The priest whispered to the Ocean King. “Your Majesty, I have three days left until retirement….”
“Shut up!” the Ocean King yelled.
He looked resigned. “Alright. What do you want?”
“Give me Nancy and no one gets hurt,” Ryan said.
The Ocean King glared at him. He signaled for Nancy to join Ryan.
Nancy rushed over, relieved. “What took you so long?”
“I couldn’t find your body,” whispered Ryan.
He stood up straight, facing the Ocean King, but he realized that the Ocean King was gone.
“Where is he?” Ryan asked the priest.
The priest responded by pointing to the ocean. “You’ve done it now. You’ve really pissed off the Ocean King.”
They looked at the water. A wide wave was rising higher and higher in the air. Soon, it was towering over the entire shore.
All the remaining wedding guests were scrambling to flee the area, their shrieks filling the air.
The wave was as wide as a giant blue whale and as tall as a skyscraper. It had no mouth, but it spoke in a raspy tone. “If you take my bride, I will drown the entire town of Sunrise Beach.”
The wind began hammering the shore, blowing sand in the air.
Ryan grabbed Nancy’s hand. “Let’s go!”
The wave roared, creating a terrifying din in the air.
Nancy gripped Ryan’s hand tighter. “Come on. We’ll fly.”
Together, they ascended into the air, passing the Sunrise Beach Hotel.
Ryan smiled at Nancy.
She put her head on his broad shoulders. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”
“I couldn’t find your body,” he murmured.
“That’s OK. As long as I’m not married to the Ocean King, all I have to do is survive until the stroke of midnight. Then it’ll be All Souls Day. On that day, all spirits are freed from their masters, unless they’re caught again. Most use that chance to escape.”
Ryan caressed Nancy’s cold cheek and kissed her lips.
On the ground, the wave was churning louder and louder. It was like a tsunami threatening to engulf the whole town.
They flew for a little while longer and then landed in the middle of a vast cornfield.
Nancy kept looking behind her. “Is he gone?”
“We’ve flown a long way.”
The wind was softer here. It gently caressed the corn stalks. Under the full moon, Ryan embraced Nancy with his strong arms.
She started to cry.
Ryan comforted her. “It’s OK. We’ve flown a long way already. He can’t get us.” He checked his watch. “You said midnight, right? It’s eleven right now. We just need to hide somewhere for an hour.”
Nancy wiped her face. “What’s the point? I feel like we’re never going to outrun the Ocean King. He’s been holding the entire town hostage for the past century. He’s too powerful. You heard what he said. He’s going to drown the whole town.”
Ryan held her closer. “Don’t say that, Nancy. You can’t give up hope.”
Of course, he had no way of knowing that the Ocean King had zapped Nancy of her energy and desire to go on.
Nancy looked into Ryan’s understanding eyes. “Even if I don’t make it, at least I met you. In life, I was neglected by my uncle, abused by my fiancé and lied to and sold by a stranger. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost all faith in humanity.”
Ryan placed one hand on Nancy’s cheek. “Don’t say that. You’re going to be fine. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Of course, he didn’t know that for sure. He was just saying that to comfort Nancy, who needed all the encouragement she could get.
“Are you OK?” he asked her, letting her go.
Nancy nodded, his eyes still brimming with tears. “Yeah.”
“Hey. Cheer up. We still got up.” Ryan held up the Vial of Seraphim.
She looked at it curiously. “What is it? Does it really kill demons, like you said?”
He inspected the red vial carefully. He was overwhelmed with the urge to twist off the lid, but common sense told him not to. It had come in handy so far. Maybe it should be saved for other uses.
“Maybe I’m not meant to pursue this dream,” Nancy said suddenly. “Maybe dreams are just meant to be ideal, not something practical, not something even remotely achievable.”
Ryan was taken aback. “What? I can’t believe you’re even saying that. Why are you giving up now, when your dream is the only thing keeping you going?”
Nancy looked at the star-dappered sky. “There was a time when I was a naïve young girl. I’m not that girl anymore.”
Ryan placed one hand gently on her shoulder. “Don’t you remember how you felt when you imagined the hot Californian sun on your face?”
Nancy thought about it. She did remember. She loved that feeling. She loved being able to sing in front of thousands of adoring fans. She loved being able to share her music with the world.
She shook her head, and then turned around so that her back was to Ryan. “But it was just my imagination. It’s not real.”
Ryan frowned. “How do you think dreams come true? It’s all in your imagination at first. But it’s up to you to make them a reality. Look at all the famous people of the world. Most of them weren’t born famous. And they weren’t born with success either. They worked hard to achieve their dreams. They worked hard to write their songs, make their films, write their novels, create their inventions.”
Ryan softened his voice. “Nancy. I have heard your music. You have a great talent. You have to chase your dreams. And I know that people will recognize that talent eventually, but you have to give them a chance first.”
Nancy turned back around, staring into Ryan’s sincere eyes.
He sighed. “Don’t lose that passion. I see that passion in you when you’re playing music. Never let that be snuffed out. I know you can do it.”
She was touched by his confidence in her. It gave her fuel to go on.
