Chapter Sixty Two: Who Would Grieve If They Died At Sea?
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Eva made her way to the main cabin, the one sporting the bedroom, where she knew a connected bathroom was. "Hey!" She shouted as she entered the room.
Sammy yelped, falling backward onto her ass while Yaz breathed in sharply.
"Really, Eva?"
"Chill, I'm just here to brush my teeth," she said as she sauntered into the bathroom, on the hunt for some toothpaste. After procuring the tube, she pushed a pea-sized dot on her finger and began finger-brushing her teeth.
The boat rocked aggressively to the side once, nearly throwing Eva off balance.
"Did you guys feel that?!" Ben shouted from somewhere outside.
"Do you see it?" Sammy asked, in reference to the compy they were still hunting. "I don't see it. Okay, where to next?"
"Uh, just a sec," Yaz said, stopping her.
Eva spat the toothpaste into the sink, then rinsed her mouth twice. She froze in the bathroom, letting Yaz tell Sammy whatever she had to tell her without interrupting.
"I know you're having a hard time, uh, saying goodbye, and I, uh, wanted to make it easier... I drew a picture of all of us from day one of the ferry ride over. I couldn't remember everything and it could be better, but here," she rushed out.
It was silent for several moments before Sammy squealed. "Oh, Yaz!"
Eva peeked out of the bathroom to see the two girls hugging. Yeah, they'd definitely be really cute together.
"You can get everyone to put their deets on it," Yaz told her.
"Speed, strength, brains, a bright artistic future? What doesn't this girl have? Eva, come here. You have to see what Yaz made!"
"Coming!" she chirped before emerging from the tiny room.
Sammy held a drawing of the seven of them up, all decked out in clean clothes, posed on the ferry that took them to the island six months ago. Eva felt nostalgia staring at it, thinking back to that version of her that was fearless, and hated Kenji with her entire being. Oh, how times have changed. She may have been strong back then, but she'd been through so much, isn't it fair to say she's stronger now?
"I love it," she said with complete adoration. "Damn, Yaz. Sammy's right, you're a damn badass."
Yaz chuckled nervously, thanking her.
Sammy picked up a pen off the bedside table. "Okay, you first. Phone number and social media handle."
Eva grinned, plucking the pen from her friend's grasp. She wrote her name on the back of the paper, with her phone number and her instagram and snapchat handles underneath.
"Spotted skunk skiing twenty nine?" Sammy questioned, reading her handwriting.
"Skunks are really cute, and skiing is a lot of fun," Eva explained. "I really want a skunk as a pet."
Yasmina quirked an eyebrow. "Weird flex, but okay."
"Look up spotted skunks when we get internet, okay?" She said, a smile gracing her lips. "I swear, you won't regret it."
"Sure, sure."
Sammy gasped, "Oh!", then brought Eva into a bone crushing hug. "I'm gonna miss you, Eva. You're one of my best friends in the world!"
"This isn't the end," Eva smiled as she hugged her back. "We're still gonna meet up and hang out whenever we can. God knows Kenji and I have the money to get everyone together."
Sammy reached out a hand and brought Yaz into the hug. "I think you two are my two best friends," she muttered into their beings.
Eva caught Yasmina blushing under Sammy's words, and grinned. "Something tells me this is far from the end with us."
"Compy's headed for the deck!" Darius shouted as he ran by.
"Let's go, chicas."
The trios followed out after Darius.
"It's here somewhere. Anyone see it?" he asked.
Eva's eyes landed on Ben, who was standing next to several Jurassic World bags. "I figured I'd pack everything up before it could get to it," he answered her silent question.
"We'll find it. Fan out."
"Oh, real quick guys!" Sammy shouted, stopping the five in their tracks. "I know we're in the middle of a dino chase, but if I could just get all of you to put your info on Yaz's incredible drawin'— I already got Eva's, but I need everyone—" she paused, watched Yaz and Darius run after noises that hopefully were caused by the compy. "To jot their information down..."
"Later," she told Sammy. "We'll get you your info."
Sammy offered a warm smile.
~~~
The campers corned the compy outside the cabins, where it was busy chewing on a rope, before roaring softly at them.
"Ben, distract it," Darius instructed.
Ben nodded, then tossed some berries on the ground in front of the compsognathus. It screeched, then began eating the food. Darius approached slowly with a bucket, only to fall when the ship rocked.
Eva lost her balance and tumbled to the floor, alongside the others.
"What's happening?" she panicked. What if it was the lunch tray? Or something coming to haunt them? Not what Yaz was talking about, but something real. Something dangerous. What if Kenji was right— what if something happened, and she ended up back in the water and she couldn't swim her way out? She'd barely survived the gyrosphere and raft experiences. Now, she was too far from land to even have the hope she'd survive.
Ben repeated her question up to Kenji and Brooklynn, who came to meet them at the balcony.
"Prepellor's jammed," Kenji said. "Someone's gotta go under and check it out."
