FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R S I X T Y-S E V E N

"Dank fer—"

I didn't finish. The tsunami was in sight and I was nowhere near high ground. My enhanced abilities kicked into overdrive. I scaled the terraces. I did not waste a step as I cut corners and hurdled over crumbled chunks of debris. My calves burned hot from the bouldering endeavors. When my hearing was flooded with the distant roar of the sea surge, my heart palpitated violently against my ribcage. My body broke out into cold sweat. While I would usually regulate my breathing when I exerted my endurance and agility, now I was heavily panting.

VROOMMM!!!

The Marauder zoomed over my head towards the sea surge, and I suddenly remembered Omega and Lyana were on the seafloor... And with no water, they must be sprinting across the sticky, mushy sand to shore. But there wasn't any time for me to stop and try to spot the girls. I needed to get to safety myself, and I trusted Hunter wholeheartedly he would save them in time.

I finally reached the main neighborhood and discovered it had been successfully evacuated. There were a few lanturns clinging onto their flickering light. The spiral slope was in view, but...

I wasn't going to make it.

Run, you idiot! This is literally your enhanced skill. No one runs faster and stronger than you!

I wonder what will kill me first? The blunt force of a monstrous sea surge? Or getting bulleted halfway into the island by said sea surge?

"Fern!"

As I feebly scampered through the abandoned town, my comm link activated with a ding. My shaky fingers fumbled for it. "W-wrecker?! I'm almost at the wall. But—but I don't think—"

"Fern!" I heard my name called again, but not through my device and not by the muscular clone. My eyes shot upward and caught sight of Tech scaling down the wall via grappling line. I exhaled a shuddering gasp as his outstretched hand encouraged my legs to MOVE. The thunderous roar of the tsunami behind me shocked my nerves into overdrive.

"Come on, Fern!" he shouted. I could just make out his widened eyes and gritted teeth, urging me to push myself so I could reach his impossible position. I performed a series of stunts to climb on top of a ruined home to gain some ground, my heart pumped in preparation.

I can make it. I can make it!

With one final meticulated step, I launched myself to Tech with my arms extended out entirely in front of me. My elbows locked and my fingers cramped as they spread apart.

For a moment, I felt like I was flying. That sensation ended as gravity initiated its natural laws and my body began to descend...By a miracle, I reached him. The instant my body collided into his, my arms snapped close like a steel trap around his upper torso. His free hand clung underneath my ribcage, triggering a painful jerk as we soared up to the top of the wall. I smushed my face into his vested collarbone, squeezing my eyes shut and clawing into his shoulder blades as tight as I could. The wind forcibly pushed down on me as we zipped up, and the instant I felt myself slipping, I stammered, "Tech, Tech, help."

"Hold on." he said, clutching me enduringly. "You will not fall. Also, do not open your eyes."

I did just so. I nearly choked on my sharp inhale.

The thunderous roar of rushing water had to belong to the real deal...A ferocious, destructive, blackened mountain of saltwater cresting with the full force of an armada of star destroyers. It was unlike anything I've ever encountered...

I did not know how much farther Tech and I had to reach the top... For an honest moment in time, I thought we were about to die...

"Gah!!" Abruptly, my biceps were snatched and I was ripped away from Tech. My body was flung over the ledge like a rag doll. I crashed into solid ground on my shoulder, groaning. But, my first instinct when I realized where I was...was slapping the stone with my palms—the reassurance I was, in fact, safe washed over me. "Ho! Ah!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Yes!"