up to me from behind, rubbing my back softly, which is plastered with my uncomfortable shirt.
“The ocean got a little rough for a second.” I wince, twisting and falling on my bum.
She sits down beside me, and we watch everyone stagger out of the water and waddle to us in their saggy, twisted-up clothes.
“That was crazy.” Trinity laughs, lying down on the sand near our feet. “Let’s do it again.”
Leonidas nudges her face with a toe, laughing down at her, and he pulls off his wet shirt. Levi falls next to Amelia and kisses her cheek sweetly.
I close my eyes and pucker my lips, waiting for my boyfriend. “Elijah, where’s my kiss?”
I’m met with cold wind.
Wind that feels more like a slap in the face.
I pop open my eyes in terror, seeing the ocean that looks more like a horror movie. I scramble up, panic-struck.
He’s nowhere to be seen.
Oh my God, I can’t see him.
“Elijah!” I scream so hard that the salty wind cuts my throat like glass.
The waves keep crashing in—strong, unapologetic, cruel. Like a robot, I start moving toward the dark depths.
He was just there, laughing, swimming, and now he’s gone.
I spin around and see Leonidas standing further up the beach, his face white, his eyes wide.
“Did Elijah go into the house?” I yell, my voice cracking, hearing blood rushing in my ears. “LEONIDAS, where is he?!”
He doesn’t answer me, just starts sprinting toward me, and runs into the water. Amelia and Trinity sit frozen on the beach, hugging their knees to their chests, bursting out in sobs. Levi leaves them, wildly looking up and down the beach.
“ELIJAH!” I scream again, stumbling further. Cold submerges my thighs, water splashes my eyes, tears stream down my face, clouding my vision. “This isn’t funny, Elijah. Where are you?!”
Leonidas yells, strangled, “ELI!”
“Elijah!” Hands go over my mouth, holding back the vomit trying to come up. I scream, “Baby, where are you?!”
Oh my God.
Oh.
My.
God.
