Chapter 230 - The Islet Mystery 46

"Where are your parents now?" Mr. Dioko asked as he moved closer to Ryan, too overwhelmed about what he had just heard.

"It's been a while since I am looking for them, uncle. In this area, there are too many hidden coves, and underneath the sea are many caves which lead to islets. I believe he keeps them in one of these caves. This islet also leads to a cave, and that is where I placed the machine that would create a vortex and suck you in. This is also my way of trapping any of dad's spies who come near."

All of them gaped at the revelation, and Ryan chuckled at their reaction. Who would ever think that they would still be alive? This fact was even more surprising than the wonders of this aqua paradise. From the hot and cold spring to the Chara pool, from the glowing Chara blooms to the crystal-clear lagoons, from the caves underneath and the coves.

"We used to have a beach house in one of the coves, but father said, a great earthquake had destroyed  the landmarks and so our house and my parents."

"I don't believe it!" Mr. Lopez replied as anger drew out in his face," Ryan, allow us to help you. I'll hire men to scour the seafloor."

"I'm afraid dad will find it out. I have already released a statement to the press, telling them that the search is still ongoing. So, you have to bear the inconvenience and stay here until I can settle everything."

"I have an idea," suggested Mr. Dioko, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "I'll negotiate with a fishing company to invade this territory. Then, I'll send men to do the search in disguise of fishermen. The use of scanners would make the search a lot easier."

"Good idea," chorused the others.

"Son, have you not considered this idea before?" Mrs. Lopez broke her silence after fully convincing herself that Ryan was not an enemy."

"I was afraid that dad would find it out. He has ways to know if a fishing company suddenly secures a license to fish in this territory. Big fishing companies don't find this place a good catch due to rocks and caves underneath, trapping their fishing nets and gears."

"That's a complicated thing to do. Nevertheless, I will still try if that's alright with you."

"Anything, uncle, I don't mind at all. I'm already desperate to find them."

_______

"Let's find a way for you to escape. I need to see the younger boss and ask what his plans about you are," Joey said, his sweat trickling from his temples despite the freezing atmosphere. Allie and Ajie revealed to him everything that they knew about Shiela and Ryan. He could never accept the fact that he was working for someone who ruined her daughter's life.

"What will we do?" Allie asked, her airways suddenly constricted at the thought of them escaping. They were gathering inside the room, squatting on the floor.

"We still have a lot of time to plan out. Not until the low tide comes can we get out of the cove."

"What time is the low tide?"

"Seven in the evening." Allie's eyes grew wide at the thought of escaping at night. All they could see once they go out of the cove would only be the endless stretch of the seawater.

"Allie, do you know how to swim?" Joey asked her, glints of worry and fear were written in his face.

"I know, but I am pregnant," she threw a quick stare at Ajie, who wrapped his arms around her shoulders right away. He did not speak, but his expression was changing from anger to fear and to anguish.

Ajie stood up and heaved a loud sigh, throwing a fist at the wall in the next second.

"She can't swim her way out of this hell. Uncle, how do you find your way here?" Frustration and fear were already wearing out his patience.

"I don't exactly know, but the boat is controlled electromechanically. It means I only have to control the speed but it automatically goes up here."

Joey then explained that the control panel must be in a particular area he did not know, and that's where the men of Ryan's father connected themselves. When he came here, Ryan instructed him to stay at the hotel where the group of Andrew stayed.  On the night he abducted Allie and Ajie, he got an instruction to find the yacht on a certain island, and from there, he would take them here through the boat he was told to use.

"How about cutting the connection while it is still high tide?"

"I am afraid that we don't have much time until they find it out. I think, " Joey paused as he stared at him, "the reason why Ryan was not able to penetrate in this area is that, he knows well that his father uses a technology that can detect his movements."

"So?" Allie asked, her voice was already quivering.

"So we need to get out of here through swimming. The boat is too easy for them to detect."

"No!" Ajie protested, but Allie cut him off.

"Yes, we can," Allie's eyes sparked in excitement as if she remembered something.

"It's not safe for you and the baby. We must think of other ways."

"We don't have the luxury of time. Shiela must have seen this ahead!" she glowed as she recalled that moment when Shiela dragged her on a corner. Her words echoed in her ear, and drops of tears start spilling as she listened again to her voice in her mind.

"During the daytime, you will see the distinctive marks on the sea. It looks like a map spreading out in a lighter shade of green. During the nighttime, like tonight, the seafloor beneath it glitters into a kaleidoscope of red, blue, and silver hues."

"There are life jackets here! That's all we need. Let's pray for calm weather tonight. Strong winds would be disastrous."

As soon as the water level ebbed down under the canopy of dark skies, the three set out to get out of the cove. Despite the darkness that enveloped the whole place, the glow of Chara blooms guided them towards the fate that awaited them. However, they only have two choices; freedom or doom.