"Cap thinks we're stuck in kelp," Brooklynn continued. "And where there's a kelp forest, there are usually sharks."
Eva's eyes widened and she shouted, "Nose goes!" Before tapping her nose.
Sammy and Yaz quickly followed suit.
"Really, Eva?" Darius asked.
"Exhibit A: I'm scared of sharks." She raised her thumb. "Exhibit B: I'm scared of drowning." She raised her pointer finger, and then her middle finger. "Exhibit C: you're the one that jinxed it, Darius."
Darius sighed, looking out to the lapping waves. "I'll do it."
Thank god.
Yaz found some rope from one of the cabins, and tied it around the ladder to work as an anchor. Meanwhile, Darius slipped off his socks and shoes, and emptied his pockets of berries before tying the other end of the rope around his waist.
"You're sure you're okay to go alone?" Yasmina asked, as if she didn't voice her fear of sharks ten minutes earlier.
"I'll be fine," Darius told them. "Just be ready to pull me up."
Ben and Yaz stood at the rope while Brooklynn and Sammy watched the water anxiously. Eva made her way up to the bridge, where Kenji was standing over the controls, and keeping a close eye on the SONAR.
"Anything yet?"
She shook her head. "Darius will take care of it. He always does."
Kenji chuckled lowly. "This is exactly what I was worried about. I shouldn't have..."
"Hey, he'll be fine, mausebär."
"One day I'm gonna figure out what you're calling me, and then it'll be over for you."
Eva rolled her eyes. "It's not a bad term!"
"Oh yeah? Okay, so then, what does it mean?"
Her chest shook as she snickered. "Shut up."
"Why don't you come over here and make me?"
Eva blushed and fought the urge to smile. "Is that a challenge?" she asked in a mischievous gaze.
She moved closer, taking small steps until she was right in front of him. Kenji gently tugged on the collar of her hoodie, pulling her even closer.
Eva retaliated, teasingly flicking Kenji's nose.
Laughter filled the bridge until the two finally melted into each other's hold, their lips meeting in a sweet and passionate kiss. It was a moment of pure bliss and undeniable chemistry.
Kenji's hands found their way to Eva's lower back, where Eva's found home in his hair. She pulled softly at his hair, smiling as Kenji moaned against her mouth.
She laughed into the kiss, moving her hands down the back of his neck and against his cheeks. Her fingers brushed against the stubble on his chin. "I love this."
"You know what I love, Angel?"
"Why don't you remind me?"
"He's up!" Yaz's voice rang out.
Eva stepped away from Kenji; she was biting her lip, and the ghost of a smile was still present.
"Darius got it," Brooklynn said as she ran in the room. "Try moving forward."
Kenji put the boat into drive and eased it forward a few dozen feet. "Tell them we're good."
Eva nodded, then ran up beside Brooklynn, relaying the message. "We're all clear, y'all!"
An alarm started beeping, catching Eva and Brooklynn's attention. They both ran back into the bridge, looking down at the SONAR.
"Huh?"
"What is that?" Eva asked no one in particular.
"It looks big," Brooklynn whispered.
"Uh, must be a school of fish?" Kenji said, though it was more of a question.
Eva laughed, "With our luck?"
Brooklynn ran out to warn the others, or more importantly, Darius, who was still in the water. A beat of silence passed, as the shape grew closer to their unmoving boat.
"Shark?" She whispered.
"Once Darius is back on the boat, we'll be fine," Kenji said confidently. He added under his breath, "Dude better hurry, though."
"Back up the boat!" Brooklynn shouted at them.
Kenji flipped a switch and pulled back on the lever, but nothing happened. "It's not working!"
Kenji grabbed the telescope and ran out, Eva hot on his trail.
"No, no, no, no!" he shouted, looking through the telescope and out into the ocean.
"What is it?!"
"Shark!"
"There!" Yaz spotted. "It's heading right for Darius."
"Where'd it go?!" Kenji ran back to check the SONAR. "It's right on us!"
"Faster!" Ben shouted. "The boat's drifting!"
"Hurry!"
"Hold on!"
Darius reached out his hand, his fingers brushing against Ben's but something pulled him back. Darius fought against the current as Sammy went to join their efforts of pulling him to safety. They played a futile game of tug of war, ending with the rope snapping and Darius disappearing from view. The trio landed roughly on the deck, with a limp rope at their feet. The shark was close enough that Eva could see it with her naked eye: two dozen feet from Darius, and maybe four from the boat.
"We gotta get him outta there!"
"Is there a life preserver? Or another rope?" Ben cried.
Eva ran back into the cockpit just in time to see a second, much larger fish approaching the boat. It was so big on SONAR, she had to guess it was three times as large as the boat. But then, what could that possibly be? Unless Dr. Wu magically brought back the megalodon... Oh, no.
"What is that?" Kenji asked.
"Oh my god, how did it get out?!" Eva panicked.
