Creatures in the Storm

“Creatures in the Storm”
by Shirley Heelas
587 words1

I saw them. I swear I did. In the breakers. In the foam. On the night of the storm.
Why were they there? … I don’t know. The sea was really wild. Maybe they always come into the shore when it’s that bad. Maybe they were searching for something. … I don’t know! But I do know what I saw, so take that look off your face.
I was taking Toby for his bedtime walk, around about ten-thirty. There wasn’t much of a moon but I had my torch. Needed it. Toby still likes me to throw a stick for him to fetch, and every so often he disappeared and I had to shine it around a bit, doing a sweep of the beach to find him.
It was a foul night. I was looking forward to turning back and heading for home and my brandy nightcap. … Oh yes, I still like the odd tipple.
The sea was making a horrendous noise. I could hear it under the pier crashing down onto the wooden supports. And the waves caught me on the hop more than once. Lucky I had wellies on.
But it was the foam that was strange. Not just the amount of it. We’ve all seen high winter seas before. But it seemed to have a glow about it. ... Don’t laugh! It just looked... different.
I remember shining the torchbeam along the sand, watching the waves thunder in. And seeing the balls of salty white froth rolling along the beach. Then I saw them.
Couldn’t believe what was in front of me… One of them looked straight at me. Eye to eye. ... It was a weird sensation. Yes of course I was afraid! … You still don’t believe me, do you? Then explain why I slept all of the next day! Explain why I felt like all the life had been sucked out of me.
No, they weren’t mermaids. At least I don’t think so. Didn’t see any tails. … Stop laughing! This is serious. They were … creatures of some sort. Sam over the road reckons he’s read about things called water sprites. … Could have been I suppose, if such things exist. Never seen anything like them before in my life anyway. They looked like they were surrounded by a mist… but then they were in the breakers, in the foam. There definitely was … I don’t know, a glow about them. Sam reckons, from what he’s read about water sprites, that they should have been singing! I didn’t hear any music. The wind was too loud, screeching and howling.
Of course I ran! Any sane person would have done. And I found Toby whimpering on the doorstep. Hadn’t even realised he’d done a runner before me.
Locked that door quick behind us, I can tell you. No, I haven’t seen them again. But the sea’s been calm since hasn’t it?
I phoned Jake when I got in that night, … after downing a large shot of brandy. He laughed at first, but I think he could tell from my voice I was genuinely scared. He said he’d go down and have a look for me, but I told him to stay away. There are some things on this earth I don’t think we’re meant to see or understand. But I never thought the sea was one of them.
Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Jake about since. Have you? I’ll phone him later.2


THE END