In the Current

In the Current (199 Words)

“Keep your eyes open,” said Dr. Fitz. “You’ll see it.”

Grace Emry had been staring at the surf for almost an hour. The tide was rising and some of the waves were a good twenty-feet high, but there was nothing unexpected. She had no idea why Dr. Fitz’s research team had asked her to be there.

“Dr. Fitz, I really don’t—”

The words died in her mouth. She saw it at last.

It suddenly made sense why the beach was closed. There had been a lot of protests from the locals about there never having been any trouble with strong currents before, but now she understood.

“How do you explain this, Ms. Emry?” asked Dr. Fitz. “You’re the cryptozoologist. What is it?”

She could sense the fear in the other team members. It was infectious. Seeing that long, ridged body that was just visible in the high water, a long, reptile shape sliding sinuously through the deep water, she could feel her own knees shaking. It must have been forty feet long. Maybe sixty. All she knew was that it was big, and the first monster she had ever seen.

“I don’t know,” she said. “The Loch Ness monster?”

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Written in response to Flash Fiction for the Purposeful Practitioner’s Photo Prompt. Check it out!