Dark Waters

The smiling man,” said Brian. He didn’t feel afraid at all anymore. Only furious—and glitteringly hopeful.

“One chance,” said Coco.

“One chance is all we’ll need,” said Brian, and they looked grimly at each other as their wooden boat ground against the rocky shore and the moonlight silvered the water like the back of a dying
monster.

Everyone has forgotten her, it said.

Except you.

You have one chance to win her back.

Call it a rematch.

I’ll send an invitation. You’ll know it when you get it.

—S

Brian leaned over and said, “What does the watch say?”

alive

Brian felt himself breathe again

Ollie suddenly shoved a piece of paper in Coco’s hand. “I promised I wouldn’t tell,” she said. “He made me promise I wouldn’t tell. But it’s not the end. There’s a chance. Okay?”

hey shot into the fog, and they could see nothing.

It was like being in a cloud. Wet. A thick silence fell; Brian could feel his mouth moving, his throat working. He could see Coco doing the same, but no sound came out.

How long?” Ollie demanded sharply, and this time Brian saw that she wasn’t asking anyone in particular; instead she was looking straight down at the watch on her wrist.

The watch lit up. Coco saw the answer.

00:30:00 and then words, flashing in quick succession.

love.

proud.

The snake bore down. The fog was closing. They were going to make it! No, they weren’t

That was when they saw a silver shimmer in the water. It wasn’t the moon, rising in the dusk

None of them had said what they were really looking for, scanning the beaches, the trees, the water carefully, but Brian knew what it was. They all knew. They were looking for a silver flash, the streaking light of those beautiful, horrible scales

Now, miss, you just make straight for that cove. I don’t know if I can kill the beastie. But I can slow her down. Then I’ll be off. Wait for me, Tom.”

Over the water, Bill. Into the moonlight,” whispered the ghost on the radio. “I was always close by, my dear. Always. Bill, it’s time to rest now.”