Walter had been sailing since he was 11 years old. He’d been caught in many sudden storms and rough waters, but those were nothing compared to this. The rest of the townsmen had headed back once the sky darkened and lightning started flashing.

Walter had a basket full of fish though. He couldn’t leave. He couldn’t go back when the fish were biting more than they had in months. The waves were rough, sure, but at that point, he’d been in worse. When he’d noticed other boats in the distance starting to head back for shore, he knew he’d be able to handle the sea and her weather, at least long enough to catch another couple fish.

Two more fish, he told himself as the wind howled around him. Two more fish, as lightning split the sky in half. Two more fish, he thought desperately as the waves grew larger. By the time he realized he’d made a mistake, the waves were almost too large to navigate. The winds were too harsh and sea water was being whipped up into his eyes.

I’ll see you tonight.

His words to Harriet echoed in his mind as he stared at the wave rushing towards him. There was nothing he could do. Nowhere he could go. Lightning flashed as the wave crashed over him, he gulped in a big breath of air and held it.

I’ll see you tonight.

The waves pulled him under again and again. They twisted him around. Spun him upside down and rightside up until he was so disoriented he couldn’t tell which way was up. His lungs burned. The salt water stung his eyes.

I’ll see you tonight.

Lightning flashed and Walter swam for the surface, chased the light as it faded away. He had to breathe. He had to. His lungs wouldn’t let him hold his breath much longer. Another flash of lightning and Walter sucked in a lungful of salt water.

The lightning had illuminated a figure above him. Long and lean with humanoid shaped legs. A tail beat between them.

The world darkened as he choked and coughed and drowned in the sea. His lungs burned, desperate for oxygen. Desperate to expel the poison slowly killing him.

I’ll see you tonight.

There was a glint of white, a vague idea of sharp teeth, and his world went dark.