The Glass Abyss

((Wow... it has been a long time...

I've recently started writing again as a way to blow off steam, and of course, memories of this little corner of the internet came rushing back. Fun memories!

Therefore, I've decided to drop a few short stories here - my way of remembering the past, and honouring those fantastic memories I have.

A lot of these stories are also going to be on YouTube, on my own little channel entitled Legends of Thalassos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1oc6KRQYsJP7UgqgHIetqA

Maybe people will see these, maybe not. It's inconsequential. Just my way of remembering, and saying thank you!

Now, to business...))

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The Glass Abyss

Jack had always found solace in the open sea. There was something about the vast expanse of water that calmed his restless soul. This particular morning was no different as he paddled his kayak about a mile out to sea, the gentle strokes barely disturbing the surface as they carried him further away from the shore.

Jack loved this time of morning. The sun was just beginning to rise, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. The ocean surface was like glass, reflecting the colors of the sky in a perfect mirror image. Looking straight down penetrated that reflection, revealing crystal clear blue waters all the way down to a series of weed banks.

Jack couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of it all as he slowed and allowed himself to drift, stowing his paddle and retrieving his rod from its holder. He inhaled the salty air deep into his lungs as he fished around in his tackle box for his favourite white jig. I wasn’t long before he cast his line into the water, hoping to catch some squid for dinner.

He let the jig sink almost to the weeds – an easy task given the near-total visibility. Jack retrieved with the short, sharp flicks every squid fisherman knows so well. It didn’t take long with these clear waters. He felt a tug on his line, followed by the familiar rhythmic pulsing that could only mean a squid. Judging by the bend in the rod, it was a big one, too. Jack smiled to himself, and began to reel it in. His mouth watered, already anticipating the calamari feast to come.

As the squid emerged from the depths below, Jack redoubled his efforts. Then, his smile vanished as the reel suddenly stopped, refusing to budge any further. Confused, but not wanting to snap the line, Jack leaned over the side of the kayak to see what was causing the obstruction.

Below the glassy surface, he could see the squid struggling in the open water, but his line seemed to be stuck on something invisible., the rod tip still bent as if supporting the squid weight. However, the tip no longer pulsed. Jack furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the situation. That's when he realized that the kayak was no longer rocking gently in the ocean. It was completely still, as if frozen in time.

A sense of unease crept over Jack as he observed the water's surface. It was not moving at all, not a ripple in sight. It was solid, like a sheet of glass covering the ocean. He could see the movement below in the weed-banks, as the sea life still teemed and moved around. However, the surface was completely still. No waves or movement at all, even when a small breeze kicked up. An eerie chill ran down Jack’s spine as he contemplated his next move.

He reached out gently, allowing his fingertips to brush against the water’s surface. To his surprise, it was solid. Like glass. He pressed slightly, finding the surface hard and unyielding. He made a decision. Against his better judgment, Jack decided to step off the kayak and onto the glassy surface. He slowly, tentatively swung a leg over the side of the kayak, placing a bare foot on the cool, clear surface. The other foot followed. Jack hesitated, contemplating whether his next move was worth it. Then, holding his breath, he stood.

To his surprise, he found that he could stand on the surface as if it were solid ground. Peering down, he could see the clear ocean beneath him, teeming with life. Excitement bubbled up within him, and he took a few more steps forward, away from the kayak. He became more confident with each step, and soon he was running across the smooth, glassy surface, laughing at the sheer beauty – the sheer absurdity of it all. No one will believe this, Jack thought idly, so he reached for his phone to take photos to show his friends and his girlfriend, Bex. They’ll freak when they see this! He thought with glee.

