Chapter 1: Ocean Water

A Chapter by

The first thing I could remember was that I couldn't breathe. The darkness of the water had swallowed me, and my lungs screamed for air. I involuntarily inhaled, and the murky ocean water filled my mouth. I tried to cough, but again, there was no air to help me. Then I remember darkness.

I woke up in a bed. My brain was empty, and that alarmed me.

I didn't remember anything before being in ocean. I didn't remember how I got into the water, where I was... I didn't even remember any people I might have known. I was lucky I remembered my own name. Elsa. I clung to my name like moss to a rock.

Someone sat beside the bed, reading a thick little book with a black leather cover. He was young, with a pair of half-glasses perched on his freckled nose. His skin was pale, and his very blond hair was just barely long enough to cover his ears. He wore a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

He'd heard me stir and looked up from reading. His hazel eyes widened; he quickly shut his book with one hand and turned to face me. His eyes scanned me for a moment.

"Are you feeling alright?" His voice was quiet. I wasn't sure if it was naturally that way, or if he was just trying not to startle me. I shook my head. My head hurt, my lungs burned, and I couldn't remember hardly anything. No, I wasn't feeling alright in the least. He nodded, then walked to the door and pulled a rope a couple times before returning to his chair. I closed my eyes, trying to remember everything.
The door opened, then closed again. I heard soft footsteps make their way over to where the young man sat.

"Did she fall back asleep?" It was a female voice, quiet and soprano.

"No, she's just closed her eyes. She's awake," came the reply. I opened my eyes, and a girl with long brown braids and tree-bark-brown eyes hovered over me. Her face was round and her expression was that of concern. She wore a simple white dress. She backed away when she realized I was, in fact, awake. The girl slowly placed a cloth on my head, wet with cold water, though I was fairly sure I wasn't running a temperature. She turned to a cart that I didn't see her bring in and wrapped her hands around a steaming mug.

"Do you think you can drink this?" she asked. I nodded, and she pressed the mug to my lips. I took a small sip, wrapping my own hands around the mug to show her I was well enough to hold it myself. I wasn't sure I trusted my voice to tell her so. The hot liquid tasted very herbal. I pulled it away from my mouth quickly, disliking the taste.
"I know it doesn't taste good, but it may help you feel better," the girl pressed. Reluctantly, I brought the mug to my mouth again and downed it as quickly as I could. Then I laid back down, sighing. The room was quiet for a moment.

"Is there anything else I can do, sir?" she asked the blond. He shook his head. "Thank you, Abin." Abin bowed her head a fraction, then took her cart and left the room. The silence that followed made me uncomfortable.

"I'm Kalim," he offered.

"Elsa," I replied, my own voice sounding too quiet in the large room. He looked a bit surprised to hear me speak. After another moment, I asked, "Where am I?"

"My father's house," he responded after a moment of thought. "By the beach. We found you washed up on the sand. Abin did, actually." He talked slowly, as if he wasn't sure how much to tell me. "I was a little farther down the beach, while Abin checked the coastline ahead of me. She was certain you were still alive, and I suppose she'd know, since she's the one who takes care of us when we're sick." The silence rested on us for a moment before I attempted to slide out of the bed. He suddenly stood, alarmed. "Wait. You're not well enough to move around yet."

"How would you know?" I mumbled quietly, carefully making my way to my feet and peeling the cold cloth off my forehead. He held his hands out in case I needed to steady myself. I took a few steps along the white walls, over to a window. I could see the house was perched on a cliff, overlooking the ocean. Seeing the crashing waves made me shudder, and my knees gave from under me. I fell to the floor, dragging my hand along the wall in an attempt to slow myself. Kalim was soon crouching next to me, concerned.

"Careful. Are you alright?" I couldn't answer. I was trying to keep myself from emptying my stomach onto the white carpet. I closed my eyes again, fighting back the waves of both nausea and terror. "Careful." He placed a hand on my back steadily, and an image of wind ruffling the leaves of the trees faded into my mind. Slowly, I relaxed, taking deep breaths. "Are you alright?" he asked again, and I nodded slowly, opening my eyes. The trees were gone. Where had they come from in the first place? I'd imagined them, I was sure, but why?

Kalim helped me to my feet, and I deliberately avoided looking out the window at the rolling waves.

"Where am I?" I asked again, hoping for a little more of a direct answer. Kalim shifted uncomfortably for a moment, silent. Then, he nodded, as if answering a question in his head. "Come with me. My father would be the best one to explain everything. Can you walk?" I nodded, and he placed a guiding hand on my upper back. Slowly, we made our way out the door of the room, and through the halls of the massive house.

next chapter