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THE FIRE BEATS THE SEA
by Paige
 

Chapter 1.

 

I’ve always found urban myths interesting. Ones about flesh-eating ghouls and monsters that haunt you. My parents aren't always around; my dad works for the military and, apparently, he is on some top-secret programme, and my mum has three jobs, they are far away from home, so she normally stays in hotels, so I only ever see her on Sundays. That leaves our two-bedroom flat up to me to take care of. But that’s okay, I like doing those types of things. Plus, it gives me more time to go to the library.

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Oh, I love reading! Mostly about the history of animals, especially the ones the younger kids fear, and ‘The Book of Extinct Myths’. It feels more like I'm listening to a university professor, but I've learnt so much from it!

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Oh yeah, my name’s Charlie. I'm a girl. But most of the boys at school tease me for having a boy's name. I try to tell them that any gender can have the name, but then they say I'm trying to “act smart”, and “it's failing miserably.” I try to ignore it, but it's really starting to irritate me. And I have no one to talk to about it. I don’t try to make friends. If I'm being honest, I'm mostly thinking about schoolwork, so I can have a better life and help my mum and dad when I'm older.

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Creeeeeeak~

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I freeze in place, silently placing my bookmark and putting my book down. Am I imagining this?

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Creeeeeeak~

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Ok, I'm not; someone's in the flat. I rise from my position on the floor, carefully dodging the creaky floorboards. I peek my head round the corner, and my eyes widen in terror as I see a massive 7ft-tall, navy-blue monster with three of each limb, three necks, but only one head.

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My mind flashes back to page 45 of ‘The Book of Extinct Myths’. I find my voice.

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“F-freeze! I know what you are, your weakness, you’re a Trinormo, because tri is three, and you have three limbs and three necks. Your weakness is sunlight. Your species were around millions of years ago. But… you supposedly went extinct because of light exposure… So, why are you here?” I say, coming out of the hallway to fully face it.

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“Danger… me no harm. Here to help,” it states.

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My eyes widen. “What danger?” I ask cautiously.

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“Abysters …coming here, from sea, revenge, taking land back… You're doomed with no help,” it whispers.

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“Abysters?! I read we made a peace pact with them over 4000 years ago!” I yell.

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“Well, they no want peace, only land. They coming in two days; I'll help.” It smiles.

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“Two days!? We are no match! Wait! Their weakness is fire!” I scramble to the drawer in the TV unit, opening it to reveal a blow torch. “This is no match against all of them, but I can make a flammable white rope and put it along the coast, so they can't pass!” I excitedly say.

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“We win the fight!” it says triumphantly.

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I frown. “Wait… even if we put the rope on the edges of the coast, they are still going to want revenge, and people from London, or Cambridge, or some place in the middle, will come to visit the coast and get angry if they can't swim… or go on the beach…”

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The Trinormo’s smile dips. “Human got point,” it says, scratching its head.

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“Can I ask you a question?” I ask.

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“Yes,” it replies.

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“Do you have a name? And what's your gender?” I say, nonchalantly.

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“Name?” It points to itself. “Marco… gender, boy,” he explains.

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“Thank!” I grin.

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“Me got idea!” Marco exclaims excitedly.

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“What!? Tell me!” I jump up and down.

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“Abysters no like fire, and we need avoid public outrage, so I have power to create what me want, so me can make lighthouse. But has fire instead! I make it target Abysters only! So can't possibly get out of water!” He chirps excitedly.

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My eyes light up with newfound respect. I high-five him but see his smile falter for a second.

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“What's wrong?” I ask.

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“Me go bye, five minutes”, he says sadly.

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“What? Why? But you're so cool! You can do all these things with me! You're not going?” I demand.

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“I must! I can't stay here; I just wanted to help, but this not my home!” He squeaks.

 

“Why?!” I yell, getting frustrated.

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“I have family: mum, dad, four sisters and two brothers”, he explains.

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“That’s ok! Your parents won't mind! They already have so many children they won't even notice! I don’t have anyone to talk to, so you can stay here with me! Forever! But on Sundays you'll have to hide in my wardrobe all day, but it's comfy in there!” I suggest happily.

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His smile drops completely now. “My parents will notice! I'm their child! You selfish! You... You make me angry! You no care about anybody else!” He is shouting with displeasure.

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My eyes widen. “I do care!” I say confidently.

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“Then how you no realise me can't be in light? Because you no bothered!” it yells.

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My confidence is evaporating. “I-,” I stammer.

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“Enough! Me leaving!” he yells, and stomps to the front door, slamming it shut behind him, making my bones rattle.

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I sink down onto my knees. How dare he be so ignorant?! I do care about others, he’s just too blind to see it! That’s what he gets for never seeing in sunlight! I huff and rise to my feet again, walking to the worn out armchair. Sinking into it, I pick up my book, ‘The Book of Extinct Myths’, and remove the bookmark, going to page 45.

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'This chapter is about Abysters. Their appearance is a dragon-like creature with navy blue scales and golden-brown eyes, but instead of breathing fire it breaths tsunami like water from its mouth and nose. Their weakness is fire and crystals. Their strengths are water and mind control. They have been said to have existed in 200 BC and have been spotted off the coast of Indonesia in 2011. These claims were never investigated.'

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My eyebrows furrow further at these non-investigated claims. How could such a dangerous possibility just be ignored like that? I roughly put my book on the table, rolling my eyes. I look at my watch: 00:19. I walk to my bedroom, not bothering to change, and slump down on my bed.

