I was walking along the beach when something unexpected caught my attention

At first glance, I genuinely thought I was looking at a human body washed ashore by the tide. The shape lying across the wet sand looked disturbingly organic, twisted in a way that instantly triggered panic deep inside me. The beach had been almost completely empty that morning.

Gray clouds stretched across the sky, and the wind carried the sharp scent of saltwater and seaweed through the air. Everything already felt strangely eerie before I noticed it. I had gone there expecting a peaceful walk.