The Beach - Mark's Tale

Mark’s Story1

A strand of long blond hair slipped across Sarah’s sleeping face in silken threads.  Mark smiled absently and leaned across a little to push it behind her ear.  The road was dark, with no street lamps to illuminate the night.  They would be back in Plymouth soon, away from the disquieting memories away, from Sennen and the ghosts of the past.2

He shivered involuntarily his hands slipping from the steering wheel for a second. The car veered to the left, throwing them both forward in their seats.  Mark swore loudly, his heart thundering in his chest as he fought to gain control of the car once more.  Sarah stirred, her eyes opening in confusion.  Mark stopped the car in a lay-by, not quite believing how close he had come to killing them both.3

“What happened?” She slurred, squinting her eyes, her tongue snaking out to lick her dry lips.  Mark took a deep steadying breath.4

“A rabbit ran out in front of the car, I know you wouldn’t want me to kill a cute little bunny.”  He said with a grin.  Good Save he thought as Sarah smiled indulgently.5

“Ahhh, you’re a softie deep down aren’t you.”  Mark smiled, feeling sick in the pit of his stomach.6

“Do you mind driving?  I’m bone tired.” He said finally and Sarah smiled.7

“Wow, you’re letting me drive! Of course I will Babe.” They changed seats, Sarah’s manicured hands gripping the steering wheel.8

“I’m sorry Babe, I should have realised that it would be too much to drive all this way there and back in just a few hours.  Its all my fault, if I hadn’t have had that hysterical episode in the Inn, we could be tucked up in bed now cuddling. Will you forgive me?”  Mark grinned dropping a kiss on Sarah’s sleep flushed cheek. It felt warm to the touch, and it was then that Mark realised he must be in shock.9

Sarah started the car, putting the headlights on full beam.  They cut through the darkness like a beacon, almost like a lighthouse.  A lighthouse.  Mark shivered again, unfamiliar memories clouding his mind.10

“Why don’t you have a sleep Babe?  We’ll be back home real soon.”  Mark nodded, closing his eyes.  Lighthouse.  A beacon guiding people safely away from danger.  A comforting light in the darkness.  But not always.  11

He hadn’t been truthful with Sarah.  He hadn’t mentioned his own eerie experiences that day. He hadn’t told her, he’d almost lost his life in the Sennen Cove when he’d suffered a wipeout on his surfboard and clashed his head against a rock.  He’d only been under the water less than a minute, but that minute had stretched out in a confusing myriad of faces, experiences, smells and textures.  A life had flashed in front of his eyes, in that cliché of all near-death experiences – the difference being he had been reliving a life that wasn’t his own.    He shook his head in his sleep, not wanting to remember any part of it.  It was too frightening, too terrifying to admit to even yourself that you feared you were losing your sanity.  His eyes flew open and he grabbed the wheel. 12

“Stop the car!”  He said finally.  Sarah turned around in horror. Her pink shod foot stamping on the brake.13

“Have you gone completely mental?”  She asked breathlessly. He sighed, not rising to her words.14

“We have to go back Sarah.”  Mark said finally.  Sarah’s eyes filled with frightened tears.15

“Why Mark? What’s the matter? You’re frightening me.”  He reached for her, enfolding her in a huge hug.16

“I need to tell you something.  It will be strange, hell it’s strange even for me to speak about it, but I need to tell you.”  Sarah nodded, tears glistening in her dark eyes.17

“I hit my head today, while I was surfing.  I think I was knocked unconscious, but before I came to, I had a vision of something I know happened in the past.”  Sarah’s eyes widened, the tears brimming, ready to flow down her cheeks. 18

“I saw you Sarah, I saw you, and it was you, and you were lying on that beach staked out like a star.  They were all standing around you, taunting you, spitting on you.  They called you Devil’s Whore! I saw all this Sarah and I stood by and let them.  I watched as the water washed over your face.  But the worst was, I was with them, I was joining in.  I was sealing your fate along with them.  I felt such hate for you!”  Tears filled Marks eyes and he reached for Sarah’s wanting to enfold her in a hug.  She shrank back from him.19

“You didn’t help me? You let me drown?” She whispered, her voice soft with anger.20

“It wasn’t me!!” Mark shouted in a pleading voice.21

“Just like it wasn’t really you lying on the beach.  Don’t you want to know why this is happening to us?”  He said finally and Sarah took a deep steadying breath.22

“I’m scared Mark.  I feel like we’re getting into something we have no control over.” Sarah allowed him to enfold her in his arms and she relaxed against him.23

“Ok, I’ll go back with you.” She said resting her head against Marks shoulder.  He sighed in relief.24

“Don’t worry Babe I’ll look after you I promise.” Sarah nodded not trusting her voice to speak.  What had she just agreed to?25