Blue in Green

The early morning was the only time the beach would be clear of people. It was still dark, and no fool would be awake for so long to still populate the beach. He even arrived before any adventurous surfers or fishermen populated the coast.

Félix wasn't there for any recreational activity, at least not the usual sort. He brought a recording system with him, setting it up on the beach's sand and quietly sitting next to it. He wanted to capture the waves of the ocean, a sound bite for future musical production.

Félix himself woke up even earlier, to wash himself and dress as though it was any other day. Despite being at the beach, he didn't wear anything to accommodate the sand or water. He didn't expect to have to go anywhere near the water, his microphone would be sensitive enough.

At least, not until he noticed something bundled next to the tide.

Félix did not at all expect anyone to be on the beach, it didn't even cross his mind to check. He did see the suffering woman in the distance, but to his unsearching eyes an in the darkness it was a bundle of seawee to him. Maybe a lost coat washed up ashore.

He stood still for long enough that his eyes did focus in on it. It was only then he realized it moved. Not just with the tide, but on its own. Every time the water splashed against it, it would move like in a shiver. As much as he did not want to disturb his recording, Félix thought it was worth investigating. He turned the microphone off and stepped towards the shore.

Félix hurried his pace the moment he realized it wasn't just some seaweed. He jogged towards the woman and knelt down next to her. “Hello?” Félix asked, then again louder. “Can you hear me?”

He saw a trail of blood from her side. A good chunk of it was missing, like from a shark attack. He had seen pictures of them, but never experienced it in person like this. A wave of panic struck him, and Félix fought as hard as he could to remain under control.

He learned first aid, right? Check the immediate area for danger, call emergency.

The tide was still splashing over her and Félix, but he was afraid to move her. But she might drown... He had to try. Félix concentrated well enough to summon some of his tendrils. He focused with all his energy to delicately wrap them around Nerina's body. He dragged her away from the water only as far enough as he had to. Not an inch more.

One tendril unwrapped and vanished into the shadows. The other covered Nerina and her wound, applying pressure to keep off the bleeding. With his free hands, Félix fumbled for his phone and called emergencies. He yelled into the phone to talk over the waves, and to help wake the girl from unconsciousness.

Félix answered every question as best he could. There was a lot of suspicion around it, given he resided next to a nude girl on the beach. The wound wasn't so large that maybe a man could have caused it, either. However, he was let go due to lack of evidence and, as far as Félix was concerned, allowed to go back to his life.

He returned to the sea the next morning. His recording was ruined, and not just from the incident. Some insects were caught on the recording, and it was impossible to remove their buzz. Félix went back to the beach to try it again, this time picking a different spot.

That girl was out of his sight and mind. He only thought of her again when he sat in the sandy beach, looking out to the sea while he recorded the waves. He never even asked for her name, or checked on her despite saving her life. Félix figured it wasn't any of his business why she was out in the water at such a dark time, when there were sharks about and near impossible to see.

The voice shook Félix from a trance. He nearly yelled in frustration, but gentlemanly restraint allowed him to turn the recording off and face the offender with a patient smile. Once he recognized the girl, his expression changed to surprise and gratitude.

“You're doing well! It's no bother to help,” Félix chuckled slightly. She was gorgeous. He nearly missed her presenting that bag to him, more impressed with the sweetness of her voice than the brilliance of those pearls and nugget.

When he did look down, he realized her present's own value. Each of those things were worth a fair bit, not that Félix ever needed the money. They were, however, worthy of family heirlooms or jewelry. He wondered, worriedly, whether this girl raided her safety deposit box for them.

“They are beautiful, but I mustn't accept. These are too valuable,” Félix offered the bag back to the woman.

“Oh, but...” Félix had the pearls shoved into his hand. He wasn't sure he had much use for them either though, but to think she could gather them whenever she wanted seemed spectacular. However, Félix didn't think Konishi would want to wear something like that. Neither would his mother, nor Félix.

Still, upon her insistence, Félix graciously accepted her gifts. “Thank you,” he placed each one back in the small bag before taking it from her. He looked to his recorder for a moment. He didn't have time to stop it before she interrupted it. Oh well, there were other days. If she was up, fishermen and surfers would be out here soon enough.

“You go to Starlight Academy here, right?” Félix struck up the basic small talk. “My name's Félix. I study music here.”