That night, Mira couldn't sleep. Her thoughts swirled around the vision she had seen—the figure in the water, its eyes glowing with ancient knowledge, its words that had reverberated in her mind. You belong to the depths. The sea had spoken to her. It had shown her a part of itself, something that felt both alien and familiar at the same time. But there was so much more she needed to understand.
She tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake the feeling that something was about to happen. The ocean outside seemed to hum with energy, the rhythmic crashing of the waves sounding louder and more urgent than ever. Mira could feel the pull again, like a thread tugging at her chest, pulling her toward the water.
Finally, unable to rest any longer, Mira slipped out of bed. The house was dark and quiet, and Ethel was nowhere to be seen. She had probably gone to bed, leaving Mira to explore the island on her own. Mira crept out the door and into the night. The cool air brushed against her skin as she walked toward the beach.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the waves. The water was calm tonight, its surface smooth like glass. But Mira could feel the undercurrent of energy beneath it, a restlessness that seemed to pulse with every wave that broke against the shore.
She made her way toward the lagoon, the stone warm in her pocket. As she reached the water's edge, she knelt down, her fingers brushing the surface of the water. It was cool, almost too cold, but the chill didn't deter her. She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the waves, letting the rhythm calm her thoughts.
And then, the water stirred. The surface rippled, as if something was moving beneath it. Mira's heart raced as she opened her eyes. She had been waiting for this moment, the moment when the sea would reveal itself again.
The figure emerged from the depths. It wasn't as shadowy as before. This time, it was more solid, its form clearly defined. Water and light swirled around it like mist. Its eyes locked with hers, and Mira's breath caught in her throat. There was no fear, only awe. She felt the connection again, the undeniable bond that had been growing stronger since she found the stone.
The figure didn't speak, but Mira knew what it wanted. It reached out a hand, and without thinking, Mira extended her own. The moment their fingers touched, a shock of electricity ran through her. The vision came again, more vivid this time. She saw flashes of underwater cities, of creatures that swam through the deepest parts of the ocean, of lives that had been hidden away for centuries.
The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun, and Mira gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her chest. The figure in the water was fading, but this time, Mira wasn't afraid. She understood. She belonged to the sea, and the sea was calling her to something greater.
But before she could process what had just happened, she heard a voice behind her.
"Mira."
It was Ethel, her voice strained and filled with concern.
Mira turned slowly. Ethel's face was pale, her eyes wide with something that could have been fear.
"What are you doing here?" Ethel asked, her voice trembling.
Mira didn't answer. She didn't need to. The sea had already spoken.