Erosion

The rain made a sound like the drumming of fingers, as if a host of demons had climbed the cabin to probe for weaknesses, shrouded in water and darkness. The storm spit down the chimney and the fire hissed and flickered.

“It’s getting worse,” Kendrick decreed, a sour look on his face. There were fifteen of them gathered around the hearth—a family of five from the house next door, three college students from the opposite cabin, a single mother with two kids from further down the beach, and Kendrick’s own wife and children. This was the most any of them had spoken in hours.

They had thought it wise to band together for company and warmth, but that was three days ago. Now the firewood had nearly run out, and the rain showed no signs of stopping.

“It’s getting worse,” Kendrick repeated dully.

“We heard you,” his daughter shot back.

Kendrick had noted the erosion when they’d arrived. The locals made japes: The sea is reclaiming the island, they said. The island is shrugging the summer families from its shoulders and drowning them like puppies. Now Kendrick shuddered. The road was washed out, the cars were stuck, and the steep shoreline was creeping closer.

The storm spit on the flames, and the flames shivered.

“We’re going to die,” Kendrick said. His wife hissed.

The fire went dark on the fourth day. By the fifth, most of the food was gone. On the sixth, the roof began to rot and the water pattered to the floor in gobs. Kendrick could hear the surf crashing as if it were breaking against the door.

“You have to go for help,” his wife said at last, and reluctantly Kendrick crept outside.

He’d gone no more than ten steps when the house broke free with a great sucking sound and slid into the sea. It disappeared without so much as a scream from inside.

Sinking in the mire, Kendrick wondered how long ago the erosion had begun.

This is my story for this week’s Trifecta Writing Challenge: Band. I’ve been on vacation for a week, so forgive me if I’m a little slow getting back into form.

Let me know what you think below!