It had been cloudy all day, but the forecast didn’t suggest any storms. The weather was fair, if a little chilly, but it only got colder. As the afternoon progressed, the sky darkened. Imperceptibly at first, and then all at once. Black clouds filled the sky and the waves grew longer in amplitude-taller and taller. Mark stood on the boardwalk, back facing the sea, making a joke to his friends.

“Oh, great and mighty Cthulu,” Mark boomed overdramatically. “We puny mortals are here to sacrifice Tyler to Your Majesty!” Tyler laughed and yelled in comedic dissent. “In exchange for Tyler’s mortal soul, I want you to give me bitchin’ superpowers! No- wait- just give me the superpowers and you can take Tyler’s soul later, maybe? If you want immediate payment of souls take Ethan.” Mark rambled on until the joke died, then continued for a little while longer. The joke was so, so dead. As Mark killed a joke beyond recognition, the waves grew faster and taller and rougher. Spray coated Mark’s back, but he was laughing too hard to notice or care. Everyone was laughing too hard to notice or care. Well, not /everyone/.

Ethan eyed the sky and the waves nervously. He faked a laugh as to not seem too out of place, but he could feel the storm approaching. It made his hair stand up and his skin prickle and he felt it in his stomach in his head behind his eyes in his gills. Gills. Ethan reached up and grabbed his neck; as calmly and casually as someone checking to see whether he suddenly had gills or not. Nothing. Good. Why would he feel it in his gills? He hadn’t had gills in a long time; he hadn’t let himself have gills in a long time. He studied his friends. Was one of his friends hiding something? Was one of his friends like him? All of his observations and worries happened quickly, in a few moments, but to Ethan it felt like hours.

Something else right after took place in seconds and hours simultaneously: a wave reached up the boardwalk and swept Mark away. His eyes opened wide as the tide swept him in, he screamed as the stream of water dragged him into the surf. Everyone panicked. Ethan panicked more than the others.

“Guys, guys. I gotta go in there. I have to save Mark. Y-You all can’t follow me. You will probably drown if you try and I can’t save more than one person here. There’s going to be a lot of questions after this but you have to trust me, okay? Please trust me. Wait here, in the car. I love you all and you are great people. I’m gonna save Mark, I promise!” Ethan said all of this too fast as he stripped down to his underwear (embarrassment be damned) and tossed his clothes to Kathryn. She caught them- barely- as Amy tried to stop Ethan.