Just Kale

Chapter One

I'm in the waves when it happens.

Aron's already close to the shore, his lean form a speck in the distance as I watch the sun settle in the horizon.

The sky is turning that pretty purple blue at the edges, as if the sun is pulling back a blanket of night. The chill creeps in the air--just a little, enough that I wish I brought my wetsuit top instead of wearing the blue halter bikini, my legs dangling in the water as I watch. My head is pounding, my legs are shaky, but I can't tell if that's from the cold, the anticipation of the wave, or because I'm high as a kite. I'm about to turn on my board and paddle back to land and join him, when it sneaks up.

   Waves like this are the deadliest kind. They're stealthy, and roll up on you like assassins. I had barely felt the tilt of my board, my stomach dropping low with too-late realization as the waters keep rising and rising, and the waves ripple from under me, turning into a giant monster that threatens to eat me alive. I can imagine teeth on this thing, the ocean suddenly a twisted black creature instead of the friendly blue that I'd thought just seconds ago. I give a shout to Aaron, and I barely see his head snap back and stare with wide eyes.

The first thought? Shit.

And then: shit shit shit.

I hear Aron's yell just as the wave hits, my paddling too slow, as if I am stuck in sludge rather than water. The wave breaks, slamming over my head and I can't see, can't breathe--my lungs are empty, my eyes swim with brilliant stars from the force, as my legs kick frantically to keep myself afloat.

The waves tug at me with invisible arms, pushing, pulling--my board is butter in my hands and it's gone, flung somewhere, the tether pulling me towards it.

That makes it worse.

Just as I swim up, legs burning, the surfboard tether pushes me own just as another sneaker wave hits, crashing over my head and sucking me back in. Water thrusts down my throat and fills my lungs.

I scream out instinctively, water rushing in and taking over my body. I--need-air. I need it, my body screams at me for it. My legs kick and kick, my arms swim. I'm a lifeguard, I know how to swim--why can't I make it?

My head breaks over the water and I heave in a blessed, sweet ragged breath. I frantically follow the tether to my board, grasping slippery fingers onto the wood and struggle to hoist myself up. Lube doesn't work this good.

Another wave--fuck. This time, I cling onto my board with my hands and kick off in the water, paddling furiously. I make pretty good momentum, adrenaline kicking in my system. There's shouts--I hear them and my eyes search blindly for the shore. The pitch of the waves are still violent, the rolling, the blossoming of waves in succession under me, rushing out another attack with a force that I can't keep up with.

Before I know it, I'm sucked back in the water, my head heading my board--but my arms are still clenched tight, my legs--

Something is at my leg.

I've seen Soul Surfer. I've seen The Shallows. Hell, every fucking surfer movie deals with a shark feeling the hungries for human flesh. I can't pray and hope this one of the Friendly Sharks from Finding Nemo. But wait, didn't they only not eat fish? Humans were still up for grabs, right?

Twisting, I begin to kick, bubbles rising as I squeezed my eyes. I kick against something solid, and it's gone--I swim, but the tether on my legs is tight and restricts me.

That something is back, and I realize--it's a hand. A hand grasps around my ankle, and the weight is suddenly free and black dots sprout in my vision. The hand travels, grasping a heavy arm as they hoist me against their muscled side, and we're pulling towards shore, the waves almost rooting us on before they want to kill us again.