A Mysterious Friend

The summer warmth hung in the air like a kite gliding effortlessly on a balmy evening breeze. Edward sweated profusely as he clambered his way up the northern trail which headed deep into the woodland that surrounded the camp site. His short walk felt like an eternity under the hot sun which beat down on his head. Any cover the trees provided offered little relief, and after a few minutes he was pleased to see a clearing with a small river running gently through it. Edward surveyed the view in front of him and noticed what appeared to be a waterfall in the distance. He made his way along the river and headed up toward the enticing pool of water at the foot of the waterfall.

“Hello there friend” called out a strange voice from the water. Edward looked around in confusion. There was no-one to be seen. He needed a rest, so he dropped his backpack to the ground and collapsed onto a rock to catch his breath. “You’ve come from the reservation, no?” asked the mysterious voice.

“I am so confused, where are you? And who are you for that matter?” Edward asked with frustration telling in his voice. He hadn’t quite recovered from the walk and was in no mood for weird encounters.

“You seem in no mood to talk friend, I shall leave you in peace” said the unknown voice. Edward had his head down, and didn’t see the water rippling as something swam back downstream at some speed. Edward lifted his head only to see the water settled again. He took a bottle of Mountain Spring from his bag and hastily gulped the contents. He rested by the water’s edge and observed the waterfall with wonder in his eyes. He found it peaceful here, with the water softly bubbling over the rocks toward the tranquil basin; a gentle breeze brought him some relief from the heat of the sun as he lay, enjoying nature’s beauty. Green hills glistened under the shimmering haze, contrasting the blue of the sky with the soft white wispy clouds dotted about. After a relaxing hour he gathered his things and made tracks back toward his campsite for the night, with a contented smile on his face, having found somewhere he felt very much at home.

When Edward awoke the next morning, he picked up his journal, several more bottles of water and made a sandwich. Wasting no time he headed off to walk along the river, intending to make his way to the same spot as yesterday, and spend an entire day with his thoughts. As Edward reached a few hundred meters away from the waterfall he heard a loud whoosh, as something large ploughed its way through the current up toward the waterfall. Edward paused for a moment, but then pressed onwards.

The journey to his little spot didn’t cause Edward as much discomfort as it had the previous day; the sun wasn’t yet at its most powerful, and Edward’s anticipation of the peaceful day ahead seemed to cut the distance of his trek by half. Upon arriving, Edward shed his backpack, reached for a bottle and smiled to himself. He had come camping with his friends and had left them, just so he could sit alone with his thoughts un-interrupted.

“We’re wearing a smile today, and you’re here much earlier than yesterday” called out the mysterious voice from yesterday. Edward looked behind the rocks on the water’s edge. He peered through the waterfall in case there was a cave beyond, harboring the mystery guest, but to no avail. “What’re you doing today?” the voice asked.

“I’m hoping to write in my journal and gather my thoughts. What about you?” Edward replied somewhat indignantly.

“Keep me some company for a while, friend?” the unseen voice asked.

The gentle flow of water was the only thing audible for several moments. The breeze picked up a little. “Who are you?” Edward asked rather bluntly.

“My name is Fin” replied the voice.

“Where are you from, Fin?” pressed Edward.

“I came to be in the Montebello islands in Australia, although I haven’t been there for many years” replied Fin; this time his voice seemed tinged with sadness. “I don’t know why but I have been able to travel further and more freely than my brothers & sisters. I found myself searching for somewhere that resonated within my soul.”

Edward pondered: “And here you are now” he replied, closing his journal and dipping his feet into the water to cool himself, as the sun had now started to take its toll on his unprotected skin.

“Indeed, I call this and the surrounding area my home. I just find this part of the district especially beautiful, hence I keep returning here. Perhaps we share the same feelings for the serene tranquility this place offers, no?” the voice said, returning to its calming wholesome tone. Edward began to think about this unknown entity. He felt as if the speaker was an old, well lived & wise person. Edward said to him: “I do enjoy the quiet; the sound of the waterfall is gentle and comforting.”

“That’s not even mentioning the stunning scenery, friend, surely that hasn’t gone unnoticed?” replied the voice.

Edward chuckled. “Absolutely, friend, I like the clear sky over the water and the feeling when I close my eyes in this gorgeous weather. Is there more I should be enjoying, seeing as though you should know everything with this being your home, apparently?” Edward didn’t feel particularly good about his own response.

“I think that is more than enough reason to find affinity in a place.” the voice replied as if it hadn’t noticed any attitude carried in Edward’s question.

“Tell me, what is it that weighs so heavily on your mind Edward?” the voice asked. Edward took several moments to think, moving his feet through the clear water while lost in thought at what turned out to be a provocative question. “Have you yet to find yourself?” the voice asked.

