This week’s story come to you from the lovely Lucy who blogs over at From Pen To Screen. If you haven’t had a chance to visit her blog yet, here is a little about her.
My name is Lucy and I write the lifestyle/writing/beauty blog ‘From Pen To Screen’. I wrote this short story while I was on holiday in France a few years ago, but it has been rewritten quite a few times since then.
I hope you enjoy it, be sure to let me know what you think!
I hope you all enjoy her story!
Secrets of the Coral Reef by Lucy Connors
Standing on top of the board, I am alone. Alone in paradise.
I raise my hands above my head and lunge forward. The water rushes up to me and I am enveloped from head to foot. I pull with my hands and open my eyes; I am in a whole new world. I am amazed by the colour and radiance of the corals and seaweed that sway before me; the orange, red and pink anemones stand rigid in the sea floor.
Slowly I look up and see a shoal of shimmering rainbow fish swim over my head and I stare in wonder at all the different colours of their scales, glistening in the sunlight. A million stars twinkling above me. Sea weed wraps
around my leg as I step off the reef. Trying to protect me. From what? I did not yet know.
around my leg as I step off the reef. Trying to protect me. From what? I did not yet know.
Down. Down. Down. Into the blackness under me. I stare. Imagining all the evil wonders that lie beneath me.
Out of the corner of my eye I see the anemones shrink back into the sand, the rainbow fish scatter in all directions and I instantly know something is wrong. I turn my head as slowly as I can to minimise my movements. My body soon follows my head as I stare in horror at what meets my eyes. Unable to draw my gaze away.
A grey fin slices through the water, a grey tail flicks from side to side. We meet eyes for a fraction of a second and the shark swims towards me. Powerful muscles designed just for this, power him through the water. My instincts tell me to swim but I know the shark would have me in a second. Fight or flight.
Adrenaline courses through my body, through my blood. My heart pounds through my chest sending (what I thought) were small vibrations through the water. Towards the shark. The panic starts to take over. Forcing myself to breathe through my mask I fight for control.
I breathe long deep breaths. Long deep breaths that are taking too long. Long deep breaths that are wasting time. Long deep breaths that will either save, or cost, my life.
I try to think. I try to remember. I know. I draw my hand back and propel myself forward, clumsily pushing my body forward to give my arm more power. Amazingly my fingers meet their target and I jab them into the shark’s eye. The force behind it sending a wave of shock rippling through my body.
A waterfall of emotion bubbles up inside me. He gives me an evil grin, a warning and swims away, tail flicking
behind him.
behind him.
My breath suddenly escapes me and I realise I have been holding it. I kick up to the surface and breathe slowly. Finally allowing myself to relax.
For now, I think, Olivia Tophill is alive to live another day.
Did you enjoy the story? Why not leave a comment telling Lucy what you thought!
Thanks for the kind words! 🙂 I've really enjoyed the series this month. Thanks for letting me get involved 🙂 x
I've enjoyed doing the series 🙂 Thank you for wanting to be involved, it's been great to have you be part of it x
Living another day is always good! Great story.
It sure is!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I was holding my breath by the end – lovely story thanks for linking up to #sundaystars
Me too, it was really suspenseful! Thanks for hosting 🙂
Wow! That is such a great compliment! Thank you!
Lucy xx