Placebo, he told himself. You’re spooking yourself. But he couldn’t stop touching his skin. It felt warm. Or maybe that was the sun. Or the panic. He walked, needing to see the beach—needing a distraction, or a sign that the world was still normal.
He was halfway down the boardwalk when the first scream rang out. Then another followed. People were pointing out to sea, backing away from the water’s edge. Arthur turned instinctively and froze. There were more of them now.