Chapter 45: Lines in the Water

The fog pressed in around us like a living thing, thick and suffocating, twisting every sound into something unfamiliar. The boat rocked violently with each wave, splashing cold water onto my arms, soaking the sleeves of my jacket. My sister clutched my hand, shivering not entirely from the cold. Fear and adrenaline combined into a tension I could feel pressing against my chest.

I stole a glance at Elliot, my dad’s best friend his eyes scanning every shadow on the water like he could predict movement before it happened. There was no hesitation in the way he moved, no wasted energy, only precision. I wanted that kind of calm in me, but the truth was I was terrified. My pulse raced, every nerve screaming at me to anticipate the next threat.

Marcus, my stepbrother was crouched near the stern, eyes darting back toward the pier, where the fog still twisted and hid unknown dangers. Liam, my sister’s mate, gripped the wheel, knuckles white, jaw set, muscles taut as he fought the currents and kept the boat steady. I could feel his tension radiating like a warning through the floorboards.

“We’re not out yet,” Elliot said, breaking the silence, his voice low but firm. “That shadow we saw, she’s not working alone. And there’s more coming. You need to stay sharp.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know,” I whispered, trying to sound braver than I felt. My sister leaned closer, resting her head briefly on my shoulder. I could feel her trembling, and it made my stomach knot. I had promised her safety, and yet here we were, hurtling through the fog into a web of unknown threats.

A sudden ripple in the water caught my attention. Something large was moving beneath the surface too fast, too deliberate to be a fish. My stomach dropped. “Liam… slow down,” I hissed, pointing toward the dark shape.

He glanced at me, frowning. “It’s too late. We’re committed.”

And then the water erupted.

A rope net, coated with something slick, shot up from below, attempting to snag the boat. I screamed as it tangled around the bow, throwing us dangerously off balance. Elliot grabbed the edge, yanking the net with a strength that made my jaw ache just watching. Marcus and Liam moved like a well-oiled machine, cutting, pushing, and steering to avoid disaster.

Through the chaos, I noticed her the woman from the pier. She had made her way onto a smaller speedboat shadowed by the fog, coordinating the attack with someone unseen. She laughed a low, cold sound that sent shivers down my spine.

“Persistence can be entertaining,” she said, her voice drifting across the waves. “But even the cleverest prey eventually tires.”

I clenched my fists. “I’m not tired,” I muttered under my breath. “Not yet.”

Elliot gave me a quick glance, a hint of approval in his dark eyes. He never complimented lightly. “Good. Keep that thought.”

The boat lurched again as a smaller craft collided with us, rocking us violently. I nearly fell overboard, but Liam grabbed my arm just in time. My sister cried out, holding onto both of us. I swore silently. This wasn’t about brute force; this was about timing, precision, and trust.

I could see Marcus’s plan forming instantly, his hands moving over a makeshift control panel, checking lines, calculating angles, and directing our movements. He didn’t speak much during moments like this. He didn’t need to. His actions said everything.

I, on the other hand, had to decide: do I stay put and let the men handle it, or do I take matters into my own hands? I realized then I couldn’t just follow. I needed to act.

I grabbed a rope dangling from the side of the boat, looping it around a post on our craft. Then, heart hammering, I swung myself toward the smaller boat where the woman was perched. Every second stretched endlessly, every movement could be fatal.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she recovered quickly, drawing a blade from her coat. I ducked instinctively, rolling across the deck of the small craft. The water splashed over my jacket, chilling me to the bone.

Elliot shouted from our boat, his voice commanding. “Don’t let her distract you! Focus on the sister first!”

I froze for half a heartbeat, torn between my sister’s safety and the woman’s challenge dangling in front of me. And then I realized: I didn’t have to choose. I could handle both.

I moved faster than I thought possible, lunging toward the woman’s wrist, twisting her blade hand sharply. She screamed, but not enough to distract me from the bigger problem: the net she had left floating in the water was closing in on our boat, threatening to entangle the propeller.

“Marcus!” I shouted. “Net, it’s moving fast cut it!”

His voice came sharp and immediate. “Working on it!” He cut with precision, freeing the propeller just in time.

Liam roared in frustration, spinning the wheel to avoid another collision. My sister clutched my arm, eyes wide but trusting. Elliot leapt from our boat onto the smaller craft, engaging the woman in a brutal, calculated fight. She was strong, but he was stronger and faster.

I took a deep breath and focused on the fog. There was something else out there, something I hadn’t accounted for. Movement beneath the water. Too purposeful to be random. I realized with horror that we weren’t just escaping her. Someone or something was waiting for the perfect moment to strike from below.

My heart pounded. Sweat ran down my back. Every sense screamed danger. And in that moment, I felt it the weight of responsibility. Not just for myself, not just for my sister, but for Elliot, Marcus, and Liam. We were a unit, but I couldn’t rely on them alone. I had to act.

I grabbed a flare from the side of the boat, striking it against the hull. A brilliant red light flared across the fog, illuminating the water. The mysterious shape recoiled, hissing like a startled predator. For a moment, we had leverage.

But leverage was fleeting. The water surged again, and the boat rocked violently. A shadow darted beneath, closer than before. My breath caught. Another figure. More unknown danger.

I glanced at Elliot, my dad’s best friend eyes dark and calculating. Marcus, my stepbrother ready for any command. Liam, my sister’s mate gripping the wheel with white-knuckled determination.

And me? I realized, with a jolt of fear and exhilaration, that tonight, the line between survival and disaster had blurred completely.

Before I could act, the shadow surged upward from the water, massive, deliberate, and unknowable.

My stomach dropped. We were not ready. Not yet.