The wind howled through the cracks in the cabin walls, the night air cold and unyielding. Mira sat by the window, her hands clenched tightly around the edges of the sill. The ocean stretched out before her, a vast expanse of water that seemed endless, the moonlight glimmering off its surface, making it appear almost alive. She had never felt so connected to the sea, but it was also terrifying, like something beyond her control.
Behind her, Taryn was resting, his fever having broken but his condition still fragile. Mira had been tending to him, but the weight of her thoughts was overwhelming. The connection she had felt to the ocean was undeniable, and Taryn's words had only deepened the mystery. The ocean was angry, and it needed her. It was something she couldn't ignore, but the more she understood, the more questions arose. Why her? Why now?
As she sat lost in thought, the door creaked open. Mira turned her head to see Ethel standing in the doorway, her face drawn with worry. The older woman had been quieter than usual since Taryn's arrival, as if some unease had settled over her, an unease that Mira could feel but couldn't explain.
"Mira," Ethel said, her voice low and somber. "I need to speak with you."
Mira nodded and motioned for Ethel to sit. Her aunt looked weary, her usual sternness replaced with an almost haunted expression. Mira had always known her aunt to be practical and grounded, but now there was something else in her eyes, something that made Mira shiver.
Ethel took a seat across from her, her hands resting in her lap. For a moment, she said nothing, just stared at the floor as if gathering her thoughts. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Finally, Ethel spoke. "You've been chosen by the ocean, haven't you?"
Mira's heart skipped a beat. She had never told Ethel about her connection to the sea, but somehow, her aunt knew. "How did you—"
"I can feel it," Ethel interrupted softly, her voice steady but filled with concern. "I've seen it before, though not in the way you're experiencing it. The ocean—it calls to some people. It doesn't choose lightly, but once it does, it doesn't let go."
Mira was silent for a long moment, her mind racing. "I don't understand, Aunt Ethel. Why is this happening? What does it want from me?"
Ethel exhaled deeply, her eyes closing briefly as if searching for the right words. "It's not about what it wants, child. It's about what you must do. You're not just connected to the sea; you're part of it. In some way, your fate is tied to it, and that can be both a blessing and a curse."
Mira shook her head, trying to make sense of her aunt's words. "I'm not a guardian, or a chosen one, or anything like that. I'm just me. A girl who came here to escape."
"I wish it were that simple," Ethel said quietly. "But the ocean doesn't care about your wishes. It's ancient, older than anything you can understand. And its power, its anger, is not something that can be tamed easily. You must be careful."
"Careful?" Mira's voice cracked. "What does that even mean? How can I be careful when it feels like the ocean is pulling me in? What am I supposed to do? How do I stop this?"
Ethel's face softened, and she reached out to take Mira's hands in hers. "You can't stop it. But you can learn to control it. You have to understand the ocean, its power. If you don't, it will consume you. And if it consumes you, it will consume everyone."
Mira shivered at her aunt's words. The ocean, consuming her? Was that what this was all leading to? She had always felt at peace by the water, but now it was more than that—it was dangerous, and she didn't know how to control it.
"I don't know how to do this," Mira admitted, her voice trembling.
"You don't have to do it alone," Ethel said gently. "But you need to be prepared. The ocean will demand things from you—things that will change you forever. You'll need to be strong."
Mira nodded, though doubt clouded her mind. She didn't feel strong. In fact, she felt anything but strong. How could she control something she didn't understand? How could she fight against a force as ancient and powerful as the ocean?
Ethel stood up slowly, her face unreadable. "You're not just a girl anymore, Mira. The ocean has chosen you because it believes you have the strength to face it. But be careful. There are those who would use you, who would manipulate the power you have. And if you aren't careful, they'll destroy you."
Mira's mind raced. Use her? Manipulate her? Who could possibly want to do that?
"Aunt Ethel, what do you mean?" she asked urgently.
Ethel turned toward the door, but before she left, she gave Mira one last, lingering look. "I'll tell you more when you're ready. But for now, stay away from the water. Don't let it consume you."
With that, Ethel left the room, the door clicking softly behind her.
---
Mira was left alone, the words of her aunt echoing in her mind. The ocean could consume her? How could something so vast, so powerful, be so dangerous? She had always thought of the water as a friend, a place of solace. But now, it was a threat, a force that she didn't know how to control.
She turned to look out the window again, the moonlight casting a silver sheen over the ocean. It was beautiful, yes, but now it seemed foreign to her. The pull was still there, as strong as ever, but Ethel's warning kept repeating in her mind. Be careful. The ocean will consume you.
---
That night, Mira couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw visions—images of the ocean's depths, of strange, glowing shapes moving beneath the surface, of shadows watching her from the water. There were whispers too, voices that seemed to call her name, urging her to come closer.
It was maddening, this constant pull. She could feel the ocean's power in her bones, could sense its presence just beyond her reach. She knew she had to face it. But the question was, how? And what would she have to sacrifice in the process?
---
The following morning, Mira took a deep breath as she stood on the porch, gazing out at the endless ocean before her. She had made a decision. The only way to understand what was happening was to confront it head-on. She would go to the water, not out of fear, but out of necessity. She had to know the truth—about the ocean, about the curse, and about her role in it all.
But as she turned to go inside and prepare for her journey, she saw Taryn standing in the doorway, his eyes filled with a quiet urgency.
"You're going to the water, aren't you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Mira nodded, her resolve hardening. "I have to. I have to understand."
Taryn stepped forward, his face grave. "Be careful, Mira. The ocean doesn't just call you. It tests you. And once you step into it, there's no turning back."
"I know," Mira said softly, her voice steady. "But I have to try."
And with that, Mira turned and walked toward the beach, determined to face whatever lay ahead.