Tidal Wave

Matilda Karmer was sitting at her computer, watching the incoming tide from the window of her first floor. She was supposed to be marking History essays, that was her job, after all. But the way the waves lapped at the sand, and the way the setting sun reflected on the water… it was beautiful, like the sunset was creeping up to her doorstep. The school assignments could wait a little longer.

What happened next couldn’t wait though. Matilda shot from her seat and flew at the window, leaning into the sea breeze. As she craned her neck to see what had just plummeted into the ocean, a massive wave leapt up from the sandy beach and landed on her front lawn. Mist sprayed in her startled face, the scent of seaweed filling her nostrils, as she watched another wave begin to form, the water rolling into a tube.

She’d seen it for just a second before it disappeared into the water, but the mysterious object had been round and metal, and big. There were no plane routes in this area, and as she quickly glanced up, she saw nothing except clouds in the sky.

Matilda’s eyes darted back to the beach as she heard a loud rumble. It sounded like a giant’s belly rumbling, and then grew louder, as if the giant was stomping his great big feet on the earth, hunting for his next meal. The water swirled, the wave growing louder as the noise did. Matilda knew what was going to happen; the wave would keep rising, and it wouldn’t just hit her lawn this time.

“Mix!” She called to her tabby cat, who would be lounging in his usual spot; the couch downstairs. The comfy piece of furniture was only metres from the front door, which Matilda hadn’t locked. She could see it all play out in her mind, and felt the hair on her arms rise. The ferocious wave would crash into her house, water bursting through the door right at her best friend. His little lungs would fill with water, his body thrown around like a doll…

“Mix!” She shouted again, louder over the rumbling of the ocean. Matilda pushed herself away from the window, sprinting down the stairs. She froze at the first landing, eyes widening in shock. Mix was sitting behind the entrance, looking curiously at the rattling door handle. Matilda grabbed onto the stair-rail as the whole house started shaking. She saw Mix open his mouth, but couldn’t hear his meow over the thunderous roar.

Matilda was about to jump off the landing, straight to the floor below. She wanted to save her friend, she had to, but before she could move, the door burst flung inwards and a watery hell broke loose.

It felt like she was within a cinema, watching an action-packed movie in 3D. A blue wall had just exploded, and she was watching from a victim’s point of view, the glass and blue bricks flying towards her, larger and larger. The world was silenced, except for a high-pitched ring and the rapid beat of her heart. She saw a grey ball, Mix, being stirred amongst the water as it plummeted right for her.

When it hit, Matilda felt the air being sucked right out of her lungs. She felt like Atlas, like the entire earth had fallen on top of her. Her vision turned white, and the history teacher knew she was flying backwards though all her senses had ceased to function. She waited for impact, for her fragile form to be thrust against the hard wall. Nothing happened though, she felt nothing. Matilda just existed, in a white space, floating in a realm of nothingness.

Then her senses returned. Her vision came first. She was in a hospital room, with lights flashing on a screen not far from her pillow. Then her sense of smell. It was so normal; the room smelt clean, with a hint of chicken soup. She hadn’t been fed any soup though, because next she could taste, recognising the bitterness of medicine. Then her hearing returned, a beep beep beep filling her ears. There was something else though; it was quiet, but she could hear purring. Mix. Finally Matilda could feel again, and she felt something soft against her side. She craned her neck to look, and there was Mix, laying beside her, kneading her thigh. He looked happy, but more importantly he was alive.

Suddenly, a radio sputtered to life somewhere in the room. Victims at this time… meteorologists are yet to est… Matilda remembered the massive wave which had plummeted into her home, and the frightening moments before she was knocked unconscious. She also thought of the object which had fallen from the sky; the round, metal mystery which had caused it all. As Matilda listened to the radio, her mind was flooded with possibilities, crazy ideas as to what the ball was. But, as Mix massaged her leg, Matilda realised she didn’t care; she was just grateful to be alive.

Witnesses report seeing a metallic orb falling from the sky. Though scientists are skeptical, the public appear convinced that it was an alien craft crash-landing on earth.