Sun Fever ~Echoes~

The sky is so blue that it hurts to look at it. So she closes her eyes instead. She sits on the dock, bare feet dangling down to shimmering sea. The girl seems out of place on the rotting wood. Dark hair tumbles around her shoulders in ringlets; she’s delicate, a princess. A pendant shines at her throat; she toys with it absentmindedly. The seagulls scream from somewhere far away.

The sea smells like salt, like memories. It’s strange how the scent is so strong. Normally, she doesn’t notice. The waves lap gently all around her. Do others know what water behaves like far away from the shore? She doubts it. How angry it can get, like a vengeful god! People have only experienced the surface of the sea. She, on the other hand...

“Miss?”

She turns her head, heart pounding with fear. But it’s not one of them. A boy stands there. He stares straight ahead, as if purposefully trying not to look at her. His cheeks are pink, and the sun is not even that strong. The strange things human bodies do. How mysterious! Her skin is always pale.

The girl looks at him without saying a word, sizing him up.

His flush deepens. “You might want to...well...”

“Come join me.” She pats the rough wood beside her. “It’s a beautiful day.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know what you’re playing at. You should leave.”

“This dock belongs to you?”

“No. But you can’t stay here, not in your condition.”

“What condition would that be?”

“You know perfectly well.”

“I do not.” She smiles, unable to help herself. “You shouldn’t be so shy.”

He suddenly seats himself beside her with an awkward grace. The girl is a little taken aback. She thought that he was just another of those wicked men, pretending to be gentle. His soft voice revealed sweetness after all.

“You have wonderful hair,” she says to break the silence. “Golden.”

His response is automatic. “Thank you.”

“The colour is rare where I come from.”

“No blonds?”

“I’m unfamiliar with the term. That’s your word for gold?”

“Not really. They’re similar, I suppose.”

“Oh.” She hasn’t taken her eyes off him. “You’re quite kind.”

“I’ve given you no reason to think that.”

“No one else has spoken to me,” she says. “The others threw rocks.”

He startles. “Did they hurt you?”

“I hid in the sea.” The girl’s gaze turns wary. “Will you do that?”

“Of course not!”

She smiles. “I told you. You’re not like them.”

He takes a breath and blurts out, “Could you tell me why you’re not dressed?”

“I have no use for clothes. Besides, the sun feels nicer on bare flesh.”

“No clothes at all?”

The girl shakes her head.

“You must get in trouble often.”

“Only when I come here.” She purses her lips. “My friends always warn me not to.”

“I’d take their advice. You’re putting yourself in danger.”

“I’m not scared.” The girl takes his hand impulsively. “Ouch!”

“You’re freezing!”

They both yank their hands away, ice and fire.

“That’s strange.” He appears unnerved. “It’s like you’ve been in a freezer.”

She laughs, a melodic noise. “I’m strange? You burnt me.”

“What’s your name?”

“Karelia.”

And with that, she gives him a kiss, and he’s too startled to do anything. She pulls back and touches her mouth thoughtfully. It was just as warm as she had expected. Humans have the power of the sun inside of them! His cheeks darken again as they look at each other. She wants to try once more but her pendant blinks warningly. He looks at it, rainbows reflected in his irises.

She can’t believe she hasn’t noticed: his eyes are a blue she could gaze into forever. But Karelia doesn’t have forever. She jumps into the sea, perfectly elegant, and vanishes beneath the waves.

He scrambles to his feet and glances down, but there isn’t even a ripple.

Already his mind is trying to convince him it was all a dream.

Maybe it was...

But a figure pops up from a distance and waves, before vanishing with a flick of a colourful tail. He stares and stares, unable to believe what he saw. Perhaps he had gotten too much sun. That had to be it.

The chill on his lips convinces him otherwise.