Authors Note: This story is about two friends who are looking for a hidden treasure map and then everything goes badly wrong when the main character’s world goes black.
“A map of sorts,” she whispered, staring down at the rocky pools.
I reached down and swooped up a small starfish.
“Why do we need it?” I asked again.
My friend just rolled her eyes. “You know why,” Darla said.
As we walked along the shore, the sun was setting and it was warm. It was the best day the beach has seen in months of rain. There were little sand crabs scuttling about, digging holes and whatnot. I could see a dolphin leap here and there, their silowettes darkened against the red sky. The sky was a firy water color painting against the half-sunken sun beyond the horizon.
I simply sighed. “Let’s go before it gets dark,” I suggested. Then I silently added again.
Darla nodded in reply and together we dove head first into the sea.
Warm water from the sun’s rays from earlier in the day surrounding my skin. I popped my head above the water to signal I was ready. Darla was already at the surface and nodded. We swam deeper down, searching for the only thing that could lead us to the treasure. A map.
I searched the ocean floor, coming up for air every thirty seconds or so. The constant swimming made me tired. Fast. After a few minutes, Darla and I kicked to the surface.
Like she could read my mind she said, “Nope, you?”
I just shook my head and I sank back down. I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I instinctively swam over to it. Whatever it was, it was shiny and beautiful. It looked like gold as I approached. Carefully, I extended my index finger, reaching for it.
Then everything went black.
