18 Chapter 17

Marlene's face contorted into shock, and she rushed into the kitchen for a glass of water. I knelt down next to David and tapped his cheek. "Wake up," I whispered, but his eyes didn't budge.

"Alfred is he going to have to go to the hospital?" the girl with the white teeth asked. Who I assumed was her boyfriend, caressed her arm, "Sue, the bloody kid only fainted." Sue let out a relieved sigh, but the concern was still visible. 

David looked white as a sheet and Derora almost matched him. She knelt down beside me and checked his pulse. "I know CPR," she said panicked. To me it looked like she  needed it more than David. I pushed her back as she tried pressing on his chest. Marlene's husband stayed seated at the table, peacefully eating his dinner while scrolling one eye over the newspaper. David's eyes started flickering open, and Marlene was at him with the water within a second. 

"Oh he's alive!" Sue and Derora exclaimed at the same time. David grabbed the water and drank it thirstily. He tried giving a reassuring smile to the family. "Sorry, I think it's shock and dehydration." I knew he was lying. Marlene came in for a hug, and I saw Alfred rolling his eyes in embarrassment. "Darling I'm sorry about your boat," Marlene said as she pushed away. David's face was still white as a sheet, but he managed to sit down at the table again. Allot of questions were asked about where we were from, and who our family was. It seemed as though we were fishers living near the harbor who moved in recently. 

"Oh Chris, Will you mind showing these lovely people around since they're new?" It was more of a demand than a question from the mother. Sue's eyes lit up in excitement and her white teeth sparkled. "Let's go to that swimming spot," Sue hung on Alfred's arm. It only took a nod of his head to have Sue clapping her hands in excitement. After lunch Chris led us out of the house, seeming to forget we almost drowned a few hours prior. I found it strange to see David staring longingly at Alfred and Sue holding hands. He seemed sad, and I wondered who they reminded him of. 

We were led down a gravel road towards the mountains. The greenery looked like it came out of a movie, and I wondered if everything we saw were actually real. It still didn't seem possible that we just time traveled a few hours ago, to eat with complete strangers. We made it to Greece, but what was the whole point of going? I suddenly remembered the person writing that book telling the reader bad things happened inside the portal. I hoped it was only his luck, and not ours.

We soon reached trees that lined the bottom of the mountain followed by a trail. Derora groaned from next to me, "How far are we going?" Chris smirked, "Almost there."

He wasn't lying when I saw a big waterfall connecting to a pool. Rocks, ferns and moss decorated the  the area surrounding the pool. Alfred lit a cigarette he pulled from his pocket, and threw his other hand in the air. "Welcome to our favorite swimming spot!" 

Sue giggled  and pulled her shirt over her head to reveal a red bathing suit. She climbed the rocks that reached the waterfall, while Alfred stood smoking his cigarette. Derora and David walked over to the pool where they stood with their feet in the water. Chris grabbed my hand  pulling me out of my daydreams.

"Come see the view on top of the waterfall!" he didn't give me a choice. I saw Sue jumping from the top while letting out a scream. It looked like fun, so I followed the tanned boy in front of me. Mist sprayed us as we climbed the mossy rocks. Besides Chris taking off his shirt, the view was really pretty up there. 

"Are you going to jump?" I asked. Dimples formed around his smile. "No, we are going to jump." I peered over the edge of the waterfall and regretted my decision. There was no way I was going to jump down. I backed away carefully while muttering," No, no no." Chris gave a naughty smile. "Don't worry Leona, I won't let you drown." I still shook my head in denial. I didn't even have a bathing suit on.

"Just look over the edge, It isn't that high," he lured me near. I looked down again and saw David watching us with Falk eyes. I lifted my hand to wave at him, and Chris took the opportunity to grab my hand as he jumped down. 

I let out a scream which got muffled by the ice cold water. The depth and darkness felt enveloping, but I suddenly felt something hairy brush against my legs. It didn't feel like a fish but like fur. Desperately i started to kick and panic. Hands around my waist brought me up to the surface. I stared directly into Chris's eyes and saw the reflection of a tail sticking out of the water behind me. "Are you okay?" Chris asked concerned. I swung around to look behind me, but only saw a branch sticking out of the water. It must've been leaves brushing against my legs. A laugh of relief escaped my mouth.

