Water Spirits

Chapter 1 The Beginning of the End - Ashley People say, when you die, your life flashes before your eyes. They say you see the journeys and challenges you’ve overcome. People you love, maybe you’re happiest of memories. All I saw was the darkness, the betrayals and lies I had been forced to overlook. The way I had been taken advantage of, and...murdered! +++ It was at sunset on a deserted beach called Tea Cove Bay. We were all alone. It was a romantic sight, and the perfect place to commit a murder. He had insisted on that desolated beach, he said it was ‘perfect’. Little did I know, when he said ‘perfect’ he wasn’t talking about the white, soft sand or the gentle ocean breeze. Little did I want to think someone I loved so much, would intend on hurting me so badly. We sat close together in silence for ages. Taking in and enjoying the beauty of Mother Nature. He would occasionally look down at me smiling, looking perfect. With his hair as black as night, hazel eyes and those soft pink lips. Everything about him was perfect. He said he had left something in his car and that he’d be right back. When he was gone, his phone rang. I ignored the first call, knowing whatever it was about, it was none of my business. But the phone kept ringing. Once, twice, three...four times. Then it crossed my mind that it may be urgent. So I dug around in his backpack, until my hands wrapped around something small and smooth. I flipped the phone open and said; “Hello, this is Jared’s phone.” Then eased back down on the sand. “Who’s this?” A female voice with an obvious tone of urgency yelled through the phone. “My name’s Ashley, I’m Jared’s girlfriend...who are you?” I asked, cautiously, wanting to know why a girl obviously around the same age, has his number. There was a long silent pause, and then the girl’s voice whispered through the phone. “I’m Chloe. You can’t be Jared’s girlfriend!” The girl said and I could tell from the shakiness in her voice that she was crying. “Why not?” I asked, and by then I was panicking. There was another long pause before she replied, and I had to strain to hear her quiet voice. “Because...Jared’s my boyfriend.” I remember feeling only betrayal and anger, but I didn’t have time to answer as a dark shadow appeared next to me on the sand. I turned around to see Jared, looking surprised, with suspicion all over his face. “What are you doing with that?” He asked, gesturing to his phone, which I still held in my hand. I could tell from the sharp tone in his voice that he was trying to keep his rapidly growing anger under control. I let my eyes flicker down at the phone. ‘Call Connected’ was in bright green on the screen. A wave of relief washed over me, knowing that Chloe hadn’t hung up yet, and she would get to hear what I had to say to him. I looked back up to see Jared had taken a step closer and was now showing visible signs of anger. I should have taken that as the first sign. I mean, I should have been the one who was supposed to get mad, he cheated on me. But no, I had to open my big mouth. I laid the phone down on the towel and stood up, I was a whole head shorter than him. I took a few steps back and looked around to see if there was anyone nearby. But no, of course not. We were alone. Instead of running, which would have been the smartest thing to do at that moment, I opened my mouth. “Chloe called.” I said trying to keep my voice even. “Did she now, I...” But he didn’t get to finish because I was quick to jump in, not wanting to allow him any time to explain. “How could you do this? Why would you want to do this? Isn’t one girlfriend enough?” I poured the questions out. “Ash...” He tried to cut in using his nickname for me, but I didn’t stop speaking. “Don’t worry about it! Were over, don’t ever bother me again!” I said raising my voice at the end and I saw his eyes widen and body flinch. I knew my last words had hurt him the most. But at that moment, I didn’t care. I turned to leave and managed to get a few steps before a firm, painful, grip wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back and jolted my shoulder. I let out a little yelp more out of surprise than pain and stumbled. “Ashley! Don’t ever say that! Your Mine…and you always will be. I can’t loose!" He yelled and pulled me closer to him. I clawed at his hand, trying to free my arm. But he was too strong, I wouldn't stand a chance, in a fight or if he tried to do anything. So I decided to use the power of words. "You're Crazy!" I yelled, the first thing that came to mind. He released his grip on me. Which made me stumbled over onto the ground and that’s when I saw it. The glint of a piece of metal, clutched in his hand. A knife. Everything happened so fast after that. I tried to get to my feet, but he was already there. He kicked me hard in the chest, which knocked me back down. He leapt on top of me, pinning me down into the sand. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wet cloth. As I grimaced in horror, he shoved it towards my face. Screaming I tried to slap and claw his hands away. But he just adjusted his weight, which put more pressure down on me, while using his free hand to pin down both of my hands. Which he found fairly easy because my wrists were thin and delicate, while his hands were huge, solid and twice the size. Then with nothing in his way he held the cloth firmly over my face. I wriggled desperately underneath him. It smelled disgusting, it was covered in a chemical substance, which I had never smelt before. But I already didn’t like the way it made me feel. As with every breath, clouds covered my eyes and I was overpowered with a nauseous feeling. It made me feel like the world was spinning. After a few desperate breaths the scent was in my system and my eyelids grew heavy, giving way. Letting me fall from the world into darkness. But it wasn’t over then, no. Really, it was just the beginning… +++