The Vanishing Shore

Arjun had always been drawn to the sea. As a child, he would sit for hours watching the waves crash against the shore, feeling as if the ocean held secrets no one else could hear. Now, years later, he found himself returning to the very same beach—Ravenspire Cove, a place whispered about in local folklore.  

Legends spoke of a hidden island that appeared only once every fifty years, visible only to those who truly listened to the ocean’s call. No one had ever proven its existence, but Arjun was determined to find out the truth.  

The First Sign

It was just after sunset when the first strange thing happened. The waves, usually restless, became eerily calm. The air smelled different—fresher, untouched by time. Arjun stood barefoot on the cool sand, staring out at the endless horizon. That’s when he saw it.  

A faint outline in the distance. An island that hadn’t been there moments ago.  

His heart pounded. Was it an illusion? A trick of the light? He glanced around—the few other visitors on the beach seemed unaware, as if they couldn’t see what he was seeing.  

Then, as if drawn by an unseen force, he stepped forward. The water should have been deep, but his feet met solid ground. With every step, the ocean parted before him, revealing a hidden pathway of shimmering stones.  

He wasn’t dreaming.  

The Forgotten Island

As he reached the island, the world around him changed. The sky turned an ethereal shade of violet, and the air thrummed with an energy he couldn’t explain. The beach was unlike anything he had ever seen - golden sand that shimmered like stardust, seashells that whispered echoes of ancient voices. 

At the center stood an enormous structure—a temple covered in coral and glowing with bioluminescent patterns. As he approached, he noticed something even stranger: inscriptions in a language he had never seen before… yet somehow, he understood them.

"Welcome, Keeper of the Lost Tides. The ocean remembers you."

His breath caught. Was this meant for him?  

A soft voice carried through the air, though no one was there. “Every fifty years, the sea calls one traveler. You have heard the whispers. Now, you must decide.”

“Decide what?” Arjun asked aloud.  

The waves rose, forming a translucent figure—a woman made of water, her eyes glowing like the deep ocean.  

“To stay and guard the forgotten, or to return and forget what you have seen.”  

He looked back at the distant shore. The life he had known was there. But here… this was a mystery beyond time.  

The waves waited for his answer.  

The Choice

Would he become a keeper of the lost, forever bound to the island? Or return, knowing no one would ever believe what he had seen?  

As the tide rose, Arjun took a deep breath.  

And stepped forward.  

The beach vanished behind him.