As he marveled at the underwater world beneath his feet, a sudden commotion back at the kayak caught his attention. There was a sharp tug on his rod as the squid on his line was snatched and yanked downward. The rod tip sprang upright, and was still. A knot began to creep into Jack’s stomach. A dark, torpedo-shaped mass moved silently forward, just beneath the solid surface. Jack took an involuntary step backwards, seeming to know instinctively what was coming. The mass materialised into the unmistakeable form of a Great White Shark, its massive form gliding effortlessly through the water. The shark swam by him in an arc, its cold, black eyes fixed on Jack. His heart was in his mouth – the shark was easily fifteen feet long – the undisputed king of these waters. It looped an easy right turn, and moved towards him with little effort. Jack backed slowly away, hoping that whatever this strange glassy phenomenon was, it was strong enough to stay between him and the shark.

The giant fish slowed as it came near. In a bizarre display, the shark attempted to press its nose against the surface, as if trying to get a closer look at the intruder in its domain. Jack couldn't help but laugh nervously at the shark's antics, realising that the shark could not get through. Confidence slowly returning, he raised his phone, feeling a new sense of superiority over the creature. After several attempts – and several photos – of the shark trying to push against the solid surface, it gave up, and vanished from sight with the flick of its caudal fin.

Jack would be lying if he said he didn’t feel relief without the shark staring at him, and he sat down on the glass, looking around at the strange happenings. His mind began to whirl, trying to piece together just what was actually happening to the oceans. Pollution? Industry? Tourism? He chuckled at that last one, imagining himself as the first patron of the world’s biggest aquarium.

However, his amusement was short-lived as a series of sharp thumps echoed from behind him. Jack whirled about, his mind conjuring scenes of a hundred shark movies. However, what he saw was not a shark, but just as disconcerting. A small pod of dolphins were ramming themselves against the surface, their desperate attempts to breach the glass sending shivers down his spine with each sickening thud. He saw their surprisingly expressive eyes bulging as they chattered soundlessly, hitting the surface again and again.

They can’t breathe. The horrible realization dawned on Jack as he watched the dolphins grow more frantic, their movements becoming erratic as they struggled for oxygen. He felt a strange pang of guilt wash over him – the fact he was up here, while they were stuck down there. The dolphins gave up smashing their sleek bodies against the glass, and with that peculiar intelligence they often exhibit, shot away to sea, swimming in widening zigzags as they sought desperately for a break in their glassy tomb. Soon, they were out of sight.

That was it, Jack decided, his sense of wonder and fun long gone. It was time to go. He turned back towards his stranded kayak, a sense of urgency creeping into his movements. But just as he began to make his way back, a low, haunting moan filled the air. Jack's blood ran cold as he looked down, only to see a massive shape hurtling towards him.

Before he could react, the colossal black form collided with the glass at his feet, shattering it into a million glittering shards. Jack was thrown into the air, his body tumbling through the chaos. He was able to glimpse a massive, rounded head as the whale breached the surface, snorting a huge lungful of air before crashing back down into the depths, leaving behind a cloud of bubbles and blood. It was gone in an instant.

As Jack plummeted through the hole caused by the whale, he felt fragments of glass slicing through his skin, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. The water enveloped him, dragging him down into its azure depths. Panic seized him as he struggled to swim, his lungs burning for air. Fortunately, he saw the rising sun, and powered towards it. However, his head collided with a thump against the glass surface, sending an involuntary puff of air from his already depleted reserves.

Frantically searching for the hole in the shattered glass, Jack's hands fumbled in the darkness. His vision blurred as blood clouded around him, his arms and legs lacerated from the sharp edges of the broken surface. And then, something moved in the pink haze, a shadowy figure emerging from the depths.

Through the veil of pain and fear, Jack's eyes widened in horror as he saw the unmistakable form of the Great White shark, its sleek body gliding towards him with deadly intent. In that moment of terror, Jack came to realise the truth behind this glass abyss, that behind its beauty lurked all the dangers of the sea.

As the shark closed in, its jaws gaping wide, Jack's world narrowed to a singular instinct – survival. With a final burst of strength, he pushed himself towards the elusive opening in the shattered glass, the specter of the shark lurking behind him. In a frenzy of thrashing limbs and pounding heartbeats, Jack fought against the suffocating darkness, clinging to the flickering hope of escape from the glassy reflection of his worst nightmare.