Chapter 86 - Women first

Everyone was on the deck, our options were limited. The inflated lifeboats were useless in the violent sea they will get ripped on the sharp reefs. The captain quickly steered away from them when Angus brought it up in the discussion.

"Then what do you do?" asked Dr. Churchhill. He was fidgeting about his expensive material going underwater. Olga stood motionless next to him.

"Send the artificial for help," Dr. Churchhill looked up in alarm. Grant stepped forward but the doctor frowned at him.

"No! I refuse! Grant, you remain where you are," he turned back to the captain. "And why the hell aren't they responding to our messages? Did you send a flare?" Dots nodded.

"I did when we found out the hull was damaged. We can't waste a second. We must evacuate now," urged the cyborg. Captain Thomson shifted nervously.

"What are you talking about the yacht is stuck on reefs. With each wave, the hole is getting larger. Do you think we can jump in the waves and hope to not get smashed against the rocks beneath?" he shouted, the cyborg remains silent. Demos went to the railing to inspect the black waves below. The boat groaned like a wounded beast.

"We are wasting time," called Demos. I was shivering from the cold and the panic. My eyes never left the eerie shape of the island. What lay there terrified me. Grant gripped my trembling hands.

"Come back to me, Liliane," he whispered. I slowly turned, even over the angry shouting and the raging nature, I could hear him. His silver eyes were pleading. "Stay here, don't let your mind wander far away from me. Right here," he rubbed the ring on my finger. "This is beyond our control, we can't stop waves from crushing, we can't control the wind," my lips trembled. It felt like he was saying goodbye. I didn't want to hear it. I shook my head in denial.

"Liliane," he hugged me. Demos stood next to us. Grant let go, leaving me cold and empty. He walked to the captain who looked up at him.

"Give me the map to their facility," the man nodded. He swiped through his bracelet and tapped the over the information to forward it to Grant.

"No! Grant, I won't allow it," shouted Dr. Churchhill. He lifted his bracelet and scrolled through it. "Olga, seize him," the young woman moved towards Grant, yet he didn't try to evade her. He just stood there waiting. When she came closer she froze, hands hovering above Grant. I gasped as I noticed his eyes had changed color.

"Olga! What have you done to her?" Grant slowly turned to the doctor. "Nothing," she blinked and turned to face the old man also. She frowned at him.

"I'm going with Grant since we are both the lightest, we'll reach the bay faster," her voice waved unliked her usual flat tone. Both of then ran to the railing and in a second they dove into the black waves.

"No!" yelled the doctor, he bolted to the railing. Angus seized him and pulled him back to safety.

"Did you lose your mind?" he held the old man by the arms as he struggled against his grip. He screamed and sob at the same time. I moved closer to the railing and saw Grant break the surface of the water and struggled in the powerful mass of water.

"Ready?" said Demos behind me. I wasn't. However, I couldn't open my mouth to say so. He peeked at the group over his shoulder. Elija and Donald were helping to calm Dr. Churchhill. A loud bang reverberated in the whole boat. Tremors ran under our feet. The argument ceased, everyone looked around in confusion.

"Liliane," Demos called he held out his hand and I took it without question. He pulled me to the railing he frowned at the view below. "Take a deep breath and when you hit the water try not to scream or else you will choke," what he said make the situation worse. My throat was tight, eyes wet with tears. Even though I was scared I trusted him. Even though I was scared of him, the unknown scared me more.

We jumped while holding hands. Yet I have no memory going over the railing. The moment my feet hit the water he let go. I almost lost consciousness on the impact. It felt like I was hit by a truck. I couldn't feel my face, my ears were ringing. My jacket hissed as it inflated, the sound pulled me from my shock state. A strong hand gripped the front of the jacket. I gasped and blinked. Demos was shirtless and swimming with one arm. The waves kept trying to pull us under.

-Liliane, kick.

I panted, kicking my legs with every strength in me. The water moved like walls, it rocked us in fury. Still, I didn't stop. I sobbed thinking about Grant in this chaos. Demos shook his hand holding my jacket. He peeked over his shoulder, eyes glazing.

-Focus now, Grant is ok.

I kicked for a long time, my legs were numb from the effort and the cold. We didn't seem to move at all, I could hear the creaking of the wounded vessel under the waves continuous assaults. A loud explosion made me twist my neck to a painful angle. A giant ball of orange flame burst from the boat. I watched in horror as it groaned splitting in half.

"Demos... Th-they are sinking," I panted. He yanked me forward without stopping. Using my arms I paddled but sunk under crashing waves. Demos pulled me and I coughed. I blinked the burning seawater away, hot tears rolling over my cheeks. The beach was terribly far away. I couldn't move my feet, I was sore all over.

"De... Demos!" I sobbed. Still, he swan, tugging me along. He wouldn't give up and that gave me the strength to keep moving. I punched and kicked that bitch...the water. I yelled angry that she was such an insurmountable obstacle between me and life...between me and what I desired.

-That's the spirit!

The dark shape of the island glared at us as we got closer. However, closer was not the appropriate word. With every struggle, the shore appeared too far. A couple of times, I swallowed mouthfuls of seawater. Each time Demos pulled me back to the surface. I kept my eyes on the ridge of one of the peaks that lit up in gold as the sunrise hit it.

-Liliane

I looked up in a hazy state of exhaustion. There were creases on his forehead. I blinked a couple of times. The island took the most of the sky. A thick shadow lay on the beach where we were heading. There were no signs of Grant or Olga.

-Liliane, my battery is almost out. Please, you have to put in some effort.