Moonlight bay, p.1
Moonlight Bay, page 1
MOONLIGHT BAY
J. GREENLAW
This is a fictional work. Any names, characters, places and incidents in this book are purely fictional and based on the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. Any actual character, name, place and incident in reality are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Copyright 2014 by J. Greenlaw
Cover art and design by Giovanni Auriemma
All rights reserved
Published in the United States by Willows Edge Publishing.
www.willowsedgepublishing.com
J. Greenlaw
Moonlight Bay
ISBN-978-0-9914971-2-6
Printed in the United States
First Paperback Edition
My sincere thanks to the following for their hard work, and for giving time to review the manuscript. Thank you to all of the editors, family and friends who have offered recommendations through the development of “Moonlight Bay”. I would especially like to thank my best friend and beloved wife for her patience and her guidance in improving the story of “Moonlight Bay”.
Dedicated to my father.
CHAPTER 1
The moonlight rode the ocean waves as the rowboat rocked by the edge of the pier. Michael regained his balance, leaning left then shifting to the right with a wide stance. He grabbed the wooden pylon that anchored the dock in place. The boat settled in the restless water when Michael reached for Rachael’s hand while she waited patiently on the dock.
“Come on, it’s safe now,” he said, helping her in.
She stepped cautiously but she stumbled, reaching towards the wooden bench in the bow of the boat.
“Be careful, I don’t want to have to go jumping in to save you. I mean, it would ruin my new pair of sneakers,” he said with a smirk that earned him a piercing glance from Rachael in return.
“Thanks Michael, at least I know where I rank with you.”
“Oh Rachael, I was only joking,” he said, unwrapping the line that was tied around the wooden pylon.
He sat on the bench across from her and pushed off from the dock. The oars hit the water, as he paddled the boat into the bay.
“I know you’re joking, but I thought you were supposed to be romancing me, remember?” Rachael leaned back giving Michael her best seductive look.
The moonlight beamed on her skin. The subtle glow in the dark night caught her blond curls resting upon her shoulders. He thought she was beautiful, too beautiful to be interested in him. At least that’s what his friends from college said.
Michael was a tall lanky junior, not much muscle but what he had was solid. He had been blessed with ice blue eyes and olive skin that was passed down through his Italian heritage. He thought he had what it takes to get a girl like Rachael. He watched her in the moonlight. She was perfect. Her hair, smooth skin and curves made men of all ages, lust for her. She was a Pygmalion masterpiece and she was his.
“This is beautiful. Where are we going anyway?” Rachael began to look over her surroundings.
“You see the island over there. There’s a private beach just past the eastern bend that not too many mainlanders know of,” Michael said, pointing to the eastern side of the island.
He pulled the oars in and rested them as he leaned forward to get a kiss from Rachael. She accepted the invitation as her lips met his. Michael nibbled gently on her bottom lip as he placed a hand on her thigh.
“Nice try.” Rachael brushed his hand off, pulling her skirt over her thigh. “You keep rowing, no need to start getting excited now and tipping the boat over. When we get to the beach, then maybe you might get lucky. Might, if you’re a good boy.”
Michael smiled and paddled the bay waters with force.
“Michael what’s that long bridge to the left, over there?”
“That’s a causeway. It’s about a half mile long and the only way to get on the island. Well, that or by boat.”
“Isn’t that a little inconvenient for the residents?”
“This is supposed to be a very exclusive community, for the rich and wealthy. They have everything you could possibly want already on the island. No mainlanders are allowed to take a step on the soil. It’s private and some say forbidden.”
“Excuse me, forbidden? You’re taking me to a private beach that is forbidden, how romantic,” Rachael said sarcastically. “Why is it forbidden?”
Michael continued rowing to the eastern point where the sands of the beach came into view.
“It’s an old wives’ tale. They say that any unwanted mainlanders who step on the island are never heard from again.”
“And this is where you’re taking me?”
“Don’t worry; it’s just an urban legend. The rich just don’t want to be bothered. They don’t want any residents from Pendleton Cove, the fishing village at the other end of the bridge, having parties on their property. Relax, I’ll protect you.”
“Are the islanders that big of snobs?”
“I guess they don’t want the plebs from a blue collar fishing village messing up their prim and proper streets. I can only tell you what I’ve heard. I lived in the next town of Hoverton all my life. We’ve never had a problem with them or their fish.”
“Yet, you have no issue visiting the island’s prim and proper beach.”
She looked at him as she once again absorbed the moon’s beams as if they were the sun’s rays on a hot summer day.
The boat continued towards the island, floating past a couple of orange buoys. The waves could be heard breaking onto the beach off into the distance.
“What are the buoys for? Is this the swimming line?” she asked.
“No. This is a barrier warning boaters that they are not allowed any closer to the island. It’s forbidden to cross these buoys by boat.”
Michael continued rowing where the buoys were now behind them, disappearing into the night.
“There’s that word again,” Rachael said looking around, concerned that they may alert the islanders of their arrival.