"What? What got out?"
"A whale?" Brooklynn asked, who was suddenly by their sides again.
"Guys, I really hope I'm wrong but..."
"Angel?"
"I think that's the mosasaurus."
Brooklynn's hand latched around Eva's wrist, and suddenly she was being pulled to the balcony. Darius was still in the water, and looked like he hadn't moved from his spot. He was still struggling to tread water.
Kenji stopped beside the two girls, watching the waters intently.
And then, as Eva feared, the mosasaurus pushed out of the water, its eyes hungrily trained on Darius' flailing figure. It dipped back under water, disappearing from view.
"Why?" Brooklynn whimpered. "Why us? What the hell did we do to deserve this?"
Eva reached for her hand and offered a squeeze. There wasn't much else she could do. Once again, they were being hunted by a prehistoric animal, but this time, Eva didn't have the high hopes she usually did. They were in her domain, and something told her the mosasaurus would move faster than the boat.
Kenji's hand brushed over Eva's free hand, before he took off, sliding down the ladder. "Brooklynn, Eva, you guys stay at the wheel! The rest of you, be ready to pull us up!" He instructed before diving into the water.
Eva reached out a desperate hand, watching as the boy she loved dove head first into danger.
Her breathing quickened, she watched intently as Kenji swam out to meet Darius. The further he swam, the more Eva panicked, her heart picking up and beating sporadically in her chest.
Brooklynn tugged at her hand, "Come on! Come on, we have to go!"
She watched as Kenji and Darius both disappeared beneath the waves. Brooklynn pulled her away, and Eva stumbled over her feet as they ran back into the bridge. Brooklynn kept her eyes on the horizon, her hand resting on the lever that would propel them forward. "He'll be fine," she reassured. "They both will."
Her heart thudded in her chest. Words of reassurance only got her so far, and it was looking really, really bad.
"Brooklynn, get us outta here!" Ben shouted.
Eva's heart raced, its thunderous beats echoing in her chest like a drumroll of impending doom. She tried to steady her breath, but the air felt thin, like she was suffocating in a vacuum. Her skin prickled with a thousand invisible needles, and her vision blurred as the world around her twisted and contorted into a nightmarish kaleidoscope.
"See?" Brooklynn laughed.
The SONAR revealed the kelp forest, the shark, and the mosasaurus to be left behind.
Eva let out her breath, her eyes focused on the water. Maybe they would be okay. Maybe they could get away. But, how long would the mosasaurus's focus be on them? Would it simply move on, or... Or would this be where they make their final stand? They were off the island, but everyone already thought they were dead. So if they died now, who would miss them? Who would grieve? Who's heart will ache knowing they died at sea after all this time?
Something slammed into the boat, and Eva kept her hands dug into the control board to keep from toppling over. The SONAR beeped, and the vast shape of mosasaurus came back into view.
"No," she whispered, so lightly her heart caught in her chest. "No." She turned to Brooklynn, who was sprawled on the ground, her gaze flitting around lazily, confused. "Get up." She didn't move. Eva's eyes welled with tears as she pulled at her friend's wrists. "Get up! We have to... we have to..." A sob cracked through her throat.
Once Brooklynn was on her feet, Eva turned back to the control board, urging the boat to push faster.
Kenji pushed in, taking over.
The boat jolted to the side, the trio grasping onto anything to not fall.
"I'm gonna go help them!" Brooklynn shouted, finally gaining her bearings.
"Tell them to hold on!"
She disappeared in a flury of pink.
The mosasaurus collided with the boat again, and everything began to tilt left.
"Oh god, oh god," Eva whimpered as she slid towards the wall.
Maybe her death would be quick. Maybe she wouldn't feel what it's like to be eaten alive, or drown. Or maybe she'd suffocate in the dinosaur's stomach after being swallowed in one piece. Maybe she wouldn't feel anything. Maybe she'd be at peace.
The SONAR continued its continuous beeping, becoming only background noise as the boat was rocked back and forth, up and down. They were half under water when Kenji gasped, so loud it jolted Eva out of her panicked despair.
"Angel, there's land!"
Eva looked around confused, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of anxiety, unable to make sense at the fact that they had already hit land.
"There's land!" Kenji finally looked to Eva, his face dropping. "No, no! Don't panic! Stop panicking!"
And then, the bow of the boat leapt upwards with such a force, Eva flew backwards into the wall. Her body thumped loudly, and green and yellow spots danced around in her vision.
"Eva! Eva!" Kenji looked between the blonde and the wheel, and ultimately headed for the wheel. "You're fine, Angel. We're going to get to land, and you'll be fine, and everything will be fine."
The sound of water rushing echoed so loud, it filled her eardrums as the mosasaurus collided one final time with their boat. Wood split with wood, and the entire boat cracked in half from the force of the animal.
Kenji dove for Eva just as water flooded the bridge, and Eva finally lost consciousness.