Slight recap from where we left off

…I watched him as he picked back up the oar but as he made the first stroke a black figure snatched him up just feet away. I jumped to grab him, his dog barking, him screaming. My sides hurt making me collapse on the seat he was just sitting in. I looked above me panicked as the dog continued barking. The sound echoing in my head, driving me insane. I watched as two of the birds tossed him back and fourth. Then like a rubber band which too much tension, he snapped. The water around me turning red, the front of the boat coated, my arm reaching out was covered. In the red rain coming from above. It broke me. I couldn’t look, I could hear the sounds of ripping, chewing, crunching. My head hurt. My boy. They took my boy. I couldn’t move, I looked down and shut my eyes. I heard a splash, I didn’t look. I heard another. The barking stopped. I opened my eyes. There was scratching as I looked behind me..

…the dog scrambled back onto the boat with something in its mouth. I wanted the throw up. He sat there, tail wagging, ears up, mouth bloodied as he held my son’s arm in his mouth. I felt sick. He put it down and nudged it towards me. I couldn’t throw it, he’d bring it back. I couldn’t leave it there, I couldn’t look at it, I didn’t have a choice. It had to stay. I couldn’t look at him.

This is it. This is the end. The only thing keeping me going was my son. He’s been ripped away from my life. I used the strength I had to stand up on the boat. I put my arms out by my side and looked up at the birds.

“Come and get me!”

They flew in a clump, I assume fighting over Milo. My head hurt as I screamed at them, eyes watering.

“I SAID COME GET ME YOU COWARDS!!”

They didn’t even bat an eye. I clenched my fists and collapsed back into the boat. I punched the side of it but quickly brought my hand back as it stung. I took a deep breath and my eyes landed on the anchor. I leaned forward and tried to pull it over to me but it got caught on the arm, taking it with it. I didn’t care at this point. I took the rope and since it was a smaller rope, it didn’t take much to tangle myself in it. I used all the strength I had left to pick up the anchor and drop it into the water. I watched it slowly go down, I took a deep breath before I too was pulled down with it.

“Daddy!”

I looked behind me in the water.

“Hey my little monster!”

A little kid’s scream rang out through the water and I watched as my little Milo ran away laughing.

“Daddy catch!”

I swung my head to my right, the water pushing past my face.

“Look daddy! It’s us.”

To my left stood little Milo holding up a drawing of us.

“Wow bud that’s really good.”

“Thank you!”

He giggled and ran off.

“Milo! Come out.”

“What is it dad?”

“I got you something.”

He hummed but froze and fell to the floor.

“No you didn’t.”

“Happy birthday son.”

Tears ran down his face as a little puppy bounded into his arms.

I smiled, I could feel a tear fall from my eye despite being under water. I went to breathe but instead water flushed down my throat. I needed to cough but every time I inhaled water would fill my lungs. My eyes stung as I watched a little boy run up to me.

“Daddy?”

Darkness..

“Dad?”

I opened my eyes.

It was too bright to see, I sat up and I could feel water dripping off my back which got cold as the air hit it. My eyes adjusted to the light and I could see a pair of feet in front of me standing in about an inch of water. I look up and saw Milo standing there in shock but also relief.

I didn’t say anything, I stood up as fast as I could trying not to slip as I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around him. He returned the favour and and gripped onto the back of my wet shirt, his face squished into my shoulder.

“My son..”