Charlie rubbed his eyes and stared out across the undulating water. He had spotted a movement portside but it was now gone. Brought up on tales of monsters from the deep he had sworn never to step aboard anything with water underneath. Jeez, he even had problems with baths… or was that just being lazy?!  The fear had kept him from visiting many places over the years but he was here… watching this expanse of ocean.  The sky clear apart from a few clouds.  The sea was calm, gently splashing against the boat.   Nothing to frighten him here.

He shivered however, and his hairs stood up on end as he screwed up his eyes, leaning forward to scan the water.  For as far as his eyes could see, the boat was the only thing out here, gently rocking on the calm swell.  A cup of tea, he thought, would go down really well.  No sea sickness here!

A movement alerted him again and …..THERE! He knew he had seen something! OMG was it a mermaid? SIREN? or, and he shuddered now, Kraken?

Before him, not too far away, the water moved in a graceful swoosh upwards as something dark and large broke through the surface and flew into the air, making Charlie almost wet himself in fear. The boat rocked and moved back as the water pushed against it.

Crashing back down, the creature disappeared for a minute and then, suddenly,  parted the waves again, swimming lazily past Charlie’s view, spurting a white splash high into the air as it breathed deeply before sliding down again and disappearing from view.  Spray landed in the boat and everything was covered in salt water.

Charlie stood motionless, stock still, waiting for it to come again.  His heart beat in his chest so hard he thought it was going to burst out.  His knees were weak but he felt a strange exhilaration.  Would it show itself again?

After a few moments he sighed and walked into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, leaving the big TV on behind him.

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Kevin Callahan

Nice. Good imagery and surprise hook.

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