“Rachael, they must have had a problem with the mainlanders from the village in the past. If it were daytime, at the other end of the causeway you would see the wharf on Pendleton Cove. You would also notice that there are no docks on the island. Again, boats are not permitted,” Michael replied, carefully not to use the word, ‘forbidden’.
The rowboat glided faster as the tide pulled the wooden vessel closer to the sandy beach’s shoreline. The boat rocked up and down as if they were riding a kiddy roller coaster. The sandy area covered the shoreline for a hundred and fifty yards. To the left was an area overgrown with long sea grass, tall reeds and cattails waving back in forth like a chorus in the night breeze. Behind the sandy area was a dark and dense forest. It was as if someone had drawn a line in the beach. This is where the sand must end and the woods were to begin.
Michael rolled up his pant legs, removed his sneakers and jumped into the ocean that rose just under knee depth. Rachael moved to the bench at the stern, where Michael had just leaped into the water. He grabbed the line from the front, looped it over his shoulder and walked. Slowly, Rachael was pulled onto the beach in the little dinghy. Michael rested the line on the bow and helped her on to the shore.
“Take a look around. I want to hide the boat so it doesn’t draw any attention to us.” He began to drag the boat into the cover of the tall reeds and long sea grass at the western edge of the beach.
Rachael kicked her sandals off, rolling the cool soft sand through her toes. The beach was beautiful and the sand was as smooth as Michael had promised. However, she couldn’t erase the word ‘forbidden’ from her brain. It made her a bit restless. Every little noise that echoed in the night created anxiety. A snap of a branch breaking in the woods made her jump. She stood there squinting at the blackened forest, waiting for something to reveal itself. Again, a crackle of branches breaking came from the woods. She stood still, listening for every movement. Her eyes pierced into the darkness, trying to use some imaginary x-ray vision to force the cause of the movement to reveal itself. After a moment, the darkness formed a shape that moved through the night. She wondered if it was just her imagination creating shapes from staring at the darkness for too long.
“Michael. Michael, are you there? Where are you?” Rachael called in her loudest possible whisper as she looked over to the tall grassy area. Michael was nowhere in sight.
“Michael. Michael, are you okay? Please, this is not funny,” she called out again in less of a whisper and more in her natural tone.
Her bottom lip began to quiver as a chill came over her. She felt the tears form in her eyes. She slowly backed away from the woods and towards the ocean, beginning to walk faster in the direction of the grassy area.
“Michael. Michael where are you?” she yelled.
Rachael froze and could feel her legs lock when a disturbance in the tall sea grass began to rustle violently. The tears in her eyes now led a light stream down her cheek. The grass shook again when Michael appeared, holding a basket.
“Rachael, we need to be quiet. What are you trying to do? Wake the dead?”
“You’re an asshole. I’ve been calling for you, and you didn’t answer. This isn’t funny. All your forbidden this and forbidden that bullshit. I’m scared,” she yelled in a whispering tone again.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left you alone. It’s all right.” Michael grabbed her and hugged her tight.
Even though she was still angry, she welcomed his embrace. She now felt safer.
“I had to pul l that damn boat over a small embankment in order to hide it in the reeds. Sorry I took so long, but I did get this.”
He held a picnic basket up high to show Rachael.
“I’ve got a blanket, some wine and a little food. It’s my idea of a nice romantic night picnic.” He tried to lead her towards the beach but he felt Rachael resist, not leaving the reeds.
He looked back at her standing and just staring at the woods on the rear edge of the beach line.
“Rachael, what’s wrong? What is it?” Michael walked to her side and stared into the wooded edge.
“There’s someone in there, watching us. I heard them walking around in there when I was on the beach.”
They continued to stare into the wooded blackness of the forest.
“It was probably an animal. I mean it is a forest Rachael. Come on, you’re freaking yourself out,” he said grabbing her hand to move towards the beach.
“No, I thought I saw someone walking in there,” she said pulling her hand back.
Again, they stared at the blackness when a little brown rabbit emerged from the dark wooded brush.
Michael smiled and hugged her from behind. “You were right, you’re not going crazy. You did see something. It’s Peter Cottontail.”
Rachael smiled and giggled, as she now felt a little silly.
“Here, I brought you a little surprise. Hopefully this will cheer you up.”
Michael reached into the picnic basket, lifting a small box that he rested between his palms and displaying to Rachael. Her eyes widened at the sight of a gift, temporarily distracting her from any imaginary movement in the forest.
“What is it?” She was delighted.
“Open it.” He gestured the box to her.
Rachael lifted the lid, exposing a gold necklace with her name engraved in a small plate attached between the golden links.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
Michael lifted the chain from the container and clasped it around her neck.
“I love it,” Rachael added, letting her fingers feel the etching in the engraving.
“I’m sorry Michael. I’m acting like a big baby.” She turned to him and kissed him deeply on the lips.
Her tongue gently entered his mouth to tease him before she withdrew her lips and gave him an inviting smile.
Michael smiled and lost himself in her beauty as he felt his insides ignite, anxious for the inevitable moment that was going to happen.
