In utter helplessness she stood there, fists to her mouth, frenzy welling up in her in cold, choking waves.

And that’s when she felt something bump against her leg.

At first, in the strange, slow motions that only fear can produce, she looked down in a kind of detachment, surprised that she wasn’t alone as she had thought, half expecting to see Justin’s body paddling furiously toward shore.

Only it wasn’t Justin’s body.

There was nothing there.

And again she felt the curious surprise, something almost like wonder, propelling her like a doll, making her look all around for whatever had made her stumble.

And then it made her stumble again.

And the water parted in a long, wide ripple, moving slowly, deliberately, away from her…

She watched it, hypnotized, the ocean splitting beneath the moon…and Neale’s voice, grim and prophetic, driving relentlessly through the fog of terror and into her brain. “…don’t need deep water…three feet will do…”

And as she gazed at the smooth, clean break in the water, she saw it swing back in a gentle arc…saw it coming straight for her…saw something rise, bladelike, beneath the moon…

Sheer terror flung her onto the beach once more—screams echoing over and over in her head, the sand crumbling beneath her feet, scraping her hands and face as she fell—ran—fell—ran—the whole beach a macabre funhouse where she raced for her life but never got anywhere. Lights swam by in a dizzying stream—Where is everybody? Can’t they hear? Don’t they care?—and she ran, crying Justin’s name that nobody heard—

She tripped over some driftwood and sprawled flat, blood gushing from her nose, and as she stumbled to her feet, arms grabbed her from behind, nearly sending her into hysterics.

“What is it? Kelsey! Stop it!”

She fought the hands that tried to steady her, swinging out at the wet body wrestling to hold her still.

“Let me go! Oh, God—”

“What the hell’s the matter with you?”

She saw Neale’s black eyes, his scowl; she tried to twist free, but his grip was too strong.

“Justin—” she babbled—“back there—”

“Where?” He shook her. “What about Justin?”

“He disappeared,” she sobbed. “I saw a shark—”

Even in the shadows Neale’s tan went white. He shoved her roughly in front of him.

“Show me where—”

“You’ve got to get help—”

“Show me—now!”

Together they raced back down the beach, Kelsey trying to keep up with Neale’s effortless sprint. She felt sick, undigested seawater and absolute terror churning up into her throat. Her muscles shrieked in exhaustion, but when she stumbled, Neale ran on and didn’t stop.

“Where?” he called back over his shoulder. “Where were you?”

“I don’t know!” Kelsey cried, pitching forward, struggling up again. He was getting farther ahead of her, and her legs were giving out. She could hear him calling Justin’s name over and over again.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” he yelled angrily.

“I don’t know!” Kelsey screamed back at him. “I know we were past the houses and the lights—I don’t know the beach, Neale—I don’t know!” She felt herself losing all mental control but she couldn’t help it. She ran up just in time to see him dash into the water.