We pulled into the parking lot for the beach and I watched Annie's face as I parked.
"Well what do you think?" I asked.
She frowned at me. "There's no one here, I mean there should be people here. It's June!" I started laughing. She gave me a look then got out. I pulled myself together then followed her. Annie wrapped her arms tightly around her middle.
"It's frickin freezing! Is it supposed to be like this?" She asked.
I nodded. "Yup it's like this every year." Annie shivered then started forward. I watched her make her way to the sand. She stopped suddenly then bent to touch the sand. She looked at me and shook her head.
"This sand is cold and wet what type of beach is this? I mean I knew your climate and seasons were different. Heck even your weather is different but this..." She didn't finish. Her eyes were sad as they looked out at the ocean. I walked to her and followed her gaze.
"I can make it more fun if you want. I didn't mean to make you unhappy." She gave me a small smile.
"Yeah? Well this place is deserted and freezing cold. I don't think there's much you could do to make it a happier place."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really?" I said.
She nodded. I scanned the ground and got an idea as I spotted some seaweed. "Do you like seaweed?" I ask and Annie wrinkled her nose.
"What kind of question is that? No one likes seaweed. Why do you ask?" She looked at me and I bent to pick up the seaweed. She looked from me to the seaweed and back. She started to back up slowly. "Jace put that down I'm not in the mood for games. It's cold and depressing out here." I stepped forward and she stepped back. We did this for a couple of minutes then I started chasing her around. She was laughing as I chased her into the waves and she squealed as the cold water hit her. When she dodged me again I grabbed her arm and we both fell to the ground. We sat there and she looked out at the ocean again.
"I still don't understand how people can swim in this water. It's too cold." I grinned. "No it's too cold for your Malibu born skin."
She rolled her eyes and threw some sand at me. I pulled her towards me as I leaned in to kiss her a phone went off.
"Shit is that mine?" She pulled her cell from her soggy pocket. She got up and frantically rubbed it dry then answered it. "Shit, hello? Mom? Yeah, I'm actually at the beach with Jace. What!" I looked up startled as Annie started to cry. "No, he's alright he has to be. Mom! He's alright! Dammit answer me!" Annie was pacing back and forth. Her face had gone white. She hung up and looked at me with tears streaming down her face. "We need to go to the hospital, my dad's been attacked."
I lurched to my feet shock coursing through me. Annie raced to my car. I followed and got in. As I started driving to the hospital my mind numb.
"Annie where did your father get attacked did your mother say?"
Annie's face grew whiter. "The trail you and I were on early this morning."
I slammed on the breaks and turned to stare at her. "What?! Then I was right my dad WAS murdered."
Annie gave me a helpless look. "I really don't know if that is what this means, but all I do know if my father right now is in the hospital. They don't think he's going to make it. So please just drive and don't talk."
I started driving again but I couldn't get over this weird coincidence. It had to have been him that made the branches crack when we were at the trail earlier. It was all coming together but I still didn't have enough to prove that there was a killer on the loose. As we pulled up to the hospital. I looked at Annie one more time before she ran into the hospital.
I ran up to the front desk and asked the woman what room the emergency floor was on. She gave me the number and I ran to the stairs. I didn't need to take the stairs but I have excess energy. I felt Jace follow behind me. I know he is here for me but all I can think about are the words, "He may not make it."
My father couldn't die he's too young. I knew though that it wasn't my decision on whether he lived or died. All I can do is hope and pray that he'll stay with us. I burst into the emergency room and immediately spotted my mom. She looked like crap.
I ran to her and threw myself at her and finally I sobbed. She held me and I knew for my sake she wouldn't break down. "Hello Jace thank you for driving her here." I heard my mom say but I was slowly going into hysterics and couldn't process the words.
My body slumped and I felt a pair of male hands catch me. I knew it was Jace who held me. He stayed with me murmuring little nothings until I became calm enough to sleep. I dreamed of my dad.
He was in the woods and he was calling for me. I saw the man before he did and I screamed for him to watch out but he didn't hear me. I screamed and screamed until my voice was hoarse and my dad lay there a bloody mess on the forest floor.
I woke to the sound of panic. I looked around me searching for Jace but he wasn't there. I grabbed a passing nurse by the arm. "What's going on?" I asked her.
She gave me a glance. "One of the patient's heart has failed. It's a code blue."
I went pale. "Which patient?" I whispered.
She paused a minute and gave me a look."Jason Martin." She said. I sighed in relief and relaxed. I knew my dad would make it. I had a sudden thought.
"What about a patient named Bryan Black?" I asked her. She gave me a weird look but asked another nurse. I waited patiently.
When she came back her face was grim. "I'm afraid there seems to be a misunderstanding, Bryan Black was pronounced dead on arrival."
I froze and the world began to spin. I felt myself slowly falling. The nurse's shout for help barely registered.