Page 16 of Unmoored

My pace slowed as I reached the end of the jetty, wanting a moment of peace before I took my final breath. Turning around, I took in the view of Akala Island, ominous and imposing under the cloudy night sky. The spires of the asylum stuck out like spears from the crumbling stone building, resembling a castle inhabited by a dark, bloodthirsty villain.

And as if that villain were pulling strings from above, the side door opened and a swarm of white coats came pouring out.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I watched them, shouting and waving their arms as they ran towards me. The stormwas raging by this point, and a sick sense of satisfaction bloomed in my chest as they were pelted with cold rain and biting wind.

Soon, it would all be over. Water lapped at my ankles as the tide rose higher, and I swore I couldfeelthe current beckoning me home. The wind whipped my threadbare nightgown around my limbs as the staff from the asylum drew closer, and a sense of calm overtook my body.

I wiped the tears and blood from my face for the last time, and before I could change my mind, I dangled a foot over the edge of the jetty and leaned back into the churning depths of the sea.

9

DRAYA

As I approached the island of Akala, the currents grew stronger and rain pelted against the surface of the sea, alerting me of something amiss. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning flashed behind the jutting cliffs as I reached shallower waters.

The asylum was a terrifyingly beautiful sight, its spires and walls looming over the grounds casting shadows in all directions, dancing like a haunted ballet. Despite its short lifetime of only a hundred years or so, the corners of the building were crumbling, and many of the gargoyles and carvings were chipping and covered in rot. I never understood why they had chosen to construct this stone citadel on an island that was so viciously battered by the elements.

From where I floated, just close enough to the shore to see but far enough away that the humans wouldn’t detect me, I watched a storm close in on the island. The torrents of rain caused a misty haze, slightly obscuring my vision above the surface. I knew Hazel frequented the beach atnight, but it was still early, so I settled into my vantage point and prepared to wait.

After only a few moments, I noticed some commotion on the island, and what looked like a ghost came flying out from one of the hospital doors. A frail body in a white nightgown ran across the grounds, picking up speed as they tore through the cemetery and across the rocky beach.

That can’t be her, can it?

I crept closer to the shoreline, fighting to see through the spindrift and waves. A moment later I noticed long pale hair flying behind the woman, and I knew without a doubt that it had to be her.

Something was clearly wrong, yet I was mesmerized by her haunting presence as she floated across the jetty. Nightgown tangling around her limbs, pale hair streaming behind her through the sand and mist, the vision would forever be committed to my memory.

I could have shifted to my human form and tried to assist, but I wasn’t exactly surewhatwas wrong. Maybe she was looking for some peace and quiet once she reached the jetty, though she needed to slow down lest she wanted to slip in.

My attention shifted when I realized a gaggle of humans dressed in white coats were frantically chasing after her. They poured out from the hospital doors like a storming army of nurses, and I stiffened.

Once again, I was concerned about Hazel’s safety.

Why am I worried about her?I pushed the thought away, realizing how difficult this whole situation was going to make my evening.

I’d come to Akala to hopefully find Hazel and ask her afew questions about her father, but it didn’t seem like that would be happening tonight. Instead, she was now teetering on the edge of the jetty, eyes wide and laughing to herself as she turned to face the nurses running after her.

Maybe shewasmad, and her father sending her here had been the right choice.

At any rate, the woman was about to be swallowed by the ocean, and I pleaded with whatever spirits were around for her to not do that. I needed information, but I wasn’t eager to save her life again. And I doubted she’d be welcomed back at the island after this dramatic stunt.

As irritated as I was, I couldn’t look away, and I thought I noticed streaks of blood scattered over her face and limbs.That is unsettling.

Before I could manage another thought, she lifted her hands above her head and let out a ragged scream as she fell backwards into the water, and I could have sworn a wave leapt up to catch her.

She really did it.

I sank under the surface for a moment, trailing her body to see if she tried to swim, and was struck immediately by the scent of her blood.

A rage I’d never felt before roiled inside me, and before I could rationalize what I was doing, I was darting through the water towards her sinking form. My tail moved on its own, and I found myself pleading with the currents to get me there faster. The scent of her blood grew stronger as I neared, and I wanted to shred each and every one of those bastards at the hospital to pieces.

Just before she hit the jagged rocks at the bottom of the bay, I gathered her in my arms and darted away from theisland. Her body was so frail, I could feel her ribs through her nightgown. Face was gaunt and pallid, she was mottled with scratches and bruises. For a moment I wondered if she was already dead, as she looked more like a reanimated corpse than the woman I had rescued years ago.

Her hair was dull and limp, not glowing the way it had been when I first found her, and I knew I needed to get her to the surface quickly. As much as I wanted to tear the asylum down and set it on fire, I had to refocus my fury on the drowning woman in my arms.

Why do I even care?I scolded myself, growing irritated at the situation once again. She started to struggle against my hold, so I decided we were far enough out of sight and thrashed my tail until we broke through the surface of the water.

Rain pelted over us, and the streaks of lightning were so frequent that the sky was almost completely illuminated. Thunder roared around us, and I hoped the storm was tearing that cursed asylum apart brick by brick.