* Remember there are changes to all chapters. Some will be small, and others will be big. Please, be sure to read all chapters*

I sat quietly as my dog barked and galloped along the bank. He looked back at me in anticipation as I readied my arm for the throw. The green tennis ball bounced on the cracked pavement and shot into the sky. Not my best throw. I watched Simon run after it, squeezing through the fence that led to the old lighthouse.

"Simon!" I beckoned as I stood up wiping dirt from my jeans. The air was cold, the trees bare and swayed in the wind. I checked my phone and saw the weather app blink across my screen. The rain was on the way and fast.

"Simon, come here boy," I called for my small dachshund. Quickly, I made my way over to the fence and slipped through. I hadn't seen anyone use the lighthouse for a few years now. Granted, I had just moved back to take care of my mom.

The land past the fence eventually stopped at a concrete wall that blocked the high tides from damaging the old worn boardwalk. I could see Simon up ahead looking for the ball by some rocks. I sighed and looked at my phone when it beeped.

*Thunderstorm warning for your area until 9 pm* flashed in the notification bar.

The sky had darkened immensely as I called Simon again. His ears perked up, and his tail wagged. He was in a dark yellow sweater, and he wobbled back and forth as he ran towards me, forgetting the ball completely.

"Good boy, it's starting to rain-." I was cut off by a massive boom and lightning shooting across the sky out in the water. The wind picked up sending my wavy brown hair into a frenzy. It spliced against my face. Thunder crashed above me and rain barreled down hard.

"Simon! Let's go!" I cried running towards my dog. How did he get so far ahead of me? I pulled my hood up and dashed across the old worn wood, my traction wasn't best, but I needed to get my dog. I know I should have put his leash back on him earlier.

Simon was only a few feet in front of me now when I slipped and cried out falling. It all happened so fast; I tried to break my fall with my arms when my feet were pulled out from under me. My wrist slammed hard against the wood, and my head followed. The pain in my wrist caught me by surprise as the pain in my temple began to bloom.

"Fuck." I hissed as my head rang and the rain poured heavily down on me. I rolled onto my back; my eyes shut as I tried to get my bearings. A wet tongue licked me across my face, and I could hear the jingle of Simons collar.

"I'm ok Simon," I told him opening my eyes, he looked at me happily, "Let's go home."

I rolled onto my side and sat up slowly pressing my palm to my forehead. I winced touching tender flesh — no blood just a huge knot. I stood up on shaky legs sure not to bother my hurt wrist. The pain was worse than my head now, and I scooped up my dog, he licked my face, and I suddenly felt very dizzy.

My vision swayed as I lost all sense of anything. My body had tried to move forward as my vision blackened, I panicked. I could feel myself falling again. I expected the ground to be hard and swiftly approaching, but it never did.

It happened so suddenly. My heart began to race as my chest tightened; it felt as if the center of my head - right behind my nasal cavity - was being pulled. A rush of sound roared through me as my knees buckled, and as black clouds pressed their way into my vision. Simon barked in my arms, and then I felt the cold and harsh brutality of the water as I tumbled over the concrete barrier.

• • •

Sounds were coming back now. I could hear the wind howling and the rain lashing against the ground. Something was hurting me, pressing hard against my chest. I couldn't tell what it was. Then something pinched my nose, tilted my head back, and I felt air flow into me.

Water shot up my throat causing me to choke, I gasped and opened my eyes. The sky above me was a dark grey and lightning danced beautifully across it as my focus returned, I looked into golden almost tiger eye like eyes.

"What?" I stammered taken aback by whoever was above me. The man stood up and walked away.

"Wait!" I called after him, but he didn't turn around.

A bark next to me caused me to jump and tear my attention away from the mystery man. Simon was hopping happily now that I was awake, his tail wagging fast as he jumped at me, licking my face. I held him in my arms tightly and turned my attention back to the man, but he was gone, just disappeared. There wasn't anything around me, just some sand, rocks and the concrete barrier. Where could he have gone?

Thunder bellowed above, and I jumped. I needed to get home.

• • •

"Ingrid, why don't you go home? You're sick as a dog." Leslie asked me as I swept the dirt out the front of the store. I was bundled up in a large cable knit sweater and a hat, trying to clean, but my body was so cold, and the movement wasn't helping.

"I can't. I already took off two days. I don't have any more sick hours or vacation, Leslie." I told her.

"Well, give me the broom and go sit down," she said taking the broom from me. She gestured to her seat behind the counter. I sighed and nodded my head. I watched my friend and coworker sweep as I read over the inventory for the grocery store.

"How's Simon?" She asked.

"He's better, resting at home with my mom," I replied pulling my knees to my chest in the chair.

"And your mom?"

"You know how chemo is, takes all her energy, so she's probably sleeping."

"Any news from the doctor?" She asked walking over to the counter, setting the broom aside.

I shook my head, "No, she has an appointment next month."

" I hope it's good news," she said softly.

"Me too." I sighed.

My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. She owned the local grocery store in town, and after she couldn't work anymore, I took over. Leslie and I have been friends since high school, and she's worked here to get herself through college online. I was one of the lucky ones who got out of town my senior year. I had gone to live with my dad.

