Between the Land and the Sea - By Derrolyn Anderson Page 0,59
great but you’re just a stupid freak!” I could smell the alcohol on her breath, and her eyes were bleary and unfocused. I tried to crawl away, watching as Heather collapsed in stitches on the pavement. Shayla reached down and snatched my purse. She staggered over to the side rail and dangled it over, a triumphant grimace on her face. She stumbled, and the weight of the bag combined with her height tipped her over the edge.
Heather’s eyes swung open in shock.
We all ran to the side and looked down. At first we couldn’t see her but she finally surfaced, her face white with shock. Her head started bobbing in the churning foam. Jamie stood frozen in fear and Heather started wailing and crying. We stood watching Shayla gasping for air and flailing as the currents sucked her down. I was pretty sure she was too drunk to swim.
I looked up, “Go get help!” I bellowed at Jamie.
Heather was squatting on the ground, sobbing incomprehensibly. I looked down into Shayla’s terrified eyes and remembered how it felt to know that you were going to die. Without thinking, I kicked off my shoes and dove in. The familiar shock of cold water cleared my head. If I could just get a hold of her I planned to drag her away from the treacherous currents and swim in for shore away from the pier.
I groped in the foamy surf until I found an arm and started to try and swim away from the shipwreck. Desperate hands clawed at my clothes and grabbed me by the shoulders. I could feel her weight force me under as she tried to pull herself up on me. I remembered reading about how drowning people often go into a panic, taking their would-be rescuers down with them.
Nice job, I thought to myself, as I struggled to get free from her death grip. I kicked furiously, not ready to die. All I could think about was Ethan. I managed to break the surface and catch a breath. Then I saw her face, and I was overcome with relief as Lorelei plucked me away from Shayla and swam a short distance away.
“Thanks! ” I gasped, catching my breath as she held my body up, looking into my eyes searchingly. “I came to see you! I need to talk–” She looked at my bleeding lip with alarm and started to swim away, taking me with her.
“No! ” I cried, “We need to take that girl to shore! ” I hoped she would listen to me this time.
She nodded, and holding me by the waist we flew through the foam. She grabbed Shayla’s wrist and pulled her along. I thought fast as she powered us to shore.
“Lorelei– meet me here tomorrow. I have a wet suit now, I can stay in the water longer! ” She looked confused, “Tomorrow? What is tomorrow? ” It occurred on me that she had no concept of time. I tried to think of how to explain it to her.
I pointed up, “The next time the sun comes, alright? ” she nodded, her eyes lighting up.
“One sleep! ” she said with a brilliant smile, and dropped us off at the water’s edge. I scrambled to my feet, looking around for witnesses, “See you tomorrow. ” I dragged Shayla by the arms as far up the beach as I could and collapsed in the sand. I looked back to see Lorelei had disappeared.
Shayla’s eyes were rolling in her head. I turned her onto her side and pounded on her back.
She began spewing salt water with alcohol fumes. I looked up to see Jamie frantically rushing up to us with a couple of the surfer boys in tow. I recognized Long from the farmers market.
Shayla was retching and coughing now but at least she was breathing. Jamie started telling them what had happened, and they both looked at me in awe. Heather staggered to the beach behind them, fell to her knees and began to vomit.
I was cold, wet and barefoot as I stood up and straightened my clothes. I touched my lip and saw fresh blood on my hand. No one said a word as I turned on my heel and walked over the sand to the stairs. I got myself home as fast as I could on bare feet. Relieved to see Abby was still at work, I knocked on the door to be let in, dripping and cold.