“I don’t know” replied Edward, lifting his feet from the water and standing up. “I’m just not happy with where I am in the world anymore…” Edward’s words failed him. His head hung for a moment while he took several deep breaths. Edward didn’t like revealing his inner turmoil to anyone, especially a stranger; an unseen & entirely unknown stranger at that.

The body of water began to rise. Edward’s eyes looked upon the rippling surface with wonderment and awe. “Put your foot back in the water young Edward” the voice requested.

“Why?” Edward asked, though after a moment of consideration the sun’s heat coerced him into complying. Edward felt something around his feet and then realized that the mysterious voice had referred to him by name twice now. As Edward began to open his mouth he was pulled under the water, thrashing wildly as he plunged into the depths of the impossibly deep basin.

“Life is too short and fleeting to be focused on the darkest parts of existence. There is so much more to the universe than that which can be comprehended by mortal beings” began the voice. “Whatever you believe in, through hope and love, all things in life can become something spectacular.”

Edward stopped thrashing when he realized that he could understand the ethereal voice while submerged. He also realized he could breathe. Edward was paralyzed with bewilderment. He looked through the clear water and could see what appeared to be endless ocean; he saw a school of fish gliding freely across the vast open water. As he looked around his eyes focused on the luscious green seaweed & plant-life; his eyes followed the aquatic life until he spotted a Great white shark coming right at him. Unable to move from his spot he gasped, only for the shark to swim right through him. His gaze followed the shark as it moved toward the fish; just then a flash of light exploded into the water with a thunderous crashing of a violent rainstorm lashing down on his non-corporeal being. The flash of light had been a bolt of lightning striking the water.

Edward gasped. The shark had been struck by lightning; it writhed and coiled in agony as streaks of blood rose to the surface. Edward’s expression shifted from upset to being perplexed. “What am I seeing?” Edward asked himself.

“That was how I came to be, friend” the mysterious voice spoke once again. The shark rose from the floor of the ocean, with electric pulses glistening off its mutated form. Edward squinted as he observed the creature.

“What you just witnessed took place in Australian waters some 200 years ago” the voice declared. “I called myself Fin because, you know, it’s the simple things” stated the voice with a chuckle.

“I’m drowning in the water right now aren’t I?” Edward asked – “hallucinating before the end.” Edward closed his eyes and waited to pass to the next world, having been pulled to his death by some mysterious killer.

Edward was thrown out of the water and landed with a gentle thud beside the rocks next to his backpack. Edward began to cough the water out of his lungs, but realized there wasn’t any; he was soaked from head to toe, but he hadn’t swallowed any. He turned to the water with his feeling of alarm easing as the voice resumed its dialogue: “Life is full of magic and mystery, friend. I don’t know why I exist, same as I don’t know why you exist. But we do.” Fin began. “I have lived for a very long time, and I know that what I do matters because of its impact on others. I was drawn to you, Edward.”

The water began to rise again, as something big started to emerge. Edward stepped back from the water and crouched ready to evade any force that would try to pull him under the water again. However, the water parted to reveal the head of a Great white shark. Edward’s eyes widened. The head was followed by what could have been an ordinary shark torso, had it not been for the humanoid arms and legs with which it clambered its way onto dry land. It stood and almost created its own waterfall with the large amount of water that drained off it and flowed back into the water.

Edward looked the creature up and down. It stood easily 9 feet tall, reasoned Edward; a Shark-Man hybrid, built with the musculature of a bodybuilder, though Edward imagined any Shark would be ‘Hench’, especially one which had been struck by lightning; imbuing it with longevity, a human voice, and a willingness to creep out random passers-by. Fin was a darker grey than other Great whites that Edward had seen on Shark Week.

The huge Shark-Man stepped toward Edward and knelt down, now face-to-face with him. Edward struggled to lock eyes with the impossible creature knelt before him. Fin planted a massive hand on Edward’s shoulder. “I know a kind heart when I see one. I also feel the pain emanating from your soul.” Edward took a deep breath and looked into the wise eyes of the giant Fin. “You could spend the rest of your trip here lost in thought, and whatever solace you would have found would likely have become redundant if you’re without hope.” Fin removed his hand from Edward’s shoulder and sat beside the man. “None of us really know what there is to life on this earth. There’s magic to be found everywhere. Take my word for it, be yourself and do what makes you happy. Forget the rest.” Fin and Edward sat beside one another for seconds which turned into minutes. Edward occasionally looked at Fin, but otherwise the two sat and enjoyed the beautiful surrounding views without needing to speak, until Fin made his way back into the water leaving Edward to ponder… and hope.