CHAPTER 1 — The Warning Nobody Understood
The beach was almost empty that afternoon.
Warm sunlight shimmered across the ocean while gentle waves rolled onto the shore, creating the perfect soundtrack for a peaceful summer getaway.
Five lifelong friends had finally reunited after years of busy lives.
Emily, Sarah, Linda, Rachel, and Monica spread colorful blankets across the sand. They unpacked homemade cookies, fresh fruit, sandwiches, and cold lemonade while laughing about embarrassing memories from college.
For the first time in months, none of them checked their phones.
Everything felt perfect.
Until the dog appeared.
No one saw where it came from.
A medium-sized mixed-breed with golden-brown fur sprinted across the beach straight toward them.
Its eyes were unusually focused.
Instead of begging for food like most stray dogs, it circled the women again and again, barking so loudly that nearby beachgoers turned to look.
"Oh, poor thing," Sarah smiled.
"It must be starving."
She tossed it a cookie.
The dog ignored it.
Linda threw it half a sandwich.
Still nothing.
Instead, the animal barked even louder.
It ran toward the shoreline.
Then back to the women.
Then toward the ocean again.
Again.
Again.
Its frantic movements made everyone uncomfortable.
"Maybe it's lost," Monica guessed.
Emily crouched down, trying to pet it.
The dog backed away immediately.
Not aggressively...
Almost desperately.
As if touching them was the last thing it wanted.
Then Rachel suddenly froze.
Her smile disappeared.
Her face turned completely white.
She stared at the dog's fur.
"No..."
she whispered.
The others looked at her.
"What?"
Rachel slowly pointed toward the animal's legs.
The once golden fur was soaked with something thick...
Dark.
Sticky.
Not mud.
Blood.
Fresh blood.
Silence swallowed the group.
"Girls..."
Rachel whispered, barely breathing.
"That isn't the dog's blood..."
Before anyone could respond...
The dog spun around...
Barked once more...
Then sprinted toward the rocky cliffs at the far end of the beach.
Halfway there...
It stopped.
Turned.
Looked directly at them.
And barked again.
As if begging them...
to follow.
None of the women moved.
Until they heard something...
May you like
A faint cry.
Coming from beyond the rocks.
