Chapter 28: Memories of A Summer Day (1/2)
The day was as perfect as any day could be. The glaring heat of this summer's day was countered by the soft and soothing breeze coming from the ocean. There was not a single cloud in sight, making for the perfect day. That was, of course, the idea. Team Rhapsody accompanied by Iris had decided to hit the beach before the rush getting there early in the morning. Although the idea seemed good on paper, there would be some complications with the plan. Iris stepped onto the beach in a tank top and shorts wielding two armbands and a rubber float around her waist. She wore a straw hat ready for the enviable sun she was promised. Or so she thought. Lowering her sunglasses, she looked up at the sky with no sun in sight. The part of the beach they had called dibs on was clouded in darkness without a single bit of light embracing them. She frowned, turning to the others. ”Could we have picked a worse spot to set up camp?”
Alton waved his hand carrying the pull-up barbeque and the icebox holding the food. ”It may be crappy now, but trust give it by lunchtime, and the sun will make its debut. Besides no one comes over here.”
Iris glares at the giant fifty-foot wall blocking the sun which covered all of Rhinefield not impressed. ”I wonder why, man I hate that wall having to wake up every day with that thing from my window view…”
”I tend not to think about it.”
Gale began coming down the beach in shorts and flippers. He struggled walking through the sand, flicking his feet wide up all while having his snorkel around his neck. ”I heard the walls keep the titans out.”
Iris and Alton stared at him blankly as both tried to stop themselves laughing. ”You know Gale you put on the flippers once you get down to the ocean.”
”You know, that's starting to make sense. These things are rather inconvenient, to say the least. Maybe I should act like a penguin and waddle my way around.”
”Or! You can just take them off.”
”Or I can just take them off…”
Emil and Percy weren't far behind carrying the hired beach chairs. Serval of Percy's clones were rushing ahead fuelled with his cocky ego. Emil wouldn't take this lightly seeing it as a competition as he carried two chairs running as fast as he could. This would prove fatal as he tumbled down a massive step dropping both chairs and crashing to the ground. Percy casually walked down with two drinks in his hands as he looked out to the sea with a gleeful look. ”Talk about living life, huh!”
Alton kneeled setting the barbeque up mumbling to himself. ”What's taking Zinnia so long? Did she gets lost or something?”
”I heard her struggling in the toilets,” Percy stated, sipping his drink. ”How hard is it to put a bikini on?”
”Don't look at me twinkle toes.” Iris snapped lying down on one of the chairs.
”Maybe I should go and check?” Alton wondered.
Gale came marching back legs wideout still wearing his flippers. ”Are we all waiting to get a good view of Zinnia?”
”We're waiting alright…” He replied, folding his arms. ”With how over the top Zinnia went with our costume design I dread to think how far she went with her swimming costume…”
”Alton, you doubt her too much, I am sure more than enough Zinnia has chosen the perfect bikini which will bless this world. This is Zinnia we are talking about she truly cannot go wrong.”
As Gale kept on praising Zinnia, his rambles soon stopped as a cold sweat ran down his back seeing what Zinnia had chosen to wear. Running down the path, everyone was thrown off by Zinnia wearing a full scuba diving outfit with oxygen tanks to complete the set. She smiled innocently rubbing the back of her neck. ”Sorry I took so long it was hard getting everything on. Is something the matter?”
Alton snickered, holding back his laugh, shaking his head. ”No, no! It's just. I wouldn't expect you to wear anything different. It screams Zinnia to me. Please don't tell me that was meant to be my costume…”
”Umm… no? Anyway! The moment you mentioned the beach, I knew I had to go snorkelling!” She went on before seeing Gale. ”Hey, you've got your snorkelling gear too?! No way that's great. Is, is there something wrong, Gale?”
Gale looked at Zinnia with the most disappointing expression frowning. ”Oh, no. It's nothing.”
Zinnia rushed down the beach as Gale slowly followed sulking the whole way. Iris lay on her front grumbling still getting no sign of any sunlight. ”What's the point of that big bloody wall anyway?!”
Percy turned to the wall slurping his fruit juice nodding. ”So, you've been wondering too, huh? I've seen many streamers theorise over it as well. People believe It has something to do with that incident that happened over 100 years ago involving the heroes. Others believe it's to shield us from the nuclear winter.”
”Gale believes the wall is to protect us from titans.”
”That's just dumb.”
”What do you think we have the wall then? It only blocks this side. I truly wonder what is on the other side of the wall…”
”Well, it could be to keep something out. Or it could be to keep us in from the unspeakable horrors hidden behind the wall.”
Noticing everyone getting slightly creeped out, Alton cleared his throat. ”Anyway. Iris, I'm sorry your sister couldn't come down.”
Iris shrugged her shoulders, trying to play it off. ”It's no big deal. Her loss really. Our father wanted her to focus on her streaming career. I hardly get to spend any time with her these days…”