“Listen, why don’t we have our little picnic here on the beach by the grassy edge? We are away from the woods and we won’t be in the open at the middle of the beach. We can have a nice secluded picnic right here and enjoy the sand.”
Rachael moved closer to him.
“I think that sounds like a great idea,” she whispered, kissing him gently.
Her hands moved behind and down his ass, grinding him against her.
She could feel the solid mass form in his jeans as he pressed against her.
“Well, how about putting the blanket down?” She smiled, knowing she had him in her power.
Michael quickly rested the picnic basket on the grassy ledge. He grabbed the red-checkered blanket and laid it out on the sand. Rachael knelt down and rested back on the knitted cover. She looked up at him as she unbuttoned her blouse.
Michael knelt in between her legs when he saw her invitation. He leaned over and stretched out beside her, as he looked into her eyes and kissed her deeply.
She closed her eyes as her head tilted back. Her hand gently stroked the back of his hair while her tongue gently teased his. Rachael felt Michael’s excitement as his hand slipped slowly onto her thigh and up her skirt until his fingers found the panty strap on her hip. Then an unusual sound rustled from the grass brush at their feet.
The low growl resonated through the reeds. Michael was deafened by his own arousal. Rachael continued kissing him with her eyes wide open, as she rested on her back. Her passion diminished, watching over his shoulder as the tips of the tall grass and reeds separated by the disturbance that was approaching.
A growl roared in the grass. The reeds parted and Michael’s embrace broke as he was dragged down over Rachael’s body. Rachael quickly sat up; watching his pleading face as he disappeared behind the brush. The night air was still and the woods became silent. Not a cricket was heard. A light gust of warm air passed through her hair, swaying the reeds in front of her.
“Michael, are you there?” she called out.
The beat of her heart rolled in her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to stop her bottom lip from quivering. Rachael’s hands grasped the slack of the blanket in her fists.
“Rachael,” a gargled voice whispered from the tall grass as if the wind was inviting her into the brush.
“Michael, please this is not funny,” she said, pleading with the towering reeds in front of her.
Rachael jumped back on the blanket. She witnessed the tips of the tall grass rattle violently against each other. The reeds continued to shake when a growl and gurgling sound echoed in the wind. A splatter of blood sprayed up to the tips of the swaying reeds.
Panic consumed her, and a scream escaped her lips at the ghastly sight. The tips of the reeds stopped rattling at the sound of her cry and slowly parted to make passage for the unknown.
Rachael could hear herself breathing quickly as she whispered to herself.
“No, this is not happening.”
She kicked the sand by the grassy edge in front of her and moved backwards in the direction of the beach. Rachael quickly rose, turned and began sprinting across the sand. She heard her pursuer racing across the beach and gaining.
Tears rolled down her face. She pushed her legs forward. It was not enough. The angry breathing sounded louder behind her. An unknown force drove her to the sandy earth when the low snarl reverberated over her.
Rachael, not able to resist any longer, turned to peer at her assailant. Hers eyes widened and she screamed in disbelief as she clawed at the sandy beach. She felt hands grip her ankles and tow her backwards towards the grassy reeds. Her fingers clawed lines in the sand that followed her. Rachael looked for anything to hold onto as two of her nails broke back. A few drops of blood fell from her fingertips as she was pulled to the edge of the brush.
The moonlight followed her as she looked towards the night sky with tears flowing from her eyes. The moon glowed upon her skin. The moon was no longer beautiful, as it disappeared from sight behind the tall grassy reeds.
CHAPTER 2
As the sunlight rose over the hills of the island, Ryan lit his cigarette and adjusted the backpack to his other shoulder. On the heavily wooded isle appeared to be a rocky cliff and a sandy area on its coastline that Ryan presumed might be a beach. The island was far off in the distance with a few large hills rolling above the forests. He squinted towards the bay with a hand shading the sun. Ryan could see some sort of barn and a windmill on one of the knolls. There was some type of livestock roaming the land.
He took the ramp off Route 188. There was a cool breeze as he walked the road towards the village beneath. He could see the wharf and fishing vessels lined up as seagulls circled the boats and waited patiently for their chance for morning chum.
Ryan inhaled another hit of nicotine as his eyes roamed from the pier to the center of the village. The church and other small municipal buildings were comprised primarily of stone and brick. The houses were set close on the street with only color varying their appearance. He had the feeling as if he had crossed through some door in time, only to exit and find this old colonial village from the 1800’s. Although, it seemed it had been eighteen hours of hitching and walking since he last closed his eyes, there was only one other town for the next thirty miles and he didn’t have the energy to walk another step to get there.
No, this would have to do.
He was looking for some sort of a new start or direction.
Who knows maybe this is the place. Get a job and figure things out. Nevertheless, right now a meal and a warm bed would suffice.
His boot crushed the burning end of the cigarette as he continued his downward stride. He squinted when a blinding glare appeared from the bay. A silent explosion of white light burst between the isle and the village.