Come on, she told herself. Pull yourself together. I’ve had a tough life. I’m strong now. I can deal with this.
She looked around her. Surrounded by towering corn stalks, she gazed out the horizon. It was a beautiful Canadian night. All the stars came out to play.
After Ryan’s speech, she felt different.
She stood up tall. “Ryan, you’re right. I have to go on. And that’s why I think you should leave. This is my mess. I have to deal with the Ocean King.”
“No.” He stood up tall. “We’re in this together.”
“You have to go. I can’t drag someone else into the mess that I’ve made.” She bit her lips, gazing out at the distance. “When I was alive, I was a naïve young girl who fell for the oldest trick in the book. A stranger promising to make her rich and famous. But now I’ve grown up. And part of growing up is taking responsibility for my actions.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to leave you. But if anything happens, take care of my guitar, Serena. It’s back at the hotel.”
“Nothing’s going to happen,” Nancy said.
The wind picked up, pushing the corn stalks around them.
The couple surveyed their environment. They were on alert.
“Wind spies?” Ryan whispered.
Nancy nodded. “Possibly.”
Ryan checked his watch. “Ten minutes to midnight.”
He grabbed her hand. “Follow me.”
***
Chapter 10
Ryan and Nancy scurried through the cornfield. They didn’t want to fly because that would make them stand out. But because they hadn’t flown, they didn’t want which way they were going.
All around them, the wind was restless. It was zooming through the air, knocking over cornstalks. Rain began to spill from the dark and stormy sky. It was a light drizzle at first, but then it grew big.
Fat raindrops fell as Ryan and Nancy crouched by the muddy ground.
She held his
warm hand, grateful that he didn’t leave when she had told him to.
He looked at his watch. “Five minutes now. We should just stay quiet here and wait it out.”
Nancy nodded.
He grabbed her hand. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, but on matter what, I want you to promise me something, Nancy. Promise me you’ll go on and try your hardest in the music industry. Never let them snuff out your passion.”
Her lips quivered. “I will, Ryan.”
At that moment, the wind picked up, ramming into their faces.
Then, they heard something that made their blood freeze. The sound of churning water.
Above them, a raspy voice shouted, “Give me my bride!”
The voice was close, too close. Ryan’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up. A towering wave was directly above them. It looked like a tsunami about to swallow everything in its destructive path.
Ryan grabbed Nancy’s hand, and together, they stood up.
The wave was a powerful sigh to behold. It was tall and big enough to drown an entire town. Water dripped from it and splashed on the ground next to the two lovers.
Ryan glanced at his watch. One minute left until midnight.
He pushed Nancy behind him. “Run!”
She could barely hear him above the furious rushing of the wind.
“But what about you?”
“Don’t worry.”
Bravely, he raised his head, staring down the wave. “You ugly demon.”
He took out the Vial of Seraphim, brandishing it like a weapon. “Come any close and I’ll sic this on you.”
The Ocean King in water form had no discerning facial features at all, but Ryan felt it was smirking at him, even toying with him.
Freezing water dripped onto Ryan. Soon, he was soaking wet.
Nancy stayed rooted to the ground, unable to abandon someone she cared so much about.
The wind and rain whipped Ryan’s body, but Ryan was oblivious. He was too busy staring down his enemy.
Nancy held her ground, her long dark hair flying every which way. She would not leave Ryan by himself.
Impulsively, she reached in and kissed him urgently.
He returned the kiss, and then pushed her away. “Go, Nancy! Leave while you can.”
“I’m not going to leave you,” she replied. Soon, she was soaked too.
The Ocean King chuckled. “You will both be mine.”
The rain began to intensify, but it wasn’t because it was raining harder. The water came from the Ocean King adding his watery body to the fray.
Ryan glanced at his watch. “10 seconds,” he shouted to Nancy.
Ryan stood his ground, glaring at the wave. “You’re not going to get Nancy.”
By now, the gigantic wave was barreling toward them, threatening to drown them both.
Ryan turned around and screamed. “Run, Nancy! Run!”
He then chucked the Vial of Seraphim at the enormous wave. Neither expected the potion to do anything, but a scarlet liquid flew out of the container, splashing the gigantic wave.
Neither knew what effect it would have on the wave, but it seemed to freeze it.
The rushing of the wind stopped. The wave’s impending onslaught was frozen in place. Even its drippy water was motionless.
Nancy tugged on Ryan’s arm. “What happened?”
“I think we froze it.”
They stared at the monstrous liquid form in front of them. It towered above them like an overgrown oak tree.
Ryan inspected the Ocean King. Something seemed off. He wasn’t sure they were completely in the clear yet.
He glanced at his watch. “Five seconds.”
No sooner had he said that than the wave started to unfreeze.
Ryan was the first to notice. Without thinking, he pushed her out of the way.
Nancy fell to her knees, out of the path of the murderous wave.
As the wave inhaled Ryan, Nancy was filled with horror.
All she could do was watch helplessly as the wave ate her love.
She saw everything in slow motion. She looked at Ryan’s face. He was mouthing something to her.
I’ll see you again.
Nancy held out one hand helplessly, as though she could magically pull him to safety.
