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Sunlight burns the grainy sand beneath my toes. The vast blue sea expands for miles into nothing. It's like standing at the edge of the world, all worries gone from my mind. For the first time since we've been here, I finally feel at ease. Then a cold wet slime slaps across my back, breaking the peace. Kerry, wearing her brand new and colorful bikini. Crouches beside me, making sure to get every inch of my skin coated in her "lifesaver" sunscreen. 

Tom had enlisted Ty to set up our tiny home on the beach. They brought out chairs and dug small trenches in the sand to keep our seats level with the umbrella. Ty was told to grab the cooler from the trunk and like always, he put up some resistance before finally complying, making the long walk across the beach and to the parking lot. Thankfully not everyone from the hotel wanted to go to the beach first thing in the morning, so we parked close enough to make the trip easier.

Now, my skin turned a shade whiter from all the chemicals lathered on it. I scratch at my arm, too nervous to submerge into the murky seawater. Waves wash their way to my ankles, as a shocking cold runs through my body. Of course, I'd gone to the pool before, I knew it'd be freezing, I just didn't know it would be this bad. The sun had only risen a couple of hours ago. I thought for sure it would have gotten a little warmer since then. 

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Kerry says from behind, rubbing the sunscreen into her arms. She joins me at the precipice, taking in the same view I'd admired since we arrived.

"A little cold." I reply, quickly backing up as the water rushes in again. 

Kerry laughs. "Well, you're not going to get used to it if you keep running away, you know?" 

"That's easier said than done." I frown, getting only my toes wet. 

From atop the small hump that we'd set up on, Tom shouts. "You'd better enjoy it while you can! Once the festival starts there's gonna be a whole lot more people coming in." 

"Okay!" I shout back, still trying to take my first step into the deeper water. 

"You want to hold my hand, and we'll walk together?" Kerry asks. I nod, grabbing a hold of her. Kerry had always been a kind soul, willing to keep me- of all people- company when I was feeling down. It's what I liked most about her. But unlike yesterday, that gentle touch she had was not the same. Kerry forcefully pulls me in. Then, using my size against me, lifts me up onto her shoulder and rushes into the deeper water. Realizing what she's about to do, I kick and flail my arms hoping that a stray knee would make her let go, but it's when we get to the waist level I realize that maybe being up on her shoulder wasn't the worst thing after all. I cling onto her for dear life, praying that this woman still has a heart for mercy. She rushes even further in, this time at stomach level until finally, she lifts me up over her head as high as she can and with a frightful feat of strength, tosses me away. 

My prayers go unanswered as a mouthful of liquid salt forces its way through my entire digestive system. The cold was awful, but not as bad as the stinging pain on the back of my throat. Kerry stands above me chuckling to herself while saltwater leaks from my nose. Her laughter suddenly stops as her eyes go wide noticing something behind me. Without hesitation she turns to run away with a big smile on her face. I wipe my eyes clear and turn to see what she ran from. The sun that once blinded me is now blocked out almost completely by a wave as tall as I am. 

I can't believe she left me to die here.

Tom and I watch as Kerry terrorizes Ty. I'd never heard him scream before today, but I guess that's why Kerry is doing it. Tom's hair is tucked neatly behind his ears, shades resting on his chest. He leans back in his chair and after so many years of working long hours day after day at the office, he releases a well-deserved sigh of relief. He picked out a flashy blue and green shirt just to match Kerry. Whether that was something he wanted to do, I haven't a clue, but I know Kerry is happy so I can't say I blame him. Seeing her mad must be horrifying.

I reach down into the sand grabbing handfuls at a time and letting it slowly drain back to the hole I clawed it out from. Tom notices my boredom and taps me on the shoulder. "Why don't you ask one of the lifeguards for something to play with?" The idea alone puts a pit in my stomach. The last thing I want is for another person to stare at me on this trip. I shake my head hoping that instead he'll do it for me. Unfortunately, he does not take the hint. "Well then, how about that crab? You said you wanted to find one, right?" 

I consider it for a moment. Was the risk worth the reward? I could maybe lose a toe if I wasn't careful, but then again, I'd have a pet crab. I know that would make Ty jealous. "I guess I can." I say, rising from the towel I used as a blanket. 

Nobody ever mentioned how hard it would be to find them hiding. While Kerry dunks Ty's head in the water, I scan the shoreline looking for tracks or anything that wasn't just plain old sand. I wander for a bit, almost giving up on my perfect pet. Then I find what looks like a patch of sand speckled with chocolate chips. Picking it up, it feels as hard as rock and even as heavy as one too. Is this where they like to hide? I look back to Tom's umbrella seeing I've gone much farther than I thought I did. The umbrellas nearby start to look the same. I can't tell if I'd gone to the other end of the beach or only a few minutes away. If finding Tom is this hard, then how hard would it be to find the crabs again? I mean, I doubt I can relocate this random patch on the beach.

I begin digging and as millions of grains are pushed to the side, the sand slowly becoming dark the deeper I go. Getting as deep as to my wrist the sand turns completely black. The chips from before melting into one solid object. I tap my finger against it unsure of what I was looking at. It's hard on impact, but as I rest my hand on it. It sinks into a wet gooey substance. Maybe this was a crab's nest? Wait, do crab's even lay eggs? 

Before my hand can sink any deeper, I go to pull it out, only to find that I can't. My hand is lodged completely. I yank harder, but the harder I pull, the tougher the slop gets. The goo closes itself around my hand. Forcing me to stop pulling away. My heart once again thumping loudly in my ears as panic takes over my body. I try gritting my teeth and pulling as hard as I can. It doesn't work. I try again and again. Nothing is working. Out of breath and defeated, I try my best to calm down, taking long deep breaths just like Kerry showed me. A pull from the blackened goo propels my hand further in, now it's up to my forearm.

"There you are, Al." Ty's voice stuns me from behind. "You were scaring them over there. Tom said he was thinking about ordering pizza, what do you-"

"-Help, I can't get out." I interrupt. Ty looks over my shoulder and sees my predicament, as a concerned and frantic Ty makes himself known.

"What the hell?" he rushes to my arm and tries pulling it out. The muscles in my arm pulsing as the goo tightens its grip around me.

"Ow! No, stop!" I shout. He lets go immediately, unsure of what was going on. "It's like quicksand the harder you pull the harder it is to get out." I groan, my arm sinking deeper, it's almost gotten to my elbow now. The idea of this being just a crab nest was slowly looking less likely each minute.

"Why'd you have to put your hand in here like an idiot?" Ty complained 

"I didn't know this would happen!" 

"Still, you don't just stick your hand in everything do you?"

"It was an accident!"

"Dammit! I- I don't know what to do." His voice trembling. I'd never seen him like this. His hands shake while a nervous sweat forms on his forehead. He quickly wipes it away then says, "Ok, i'm just going to pull you as hard as I can." 

"Wait, don't do that!" 

"We don't have any other choice" he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me back with all the strength he could muster. I scream out in pain as the clamp around my arm only tightens further. 

A tug at my fingers yanks us both to goop. It was fine when it was just me, but now Ty was in the same position as me, our cheeks pressing against the surface. Something cold is clasping onto me from the other side and currently it wants me more than Ty could handle. The left side of my face becomes completely absorbed in the goop, I fear moving knowing just how tightly it would grab ahold of me.

"Al!" I hear in the distance. It's Uncle Tom. He found us! 

I go to call out to him, but my mouth is already taken. I see him…he's right there…just…a bit…longer…