Pokémon PrismGold

Chapter Forty-Five: "Fire Burns"

Nate struggled to get to his feet in the dark, pulling and pushing himself off the walls and dash of the ship. Seeing the orange light coming from the front of the ship, Nate saw Mark leaning forward a little to look at something. When his head jerked back with a startled gasp, Nate asked him softly. "What?" Mark's dark silhouette turned to look in his direction, answering slightly rattled. "We've got to get off the ship. Now." From the other corner, Sean asked curiously. "Why? What's wrong?" Mark didn't answer. Nate staggered forward to look for himself. Reaching the front, Nate leaned over the dash to see exactly what was causing the light. The rain sizzled over the molten lava beneath the broken pieces of island rock that the ship had smashed apart. Mark grabbed his arm tightly, his scared face finally visible in the dim light cast by the lava. Nate exhaled slowly, saying coolly. "I was really hoping we'd make the dock... The whole island has rivers of this stuff..." The front of the boat shifted, causing Nate to fall into Mark's chest. Swallowing, Nate whispered to Mark. "The boat is melting... fast." Chad scrambled over to Mark, wrapping his arms around Mark's arm like a scared child.

Mark stared intently at Nate, asking a bit shakily. "Can we make it to the dock?" Nate looked out a broken side window. He could faintly see the red lights indicating the dock through the heavy rain and swallowed uneasily. Bowing his head, a bit, he told Mark honestly. "With the storm... It could help us... or get us killed." Mark looked to Chad, ordering him. "Chad, get into your ball." Chad shook his head, burying his face in Mark's arm. Mark grabbed his ball, holding it up as he ordered him. "I'm not playing around. Get in. I don't want you to get hurt." Chad slowly backed up and Mark added more wholesomely. "And Chad... Don't come out until I tell you. That's an order." Chad clearly saw how scared Mark was but lifted his ghostly hands to touch his ball. Mark recalled him, then told Nate reluctantly. "I'm following your lead." Sean moved up to them, asked perplexed. "What's going on?" Nate helped steer Sean away from the front. Leading them toward the back of the ship, Nate called over his shoulder. "We've got to go before anyone shows up."

Outside in the rain, the lightning flashed across the sky and the thunder roared. The waves splashed the back of the ship making the metal sizzle. Nate extended a hand to show them, stating out nervously. "Stay away from the water!" Sean gawked as the back of the ship continued to sizzle even with the rain hitting it. Pointing to it too, Sean stammered out. "Nate...?! WHY is the ship doing that?!" Nate pulled them to the side, peeking over the ship's railing. Fresh lava was oozing down the belly of the ship and hissing as it hit the ocean water. Sean leaned over, then screamed out. "LAVA! OH, FUCK NO!" Sean bolted away from the side and Mark grabbed him to settle him down. Sean shook his head, unable to stay still as he rushed out. "No! We can't be here! It will melt the ship! I've seen what lava does to a human! I don't wanna die like that!" Mark tightened his arms around him, yelling out. "Stop! STOP! Sean! Panicking isn't going to help! Calm down! Think!" Sean shook his head, starting to gasp for air as he whined out. "I can't... I can't breathe..." Nate gripped the rail, watching Sean's panic with a heavy heart.

Mark forced Sean to his knees, pulling him close to his chest to tell him calm and soothingly. "Sean, we'll be fine. Calm down." Mark hid Sean's face against his chest, locking eyes with Nate as he asked. "What's your plan?" Nate pointed off, replying grimly. "This is pahoehoe lava... If it's been sitting awhile, we can walk across it." Mark licked his lips, mumbling out. "And if it hasn't...?" Nate gave him a scared look that answered it without words. Nate looked out at the rock between him in the dock, then told them seriously. "The Harbor Master will have seen our wreck. The Valor Rangers will arrive any minute to rescue the crew and salvage supplies... You don't have to come with me. You can stay and wait..." Mark released Sean, snapping out. "You plan to walk across that?!" Nate hefted a sigh, looking out at the ocean as his red Gyarados still fought with the blue one farther out. Looking back at Mark, he told him seriously. "They are looking for me... Not you two. You can be rescued, and I'll meet you inside."