Home Sweet Home

Unfinished

 

   In the middle of the deafening, bountiful ocean, Sat the peace of land. The same piece of land that has tossed and turned over many generations of life, the young, and the old, stood foot on this sandy soil building it like it was their own but how did these forms of life come across this land, will they ever look back over the horizon?.

I Sat in my usual stop under the shady tree, looking over the ocean, watching the tide wash against the shore, quiet and peaceful for once. I rested me head on my chin, in a some what trance the vast ocean gave off. My eyes become heavy and they closed. 

"Linnie Wake up!"

A tiny voice rang through my head as i snapped out of said trance, and my weary eyes opened and looked towards the noise. A small body ran across the beach, it's tiny legs digging in the sand and skidding to a stop in front of me, blocking the sun light. I looked up to see shiny blond curls gleaming into my eyes, rosy red cheeks, and pale blue eyes looking down at me with a grass stained pant leg. 

"Whatcha Doin Linnie?" 

The young girl asked me with a wide smile as she bent down digging a hole into the sand with her small stubby fingers. I looked at the girl and grinned, Susie, such a sweetie, we build a sand castle together at this time, which i had forgotten. 

"Waiting for you of course, ya slow poke" I giggled.

Susie Pouted and put her short arms on her hips. Her face was slightly crinkled with disgust as she looked down at me, her sneakers stamping into the sand. 

"Well!" She shot at me. "You were asleep!" She said with a stutter trying to think of what to say.

I chuckled and rose to my feet grabbing Susie with both hands running around the beach, her golden hair dancing in the cool breeze. She giggled loudly and I collapsed in the sand holding her.

"Lets See who can make the biggest castle!" said Susie with a sweet Giggly tone. 

"eh ok, But I know I’ll win" I teased. 

"hehe, Nu uh!" She tossed a little sand on me and ran off to the shore looking for a good place to make a castle. 

In the corner of my eye, my eye focused on a shadowy figure standing on the far end of the beach, just standing their, in the shape of a man, and in an instant it faded into the late afternoon sun. 

I built my skimpy castle, while Susie's castle had four floors, an indoor pool, and a mini petting zoo. Mine...two squares with sticks sticking out the top. Old school all the way. I let her win this time and walked her home, walking along busy sidewalks and past tempting ice cram carts. She gave me a hug goodbye and I left, expecting to see her the next day at the same time. 

 The clouds rolled across the sun setting sky in shades of, red, orange, and purple. The distant flock of the usual black bird flew off into the distance, lost in a stream of unforgiving fog. I always wondered…How I got here, along with everyone else on this island…Did we just appear here by fate…or did something force us here? Why do I not remember…living here before, it's seemed like so long, but in reality...it’s only been four months, I can't remember a thing, the same line rings in my head "Welcome to Birch Island, Filled with Sunny Beaches and Crystal clear waters!" Nothing either then that annoying quote rings in my head I try to remember, but all I seem to do is forget.

 "Goooood Mooorning Birch Islanders!!! It’s a beautiful Saturday morning!"

 The clock radio blasted its usual Morning broadcasts with Don Lessner. He talked and talked and talked till finally the moment we have all been waiting for, the weather report.

   " Now for the Daily weather report, today is going to be mild and sunny, with a chance of rain later in the day, Have a good one guys"

The News reports break into the usual songs that are played each day. I tapped the off button with my index finger and proceeded to the waking up process. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, the longest yawn I have ever yawned. As I prepared my day of work to come, the usual…every day schedule. I was dressed in my white work tee and cut light blue jeans. I left the peacefulness of my cottage, as it sit on the ocean front, making sure the sea wont run away on me while I'm gone. My job, well its pretty ordinary, I'm the local shop keeper of the only store, I sell the simple items, foods, paper goods and so on.

My Boss, James is a stuck up jerk who thinks HE is the ruler of the universe.

 " Late again I see, Lynn" Spoke James in a low tone with a raises eye brow watching me as I approached the store. I rolled my eyes and put my apron on.

"Its not like you’re never late" I teased.

 "Well….I’m not!" James turned his head away from be and he continued his sweeping of the front steps of the store. As I pushed the store door open the bell at the top rang, and I flicked on the lights at is showed a few shelves filled with the goods. I went behind the desk and sat in my stool, leaning my head in my hands. James walked in, placed the broom against the wall, and organized a few cans on the shelf.

"James...Have you ever thought…What was behind the sea? I asked him in a quiet tone.

James glanced at me for a second with a serious look, and then continued putting away the canned vegetables.

 "Nothing..that’s what…You shouldn’t think like that Lynn, Heh…you'll end like them at that crazy house on the hill" James slightly giggled.

He was right if I kept talking like this…they might think I'm crazy…I don’t want to end up like them…defiantly not. The "Crazy" house was built a while back and it held "troubled" minds…no one likes to speak of these "troubled" minds, and we are absolutely not allowed to go near the hill. They Say just the sight of it makes you crazy.

The day bore on with the same people stopping by for a hello and a chat. A few items were sold. Susie skipped in and stood in front of the front desk.

“One chocolate bar please"

I looked down at her and grinned, as Susie placed her dollar on the front desk. She looked up at me with a slight grin, but she had a fearful look in her eyes, as I handed her the candy bar she skipped out of the store. She didn't even say a word…it’s as if she forgot who I was.