"You Bastard!" I slapped Chris playfully on his shoulder for pulling me with him. I hated to admit it, but it was fun. I swam over to Derora and David who still watched Alfred and Sue smoking. "Come swim with us," I invited. Derora dipped her leg carefully in the water and I pulled her in. She splashed me with water in revenge. David didn't seem amused at all, "Nah, I'm fine here." Something was definitely wrong. I tugged at his arm, "What's going on?" David replied with "Nothing." Maybe he just wasn't feeling well. I turned around and climbed up towards the waterfall again. Derora stayed at the shallow end watching me. Chris was already plunging down into the water again. I could see the beach from up there, and couldn't help but think that my dad would've loved it here. I wondered if he worried about me. This is what i wanted though, was it? To be free. I jumped in hopes it would free me from my shackles. Under the water it felt dark and cold again. To my shock something furry wrapped around my leg. I tried shaking it off and teeth sank into my feet. I opened my eyes but only saw a black mass under me. I immediately jumped out of the water to see a little line of blood running down my foot. 

"Chris what type of fishes lives in this pool!? Because something bit me!" I yelled out in shock. Chris laughed in confusion: "There's nothing living in this pool, it must've been a rock or something." I swear it was something living with hair, Something felt off. I swam over to Derora and dragged her out of the water, "Something is in the pool, it felt like a tail wrapping around my leg and it bit me."  Derora immediately took her feet out of the water in shock. My heart was still racing and I went to sit down next to David. He seemed unfazed by the blood still running from my foot, but said, "Not enjoying it so much now." I rolled my eyes at him in response. 

After a few minutes we all decided to head back, since me, Derora and David were to scared to get in the water again. On our walk back a sudden flush of worry crossed over me when I realized we didn't have a place to sleep. At lest the flowers lining the path distracted me. The colors varied from yellow to blue. I saw Chris picking a bunch and assumed it was for his mother. We reached their house once again and started to say our goodbyes. David walked over to Sue holding out his hand, "It was nice meeting you." I wondered if it wasn't clear enough to him that she and Alfred were dating, because i could see the admiration for Sue in his eyes. I had no idea what his intentions were. To my surprise Chris walked towards me and pushed the flowers in my hands.

"See you around?" he asked. It made my heart flutter, and I gave him a nod. 

Derora also greeted the whole bunch, and dragged us out of their sight. "Where are we sleeping tonight?" she asked. I tried thinking if I saw any sea caves around me, but to no avail.

"Hey we could sleep at the police station, It's safe there," David suggested. I tried to stifle a laugh.

"And risk the police finding out were not from here?"

"I mean I've slept there before, they didn't ask me that much questions..." he said realizing he made a mistake. Derora raised her eyebrows.

"Oh yeah, what for?" she asked with a smirk.

"I didn't think you were the type to cause so much trouble," I joined in. David looked really embarrassed, and I elbowed him playfully in the stomach. 

"Ok I'll tell you, but just know that it wasn't my idea," he gave in, "Me and my friends went to the town one day since we were bored, my friend, Asher decided daring us would be a good idea. I was first up for a dare. He told me to go and swim in the fountain that stood between all the restaurants. At first I didn't want to, but he insisted on embarrassing me in another way if I didn't do it. So I ran to the fountain, and my belt got caught on an old lady's sweater in the passing. We both lost balance and fell into the fountain. The lady thought I did in intentionally, and made her husband call the cops. That's the story of why I had to spent the night at the police station."

Derora and I were doubled over with laughter, and even David managed to let out a chuckle.

"I can just imagine her face!" I squealed as I thought about the old lady being pulled into the fountain.

"What would've happened if she died?" Derora asked. I couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. David shrugged, "I would probably still be in jail then." Derora just stared at him blankly and started laughing again. That's how we decided to sleep on the beach instead of the police station.

We all walked down the street still laughing at David's incident while darkness crept over the sky. I didn't know if it was my imagination but the moon looked slightly green. After a cold night lying against a dune, I knew that we were bound to stick together for the rest of our lives. Whether it was under a green moon in a foreign land, or between the trees in the forest back at home.