"Hey, did you see him yet?" Leslie asked.

I looked up at her. She was looking outside.

"Seen who?"

"They guy who rescued you, who else?"

"Uh, no, sorry," I coughed, "ugh."

"Don't you think that's weird? That he hasn't even shown up to see if you're ok?" Leslie asked coming back to sit next to me. She twirled in the chair idly looking through a magazine.

"I'm just glad I didn't die," I told her as the bell dinged for the door. We both looked to see an older gentleman walk in.

He went to the back toward the fishing equipment. We've had to restock that section already because so many people were fishing now.

"That's the fifth one today," Leslie said as the man came to check out.

"Seems to be a lot more fish nowadays?" I asked the man.

"Not unusual happens every time with the tide."

"The tide?" I asked stifling a cough.

"Yeah, the King Tide," Leslie looked at me as if I was dumb, "You haven't heard the stories? They've been around for years." she asked ringing up the man as I bagged his equipment.

"The stories?"

"Every year on the same day at the King Tide fish come into the bay and don't leave until we fisherman have enough to last the last weeks of winter," The man spoke up, "Rumor is it's some man who can speak to fish," he laughed before heading out the door.

"Talk to fish? What type of folklore is that?" I scoffed.

"Don't ask me; I just live here." Leslie laughed.

I found Simon curled up next to my mother on the couch. The TV was playing a rerun of Ellen, and her cup of tea was half empty. I set my purse and jacket on the chair next to the kitchen, and Simon perked up his tail wagging.

I smiled at him, "Hi, baby boy." I scooped him up, hugging him close. He had gotten sick just as I had, wasn't as bad now. He was lucky got to sleep next to a warm body all day. I placed him on the floor and went into the kitchen his food bowl was empty. My mother had forgotten to feed him again.

I fed him and gave him fresh water.

"Ingrid?" My mother called.

"Yeah?" I popped my head around the corner to see her sitting up.

"When did you get home?"

"Just a few minutes ago, it was a slow day today."

She nodded standing up and stretching her arms into the sky.

"How are you feeling?" I asked taking a swig of water.

"I'm good, just tired. I'll think I'll go to bed," My mom told me.

"Ok, are you hungry?"

"No, don't worry about me, dear. I'm just going to go to my room and sleep." She smiled at me walking towards the stairs. She turned and clicked her tongue calling to Simon. He ran over to her, and she picked him up. With one last smile at me, she disappeared up the stairs.

My mother used to move around the house like a hummingbird, quick and decisive. She used to water her plants every day, take Simon for walks and jog every morning. Now that cancer and the chemo are taking most of her energy even her once vibrant red hair is dull. Her smiles never reach her eyes, and her skin looks paper thin. I hated what the medicine was doing to her.

I gathered up her cup and empty plate setting them in the sink. I needed to eat something, but I wasn't hungry, so I just brewed a cup of coffee and bundled up on the couch flipping through tv channels.

I was bored nowadays since I had to order a new phone. After I had woken up on the beach after my fall my phone was missing. It must have fallen out of my pocket and into the water when I fell. I've been waiting for a week now for my phone.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

5:37 pm.

Mail had already come today, and I hadn't seen any packages on the coffee table.

I got up, "Mom? Did the mail come today?" I called up the stairs.

"No, I don't think so."

"Great," I muttered to myself and went back to the couch. I flipped through channels a few more minutes before finding an old cartoon. I sunk into my couch and blankets laughing to myself.

I jolted awake, my breathing fast. I had the same dream again...I was drowning, but this time I wasn't saved.

I blinked a few times, ridding my mind of my dream and sat up. The whole house was dark. The tv had shut off, and the only light was the light from the back porch that was coming in through the open blinds. Quickly, I shut all the curtains and turned on the light to the kitchen.

Simon upstairs was scratching at my mom's door. He must need to go outside. I fetched my dog and pulled on my shoes. The air was chilly and clean.

"Alright, do your business, it's cold." I shuffled in place hoping to warm up. He finished and began to growl. His ears had gone up, and his hair on his back ruffled.

"Simon?"

He barked loudly now, staring off into the distance. I followed his gaze and saw a man standing at the end of the street. He had on a heavy coat, and the hood was pulled up. My heart leaped into my throat, and I grabbed my dog turning to run back inside. I slammed my door shut and locked it. Simon ran next to me as I double checked all the windows and the back door. I set the alarm and hurried upstairs.

Simon followed me into my room, his little legs running up his walkway to lay on the bed. I quickly dressed into my pajamas, a tank and short set with tiny elephants on them, careful to not look out my window. I was scared that man would be there like in one of the Michael Myers movies.

I checked on my mom before going to brush my teeth. I tied my brown hair up into a lazy bun, washed my face and snapped in my retainer. My light brown eyes looked back at me, and I noticed my dark bags. I haven't been sleeping well since my fall.

Simon was fast asleep when I got back to my room; I slid into bed, the sheets cool against my bare legs. It took me what seemed like hours to fall asleep, and my dreams plagued with my recurring nightmare.