For three hundred years, Leila's family has protected the town of Whispering Sands. When the beast beneath the waves grows restless, they offer it the blood it demands, and the waves are quiet once more.

But now outsiders have come to Whispering Sands. Newly out of lockdown, seeking a respite from the stress of the pandemic, throngs of tourists are spreading the virus through the town Leila's family has sworn to protect... and waking the beast from its slumber.

And the beast is angry.

This short story is 15,000 words long, or approximately 50 pages. It is a companion story to Safer at Home. These stories stand alone and can be read in any order.