Cedar Sentinel 2013-2014 Issues January 2014: Volume 47 Issue 4 | Page 14

William Herlihey
Merciless Ocean
“No kidding,” the girl’s sarcasm bites me. I haven’t
spoken to anyone in weeks, and my first conversation has to be full of smart-mouthed puns from a
tall, lethargic punk? No way!
“Are you two the only ones here?” I ask, trying to
keep the annoyance out of my voice.
“The only two what?” The girl asks, not hiding her
annoyance. I give up; I don’t like this chick.
“Shut up, Imogen,” the boy rolls his eyes. “You’re the
older one. Start acting like it.” He shakes his head,
turning his attention to me. “And no, there are other
people here.”
“How long have you been here?” I ask.
“About thirty days,” the girl, who I guess is named
Imogen, responds, with a bit more genuity in her
voice. “But we’ve stopped counting.” Her voice has
more genuity than before. Good, I hate fake people.
“It’s been seventy eight since the title wave hit,” I
announce. “Days that is.”
“Come back to