The boardwalk.

The sun was just creeping through the clouds as I was wandering along the rusty boardwalk. Towards the small shop at the far end of our tiny jumble of houses. I arrived after two minutes of walking. The stench of fish filled the room as I gazed at the fish stacked on the shelves. I grabbed one and shoved it into a straw bag which my father had given me . I handed three pennies over to the grumpy man at the counter and left.

I walked past the men taking the fish out of the boats, they glared at me as I hurried past. The boards creaked as I walked along them. I swore I saw a mysterious shadow lurking under the boards but I wasn’t sure. I handed Dad the fish and groaned when he announced that was our dinner. I took my book that I  had read one hundred times because it was the only one I had and sat in the old armchair on the deck, overlooking the calm sea.

Then this massive whirlpool arose from the deep sucking up my book and chair leaving me lying on the ground . I ran inside grasping father's hand and I told him everything but when he came outside to have a look my book had been placed back on my chair where it was before. How very strange. “Must have been a dream” father said to me but I wasn’t so sure. I knew something was there lurking beneath the surface waiting to reach out and grab me when I wasn’t watching.

“Clare get up, Clare GET UP”. I groaned and rolled over, my mother always used to calmly wake me up and let me rest and take my time. If only she was still here. I practically fell down the stairs I was so tired, instead of sleeping, dreaded thoughts were rushing through my mind, keeping me up.

LIghtning crackled across the horizon. It almost sounded like it was hitting the wood boards of our house. I marched down the stairs and peered inside the fridge. Fish fish fish and more fish. But hidden behind a snapper was a small, fresh bottle of apple juice which I had snuck from the shop with the little amount of pocket money I had from helping scale fish. I grabbed a cup from the shelf and poured the soothing drink down my thirsty throat.

I decided to tell my father about the mysterious shadow I had been continuously seeing on my way to my small school of five kids every weekday. I  wandered down the carpeted stairs towards the kitchen where my dad was sipping tea beside the fire. He raved on and on about how it was probably just a fish or I was just seeing things. I was gradually starting to believe he was right. I was just seeing things.

Three months later.....the sun was just setting as I gazed at the beautiful ocean. But then I caught a glimpse of a bright tail . A girl with very long hair and bat-like wings scattering away from the boardwalk.  Disappearing to the depths below.