Chapter 43 Creature
577words
I felt moisture wash over me before my eyes flew open, and I bolted upright to see Mom and Harris clinging for dear life onto the railings.
Lachlan was standing by the wheel, struggling to maintain control over the swaying boat.
"Carly," Mom shouted. "Get down and hold on to something!"
"What—" before I could say anything else the boat rocked to the side, to a point that I realized with great horror that we were about to get tipped over into the abyss of dark, shark-infested water.
I fell to the floor and clung to the bench. "Mom!"
"Hold on," she yelled over the noise.
It felt like an eternity that the boat remained suspended on its side. By some miracle, it lowered back upright, rocking forcefully.
Another wave crashed over us. I reacted too late, snorting and choking on salt water.
I could hear Mom screaming at Harris to keep the camera rolling while I processed the shock of the burn inside my nose.
"Mom, we are about to get thrown over," I choked out. "Now is so not the time to—Oh. My. Word."
A gigantic shadow cast over the boat. At first, I thought it was a bigger wave about to crush us until I glanced up. I screamed. "Mom!"
"We need to get the spotlights off. Now," Lachlan shouted. "We're all going to die if we don't!"
Mom appeared hesitant, glancing between the lights and Lachlan.
Afraid it might already be too late, I cried out. "Mom, please!"
I closed my eyes, sobbing and holding on for dear life, refusing to acknowledge what I had seen.
It was the same shell-encrusted tentacles I've witnessed on octopus man, times size a hundred. They're around the small boat, while two wiggled right above us as if it was deciding which target to pin down.
"This is not real," I struggled. "This is not happening."
Someone stumbled past me. I glanced up to see Harris gripping the railing, reaching to switch off one of the spotlights.
Mom was switching off another one while Lachlan was still fighting the wheel.
I dared a peek upward, only to regret the notion immediately. "I'm dreaming. This is nothing but a bad dream, Carly. Wake up."
The last spotlight flicked off, and blackness prevailed. The colossal creature rose into the air above us, lifting the boat from the water and shaking it sideways like a toy. Stuff glided across the deck, and I almost got hit in the face with a pole.
I prayed it belonged to the equipment and wasn't a part of the boat breaking apart.
"Carly, hold on honey," Mom shouted, sounding calm considering the circumstances. "Harris, got it?"
"Yep," he was freaking grinning. He maneuvered himself down onto the floor, his legs wrapped around one of the railings, filming the disaster unfolding around us.
They have, without a doubt, fallen off their rocker—heads first.
Lachlan appeared to be the only other one in distress, clinging to the side of the wheel and peering up in horror at the creature. "Holy mother of Krakens!"
"Isn't it beautiful?" Mom beamed at it. "Not what I was expecting, but what a stunning find."
I swear if we made it out of here, I'm having a serious talk with her and Dad to get her some therapy.
If we survived this.