 

I don’t need Marco; he is just annoying! He doesn’t understand. If he has so many brothers and sisters, his parents would even like it if he stayed with me!

 

 

Chapter 2

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I wake up to my blaring alarm; it’s 7:30am. I rise out of bed, shower, put on my school blouse, to look professional, and the only jeans that fit me. I spray a little bit of my mum’s perfume, and eat chocolate pillows for breakfast.

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I pick up my phone and my purse and order a taxi; my mum transfers £20 a day to me for travel and shopping. Once the taxi arrives, I lock up the flat, walk down the stairs and hop into the back of the car. 

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“Morning,” I say. The driver grunts a response, and I conclude he probably doesn’t want to talk, so I shut up for the rest of the trip.

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We arrive in the city, to a 35-floor building with about 100 different offices. I pay the £10 fare for the taxi, say thanks and walk inside. As I'm a pretty tall 16-year-old, I don’t get any weird stares. I go straight to the Coastal Office, on level 30.

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Once I walk through the door, I walk straight to the office reception.

 

The receptionist looks up, “Hello, my name is Molly, what can I do for you?” she asks.

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“Hi, I'm Charlie. Can I please speak to Mr Gardins?” I ask, plastering on a smile.

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“Ok”, she types on her computer. “What’s the reason?” she asks, looking up at me.

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“It’s about adding something on the beach for protection. Abysters are coming to invade, and I have proof,” I ramble.

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Her hands pause, and her smile falters.

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“Um… I’ll tell him it’s urgent…” she continues to throw her hands across the keyboard. “You can go in the waiting room while you wait.” She points briefly to a lounge.

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I stand there awkwardly for a second, then go to sit on a sofa that costs more than my flat. I fiddle with my hands for around five minutes until a woman, who looks around 50, in a very professional business suit, walks past with about five bodyguards, and three assistants struggling to keep up with her. She pauses in her tracks, lifts her sunglasses and just stares at me.

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“Excuse me! That couch costs more than your life! Get your feet of it now before I call security on you!” she shrieks. I quickly remove my legs.

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“S-sorry,” I mutter.

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“Keep your feet off!” she says, under her breath.

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“Charlie!” the receptionist calls, “Mr Gardin is ready for you in room 831”, she says.

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I rise to my feet and walk down the long hall, stopping outside of room 831, taking a deep breath, then knock on the door.

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“Come in!” a friendly voice calls. I open the door, instantly spotting Mr Gardin sitting at a large oak wood desk in the centre of the room, between two large windows.

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“Ahh, take a seat. I heard the reason you’ve come is serious.” He gestures to a large armchair in front of him. I take a seat.

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“Yes, unfortunately,” I say.

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“So, tell me, Charlie, what’s happened, and why do you need my help, specifically?” he asks, taking a sip of coffee.

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“Well, are you familiar with Trinormos?” I ask.

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“Well, yes, of course. I’ve never met one, but I studied them at university. What does this have to do with anything, though?”

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“The other night I heard a noise in my… apartment. Once I checked it out, I saw a Trinormo standing there, and... I know I must sound crazy, but I have proof,” I explain.

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I take my phone out of my purse and show him the photo I took, of Marco standing in my living room.

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“It said its name was Marco, and that the Abysters are coming for revenge.” I explain.

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“What? That’s... but we made a peace pact over 4000 years ago!” he exclaims.

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“That’s what I said. Marco said that’s long gone to them, and they want land back,” I sighed.

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“Jeepers… well, what's this to do with me?” he asks, cautiously.

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“I was thinking, since Abysters' weaknesses are fire and crystals, we could replace the lighthouses all around the coast to have two settings, one for ships and one that has a sensor specially to target Abysters; the lighthouses then shoot out fire to block the Abysters from getting on the land!” I happily say.

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“Well, that’s genius. Do you know when they are planning to…” he trails off.

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“Attack? Tomorrow.” I wince.

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“That’s ok. I'll get my whole team, all around the British Isles... and volunteers to help. Thank you so much, Charlie, I’ll make sure you get recognised for this information,” he shakes my hand.

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“What do you-” I try to say. The phone ringing interrupts me.

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“Sorry, this is important!” he says, answering the phone and turning away.

 

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Chapter 3.

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Omg! You would never believe what happened! All that Abyster stuff happened four months and exactly four days ago.

 

I got sent £500,000 from the manager at the Coastal Office, and another £500,000, from local people and a GoFundMe! My mum now only works one job, my dad is coming home in two months, and we now live in a three-bedroom house, with an indoor pool!

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I know I should be happy… but I still feel a bit sad. I haven’t seen Marco in a long time, and I hope he is ok.

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This is my story, and my advice is: go for it. Do what you want to do, YOLO!

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THE FIRE BEATS THE SEA                                   ​​

​Language: English. Suggested age range: Ages 5 to 15 years old.

Written by: Paige, aged 12, from Norfolk. Winner; The Scary Suzie Story Prize, 2026.

Audio Story Produced and Performed by; David Terry and Robert Neave.

Music and SFX: Courtesy of Pixabay.com and Hummy Press. 

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Story copyright rests with the author. Illustration and content design copyright Hummy Press 2026. Audio story production copyright Hummy Press 2026. All rights reserved. No portion of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted at any time or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher and copyright owners.

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