Cyrus LongBones and the Curse of the Sea Zombie
Chapter 16

FOGGY SEAS

“NEVER MIND THAT,” Cyrus said, “Let’s just get out of here.”

He paddled hard and fast away from the island, repeatedly peering over his shoulders. His back ached with worry and dread. He kept imagining the thing from Jim’s journal springing aboard their boat.

“Which way should we head?” he asked, once he felt they were far enough from shore.

“I say south,” Edward replied.

The two set a southerly course into the dwindling afternoon. In the distance, the sky flickered with lightning and rain.

“I think it’s going to pass us by,” Edward said.

As they voyaged into uncharted waters, Cyrus felt more and more helpless. Where were they going to replace food and water? What if they could not replace land? Day became night, and the sea grew calm.

Cyrus slowly began to process the events leading up to his escape. Niels, Cyrus’ brother and only true family, was gone, and it was all because Cyrus had not been strong enough to save him. Cyrus’ lone crime had been wanting to flee his stepmother and live in peace. He had told Niels about the journal and together they had tried to warn the mayor. But Hoblkalf would not listen. Instead, he used threats and lies in an attempt to further his own selfish schemes. When the mayor’s plan failed and caused the cave-in, he had shifted blame to Cyrus. The villagers cheered for Cyrus’ death, never much liking him in the first place. But Sarah did not blame him. She had saved his life. She even seemed to care for him. Still, Cyrus had been forced to escape the hangman’s noose. That is what he got for trying to help others. He would never make that mistake ever again.

The moon slipped behind a curtain of cloud. Cyrus’ eyes grew heavy with exhaustion. He shifted to the floor of the boat and huddled under the wool blanket. Edward curled like a tiny mouse within the warm collar of Cyrus’ fleece jacket. Cyrus drifted between the sleeping world and the real. Stifled tears grew frigid on his thick eyelashes. When finally, he slumbered, he dreamed of drowning turtles and foggy seas.

THE BLUE-EYED CREATURE that clung to the hull of their craft dreamed of far more sinister things.