Island in a Storm

Chapter One: The Storm

You and your friends Alfred and Matthew sit on the beach, feeling the wintery cold sea breeze chilling you to the bone, talking about their favorite memories about the ocean, playing in the waves as kids, building sand castles with each other, alfred acting like a child, tying his towel around his neck as a makeshift cape.

You smile and start to zone out as you watch them crash on the shore. Matthew’s polar bear cub, Kumajirou, Tony the Alien and your pet fox, Leema, playing in one of the tidal pools nearby. Your thoughts wander off as you start daydreaming about pirates, a life on the high seas, a life full of adventure...

“_________....?” Alfred nudges your elbow, his trademark grin plastered on his face, “You there?”

You blush, “Y-yeah! I was just thinking..”

“About what?” Matt looks over at you, listening politely.

Alfred grins wider, “Really Mattie? I think it’s kinda obvious! She’s obviously thinking about what an awesome hero I am!  Because I don’t think the waves are more interesting than me!” He laughs.

“I wasn’t thinking about the waves, Alfred-”

“HA! See Matt? I told you! The hero’s always right!” He gloats smugly.

You roll your eyes. “..actually I was thinking about pirates..”

Alfred’s face lit up, “So you think of me, your amazing hero, as a freaking cool pirate? Dude that's awesome!”

“N-no... I..” You start to talk but find yourself interrupted.

Alfred’s face fell, looking almost wounded, “So you weren’t thinking about me?”

You shake your head, “Um, well no.. Not this time Alfred..”

Matthew touches your shoulder, grinning, “It’s ok he’ll survive, eh-?”

You giggle and stand up, “Come on guys, lets go on a walk..”

Matthew nods, and Alfred hops up and runs around you like the lovable idiot you have grown to love. No of course you wouldn’t admit you had a crush on the look-alike brothers since kindergarten out loud, you’d keep that to yourself.

“Hey, ________! Come on! I bet you can’t catch me! Hahaha!” Alfred laughs and jumps around on the cliffs overlooking a popular summer cliff jumping spot. locally famous for the deep water and adrenaline rush. You’d never jump off the largest cliff, only the bravest (or stupidest) people ever did, and they would never come out of the water unscathed.

“Alfred! You’re going to fall off!” You yell at him, running towards him.  

“Hey! How cool would it be to go cliff jumping? Dude! I’d be like totally famous!” He grins and laughs, leaning over the edge of the cliff.

“Alfred! Don’t do something stupid!” You pant, scrambling up the rocks, Matthew right behind you, yelling something in his quiet voice, it coming out in unintelligible whispers due to the wind whipping around you as a storm started picking up.

“Alfred!” As you run to grab him from the cliff you end up slipping on ice and tumble down into the frigid water below.

“_-_______!” They both yell in terror, Alfred throws his coat at Matthew, “Hold this!” He dives in after you.

You could feel the ice water sucking the air from your body, sapping your strength as you slipped deeper into the icy depths below. You could vaguely feel strong arms wrap around you, pulling you up to the surface, faintly hearing your friends calling your name.