Chapter 44 Kraken!
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Yep. That's it. I was sleeping and having some outlandish nightmare. There was no way I was going to accept this was real.
"What the bloody blue blazes are that?" Lachlan was staring into the water.
Harris lifted his camera and pointed in the direction of the water, while Mom struggled closer to get a better look.
She gasped, her face lighting up. "They're here!"
I pulled myself up and struggled my way around the bench to get a closer look.
A mass of electric blue light grew inside the water below the creature. Without warning, the Kraken let go of the boat and we dropped back into the water.
We got swallowed by dark water for a split second, shooting back upward again and water rolled off around us.
I coughed seawater, opening my eyes in time to see the Kraken's entire body wrap in blue, electrical currents.
The thing released an unearthly wail before it sunk back into the dark depths of the sea. Just like that, the vicious Kraken was gone.
Harris, Mom, and Lachlan were laughing.
"Have you lost your minds?" I couldn't help it.
"I've got it all on film," Harris cried out with joy. "Can you believe it. Everything!"
"Great job," Mom cheered, struggling to get up onto her feet.
"We better move before that bugger comes back for a second round," Lachlan got up from the floor. He reached to help Mom up. "Next time we won't be so lucky."
Mom nodded thanks and hurried over to me. She held out a hand to help me up. "Are you okay?" Concern marred her features as she checked me for any injuries.
"I'm doing fantastic," I gritted.
Mom pulled me into a hug and my anger subsided. I knew this meant the world to her, but we almost died tonight. We could still, if they didn't get moving right now.
"I'm so sorry love, I didn't think it would go down like this," she said. "If I knew it would be this dangerous I wouldn't have brought you."
I didn't know what to say, so I let her keep hugging me.
"But you have to admit, we got some pretty good stuff," Mom pulled away, grinning.
A scowl formed on my face. "There's that at least," my tone was bitter. Okay, maybe I wasn't ready to forgive her yet.
Harris peered into the water. He lifted his camera and pointed at the water. "There's something coming back up."
"Well shit." Lachlan darted for the wheel to start up the boat. I was surprised to hear the roar of the engine. After the shakedown we got, I had doubts if the cruiser would ever see the day of light again. "Not sticking around for a second go, thanks."
"You're right. We've got more than I bargained for," Mom nodded. "Harris, keep filming it. The more footage we have, the better."
"What I've been doing the whole time. I 'aint missing nothing." He kept his focus on the water.
I held onto the railing and peered into the murky sea. A darker, black mass had formed within it and seemed to be growing bigger.
My heart moved back into my ears as I realized the creature was returning.
The boat started to build distance between us and the dark shape. Relief washed over me. It looked like we would get out of here without it following us.
It wouldn't go on land, would it?
I glanced at Mom, who was grinning at me. I offered her a weak smile, looking at her in a different light.
If she had been right about these things existing, what else was she right about?
"I think I believe you now," I said. "But you owe me one heck of a chocolate for putting me through this ordeal."
A few, for that matter.
"Any kind of your choosing," Mom beamed.
"And throw in a few—"
Mom's face morphed into a look of pure horror. She gasped, her hand reaching out for me as she cried out, "Carly, look out!"
I turned in time to see a massive tentacle rise up beside the boat and dart down toward me.
It hooked itself around my body and tugged me toward it. The last thing I heard as I got swallowed by the dark water was Mom's hysterical screaming.