It was closing time and I was the only one left. James or course left early, so I sat in this store alone all night, so I just decided to just close up and go home. I locked the doors and closed it quietly behind me. The moon light shined down on the dirt road which lead back towards the beach, but as I glanced up at the hill that watches over the whole town, there stood the “Crazy” house and all its pitiful glory, its stone hedged walls and plastered roof top, made my spine shutter. The stories I have heard about that place, horrifying. I looked away quickly and hurried down the dirt road, not looking back. The looming tropical trees hovered over me shimmering in the breeze; the brisk moonlight followed me to my cottage which sat alone in the dark. The waves were loud and crashing up against the deck, covering it in a layer of seaweed and ocean life.

I flicked on the porch lights, and quickly hurried over to it, Large waves crashed and lightning struck the sky in the distance somewhere far on the sea. The salt spray hit my face, as I squinted trying to see three feet in front of me. Thunder crashed and the porch lights flickered, the wind started to hurtled towards me in a large blast sending my hair to fly in all directions. I was just lost in thought watching the high waves and the stormy night bore on, something in my head rang something new, something I have never heard before. A single flash of lightning hit the water, along with a loud crash of thunder. Something is about to change.

   I eventually went inside, I dried my damp hair and face with a towel and sat in my dim lit living room. The waves were still crashing in the background, as I listened to the television, the news.

“Everyone must stay inside! A Severe storm is going to hit Birch in a few moments, please find a safe place from the water with all costs!” The news man continued.

 I turned the TV off, and leaned back in my recliner, the lights becoming dimmer and dimmer as the storm got closer. Lightning flashed through the windows, lighting the room with a quick and blinding pace. I closed my head, as my mind seemed to be trying to open some locked files in my head. The ones I’m not suppose to open, the ones in pad locks inside steal boxes strapped with explosives, that kind. Red wire or blue wire? Full of complications and road bumps, my mind was one big battle field, one big crime scene, and I’m the murderer.

I slowly slipped into some sort of dreamy trance, the waves still crashed in my ears as an image appeared in front of me. A large…Ship? Being pulled onto the shore, the shore that lays in front of me. A few men with tight ropes in their hands pull the boat to shore. The air was warm and murky, like I was there watching the whole thing. The men climbed op on the rusted and scummy boat and quickly searched it top to bottom, pulling out bodies. They ran down the beach towards the dirt road. All 6 men carried someone, men woman and children, as I looked closer, I saw me…?. My eyes were closed my skin was pale and moist with sea water; I was thin and feeble, as I was carried with and ran down an unknown path and disappeared.

My eyes shot open, a cold sweat ran down my forehead, I wiped my face with my hands and looked around blinking my slightly blurry eyes, noticing it was now morning. The sky was covered in a layer of clouds a slightly orange color. I walked back on the wet porch, swept the seaweed and shells off the deck, and looked out onto my backyard, noticing large pieces of drift wood, and trash. That’s what I was, just a piece of driftwood, just a piece of trash that washed up on shore.

    I sat on the giant log that sat sunken into the sand, my hands held my head as I stared into the endless ocean. It was a dull grayish green color, with a foggy thick texture. The waves were short and quiet; they curled in a salty bundle and let free spraying a cool flow of murky water. The seaweed swayed with the waves, and small minnow poked their heads to the top of the water taking their first gasp of morning air. In the distance a giggling could be heard, it got louder and louder from one ear to another. It came from the vacant beach that sat beside me and my home. I peered over to it, squinting trying to see through the hazy air. It was Susie, her in the usual blue tee shirt and grass stained jeans. She ran around the beach, giggling. I stood, and she stopped looking at me waving. I waved back in disbelief and I walked towards her. “Early aren’t you?” I asked her; due to the fact she was three hours early for hour daily sand castle building. Susie just grinned at me, and turned running down the beach quickly, her bare feet picking up the sand as she ran. I ran after her, my short legs trying to catch up to the fast five year old. Susie ran off into an awfully familiar looking path of brush and tropical trees. Her giggling still echoed in my head as I could hear her running through the loose leafs, and twigs. I also ran into the brush dodging the up coming branches and stones.

“Hurry up Linnie!!” Susie cried in a cheerful tone.

Susie’s image was almost clearly visible as the pasted through the trees. I kept running feeling as if I was in some rain forest. The air was sweet and piney, the wildlife calling and roaming around me. The sound of the foot steps slowly stopped.

“Linnie try and find me” Susie’s voice was a quite whisper, as it ended with a swift giggle.

I stopped running and walked towards the sound of her voice. I looked towards a sun lit path in front of me...it was...the Crazy House. Susie stood at the steel doors her face with a wide playful grin. “Susie Stop!” I cried.

Susie pulled the door open and walked through the dark room, as the doors closed behind her. I ran to the door and yanked on the door knob, I pulled with all my strength until the door opened. How could a small girl like Susie open this door, and I couldn’t.? I walked in, the scent of harsh chemicals and sweat filled my lungs and burned my nostrils. The hall way which sat in front of me was white and clear. The lights that hung from the ceiling flickered. The doors that lined the hall were lit and gleaming silhouettes onto the hall way. Screams echoed in my mind, were these real or just my imagination messing with me. “Susie” I cried not too loud, trying not to be heard, if I wasn’t already. I walked slowly, my wet sneakers squeaking on the white tiled floor. The strong vinegary smell got stronger as I entered the building that has haunted me for years. Susie’s giggling giggled down the hall, but she was not visible. “Susie…this isn’t funny come out”