TYBEE ISLAND By Paul Cales Continued from the August 2017 Beachcomber. Catch up @ http://tybeebeachcomber.com/magazine today,” says Tony. “Let’s go out front and see if they’re having some sort of ‘to do’ in the parking lot.” They make their way into the parking lot. They see who they think is Angela, Nate and Tony’s next door neighbor. “Hey Angela!” Nate shouts. She turns toward him and he can see her face. Her eyes are yellow and red. She’s got blood coming out of her nose, ears and eyes. Her mouth is bloody like she’s been eating raw meat. She begins to sprint towards the group. “What the f*&$!!!” She attacks Nate. He pushes her to the ground and she springs up, screeching a loud, ear piercing roar. In an instant five more of these things are heading in their direction. “Let’s get the hell out of here!” “Watch out Nate!” Tony yells. Angela lunges at Nate again. He steps aside and she falls to the ground. He kicks her with everything he’s got. “Move now… back to the boat!” They quickly run through AJ’s and on to the dock. Everyone jumps in the boat and Tony starts the engine immediately. He pushes the throttle forward and nothing happens. “The damned bow line people!” Six creatures, including Angela, burst through the back door of AJ’s at full sprint. Becky grabs the bow line and pulls. The rope slips from its knot and as the boat pulls away from the dock, all six creatures plunge into the water just behind the back of the boat. “What the hell was that?” asks Becky. “You and I both know what know what this looks like,” Nate says as he looks back at Tony. “Ride around to Alley 3. Maybe there will be someone there.” They ride around to Alley 3 and all they see is carnage. The ambulance is still sitting there with the back doors open with blood everywhere. No one says a word, they just stare in disbelief. “Can you make it around front to the pier area, Tony?” “Sure thing. And guys, we should be quiet. When Angela screamed a bunch more of those things instantly showed up. I think they’re attracted to noise,” says Tony as he cruises the boat around front of Tybee by the popular beach and pier. What they see is something from a George A. Romero film. Those things were everywhere. They make their way back to their camp on Little Tybee and meet up with Carrie, Jesus Jay, and Crabber Brian. They explain what they saw in all its gory detail. “Bullshit! I saw her get into that ambulance!” shouts Crabber Brian. “If you don’t believe us go see for yourself,” Nate says in disgust. “No. You guys can’t go. Those things will get you,” Becky says. “You guys are full of it. Making jokes after what happened last night. Come on!” Jay, Carrie, and Brian head off towards Tybee in their boat. “I hope they make it back,” says Becky. “Well, knowing them, they’ll make it back,” says Tony. The three of them watch the boat fade into a small dot from the beach on Little Tybee. To be continued… TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | SEPT 2017 33 Chapter 3 Sometimes Things Bite - Part 2 Little Tybee, Day 2 The sun has just peeked over the horizon and Becky can’t sleep anymore. She’s worried about Marissa. She walks over to Tony’s tent and starts kicking it. “Wake up!” she shouts. “What do you want? The sun isn’t even in the sky yet and I have one hell of a hangover.” “My phone is dead. See if you can text Marissa and see how she’s doing. I can’t stand not knowing if she’s alright.” “It was only a small bite from a baby shark. She’s fine, I’m sure.” “Brian said she went into convulsions.” “Oh yeah. Last night is kind of a blur. I’ll text her.” “Your turn to make coffee?” “No. It’s Nate’s turn. Go wake him up. If I have to be up this early he does too.” Becky walks over and wakes Nate up in about the same way she woke Tony up. When she is sure he is awake and making coffee, she walks back over to Tony and asks if he’s heard anything back from Marissa. “Not yet. I tried calling her phone but it just went to voicemail. It’s probably dead.” “Well, call the hospital and check on her. Better yet, call Breezy Riders Taxi. Those guys know everything that’s going on.” “I’m sure Ron and the crew aren’t up yet. “Nate, give them a call, will you? Shit, we’re going to need some ice today. We should head over at noon when the tide is up and grab a couple more bags, unless you want warm beer all day.” “No answer on the Breezy phone or the hospital,” says Nate. The three of them clean up their campsite and lounge around while waiting for the tide to rise enough to head back to Tybee. A few hours later the tide is up and the boat is floating again. “Let’s just go to AJ’s and grab some ice and lunch. I’m dying for some crab stew. It’s a small island. We should be able to find out about Marissa from someone there too. This is the first shark bite in decades on Tybee.” “Yeah. We’ve never had that kind of trouble in these waters,” says Tony as they all load into the boat and head over to Tybee. They dock at AJ’s and walk up the ramp to the Back River seating area. “Where the hell is everyone?” “I have no idea. It’s noon and there’s no dock girl around,” answers Nate. “Alright, let’s go into the restaurant and see what’s up,” says Tony. They go inside. The restaurant is deserted. Not a soul in sight. The silence is deafening. “Where the f&%$ is everyone?” asks Becky. “I have no clue, but this is freaky. I guess I’m not getting any crab stew
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