As the force of the water hit Ryan, knocking him off his feet, his digital watch beeped.
It was now midnight.
Nancy was free from bondage, but she had to escape quickly, before she could be caught again.
“Ryan?” she called out, tears forming in her eyes. “Ryan?”
But he was gone, eaten by the wave. He was really gone.
Nancy inspected her surroundings. A dead silence permeated throughout the debris-ridden cornfield, which was now completely destroyed. She could see no sign of the Ocean King or Ryan in the morning mist. Just a huge field that was soaking wet.
Her heart heavy, Nancy scanned her surroundings one last time. No Ryan.
He mentioned his guitar, Serena. She would go back to the hotel and retrieve his guitar. She would take care of it.
Nancy fought back tears, but they came anyway.
The beauty of the morning mist gave her no comfort.
***
Chapter 11
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
When the unbearably hot Californian sun braised Nancy’s skin, she knew she had arrived. She looked around her in awe. The hustle and bustle of Hollywood excited her. She thought she even recognized a few celebrities. There was a hotshot director strolling down Sunset Boulevard with his wife. A big-screen action star was dining at The Rainbow Bar and Grill. And a TV star was riding in a limo with the window open.
She smiled. After all this time, she had made it. With Ryan’s help, of course. As soon as she thought of him, she got a little teary-eyed.
He would have wanted me to go on, she thought. It’s what I promised him I would do.
On her way back to her hotel, she passed the Kodak Theatre. She would love to be a presenter at the Academy Awards one day. Maybe she could even sing on stage there, after winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song. And she definitely wanted to go visit the Staples Center, where the Grammy Awards is held annually.
Then, she passed by the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard.
She walked past Celine Dion’s star. Maybe Nancy would one day have her own.
A renewed sense of hope filled her. She had her whole life ahead of her. And she had so much life to live. She knew how lucky she had been. Not everyone is given a fresh start like this. Not everyone is lucky enough to have someone love her so much that he would give himself up so that she could be reborn to chase her dream.
***
When she returned to the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, she prepared to take a shower.
As the warm water bathed her exhausted body, she let out a sigh of relief. She was finally here. Yet, she still had a heavy heart.
She had cried almost nonstop during the long bus ride there from Canada. She was still in shock. She could not believe that Ryan had done something that noble for her. No one in her whole life had ever been kind to her, let alone done something of Ryan’s caliber.
As tears ran down her face and blended with the steaming hot shower water, she pictured Ryan’s handsome face.
Where is he now? She wondered. Is he bound to another demon like I was? Is he going to be OK? Would I ever see him again? He promised I would, but I’m not so sure.
She started to sob uncontrollably. She had never ached so much for someone before. But then again, no one had ever been so good to her before.
A few minutes later, she heard someone tap on the mirror. It was as though someone was in the bathroom with her.
Quickly, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower.
Her heart jumped when she realized that someone had written a message on the steamy mirror.
Her eyes widened. W
as it the Ocean King? Did he somehow follow her to Hollywood?
When she read the message, she was filled with relief. It was not the Ocean King.
The message read: I’m OK. Now go get ‘em!
Her first thought was that Ryan was there with her. She looked around the bathroom, but there was no sign of anything or anyone.
She wrapped a towel around her body and went into her hotel bedroom. She was praying she would see Ryan again.
She prepared herself to see Ryan sitting on her bed, smiling at her.
But no one was there. She was all alone in her hotel room.
Ryan’s guitar sat on her bed, the same place she had placed it.
Puzzled, she looked out the window. She could see the big Hollywood Sign in the background. But no Ryan.
She returned to the bathroom and studied the message on the mirror, which was fading quickly.
I’m OK. Now go get ‘em!
Wiping her tears, she smiled. Ryan was telling her that he was OK. Somehow, she could still feel his presence. It was like he was right beside her, acting as her very own guardian angel.
Filled with boldness and determination now, Nancy headed over to the desk and picked up the newspaper.
She thumbed through the auditions section. She was looking for bands who needed lead singers.
Once more, she looked out the window at the big Hollywood Sign. Seeing it, she smiled. Before Ryan died, she had promised him that she would go on and chase her dreams.
And now, she was. She was on her way. He hadn’t died in vain.
He died so that her life could begin.
***
Chapter 12
The Present
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
When Serena noticed that Nancy was no longer breathing, she grabbed tighter onto her grandmother’s hands.
“Grandma! You OK?” she cried, worry creeping into her voice.
She turned around and called for the doctor and nurse.
Nancy suddenly opened her eyes.
Serena’s heart leapt. “Grandma?”
“I’ve waiting so many years to see Ryan again,” whispered Nancy. “76 years. He said we’d see each other again.”
There was a pause.
Nancy looked up at her granddaughter with sunken eyes. “You know, he’s the reason I was so successful. If it weren’t for him, I’d be dead. Still.”
Nancy started to cough again. “He gave me a world to believe in,” she croaked out, in between coughs. “He gave me the courage to pursue my dreams.”
Serena started to cry. Her grandmother looked so helpless in the bed.
Nancy, on the other hand, chuckled. “Don’t cry. This is a happy occasion.”