The Midnight: Dark Horizon

Chapter 10: Manifestation

     An explosion sent a column of water high into the air, obscuring their vision with frothy rain. Two humongous pillar bodies erupted out of the lake, towering over the puny boat. Synchronized rough hissing blasted into their ears as screams, morphing into nasally inhales after every call. Dark azure scales covered its physique excluding its shielded underside layered with large amber plates. Thick, cerulean curved fins the size of buildings stuck out from their squirming backs and behind their jaws, expanding and contracting with every loud breath it took. Two long faces with broad spikes as crowns positioned rearward let out deep heavy growls, vibrating the wooden craft. It flared its gaping nostrils, causing its teal nasal barbels to wave with the howling wind. Moving its head in place, the beast scanned its surroundings below with its enormous catfish eyes. Once it had spotted the floating group, the pair heads snarled, giving out another bursting roar as it fiercely shook its limbless body that connected both torsos. Waves upon waves punched the boat, rocking them side to side with such voracity that everyone clang to the mast. Kei, unable to keep clinging onto the sail with just her talons, used her beak to bite into the wood.

     "Namazzi!" Sebastian and Shani yelled together, trembling in horror as everyone held onto the boat for dear life.

     Mustering an uneasy smile, Nia kept her wide eyes fixed on the immense monster before her as she yelled over the storm, "I think I believe you now!"

     Gaining the courage to let go, Nia grabbed her bow from around her shoulders and an arrow. She pulled back the string with the arrow in place with all her strength, attempting to aim but struggling from all the wobbling. Finally able to estimate her shot, she released the arrow into the forceful air. Nia had let the arrow fly against the wind, allowing the gale to curve its trajectory to hit its mark. As soon as it made contact with the behemoth, it bounced off, not even leaving a single scratch on its scales. Bewildered by the outcome, she picked up another arrow and shot it in the same manner, only this time her target was the underside. Her attempt was fruitless, rebounding to sink into the water.

     "I can't penetrate its scales!" Nia put her bow in place, frustrated as splashes of water and rain soaked her by the second.

     The double-headed water serpent paused its thrashing. With a mighty inhale through its nose, it tilted its heads back as it kept staring directly at them. Namazzi jolted its torsos forward with its mouths wide open. Jets of water rushed out from its maws, releasing the flow in their direction. Before the attack hit, everyone ducked with their hands over themselves and Kei jumped out of the way and into the air. The blast eradicated the sail with such strength it almost capsized the vessel with the other burst, destroying the bow of the boat. Struggling to stay up from the accumulated water in her feathers, Kei glided back to the damaged craft, landing on its rim next to Shani.

     "This damn boat is gonna get wrecked along with us!" Doing her best to stay on, Camila switched to holding onto the broken mast.

     Looking around to see if everyone was alright, Aiden noticed Sebastian was missing, "Where's Sebastian?!"

     Searching in the area, Camila spotted him on the verge of drowning, "There he is! I'll go-"

     Before Camila got to finish her sentence, Shani leaped off the boat in Sebastian's direction. With all his might, Sebastian fought the waves slapping his face. Each time he attempted to take a breath, water filled the entirety of his mouth. Whenever he was plunged underneath, icy darkness swept over him, disorienting him which way was to the surface. Piercing through the abyss he heard more cries from Namazzi, reverberating his entire body from the sheer power. Submerged and swirling out of control from the currents, his limit for holding his breath was reaching its end. Sebastian was about to breathe, but before he did, a hand grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him up to the surface. Coughing with his eyes closed, he sucked in air through his mouth, gasping to refill his lungs with the continuation of surges pounding into him. Opening his eyes, he spotted Shani swimming with one of her hands as she carried him. The Obliriumite bracelet she wore shimmered brightly from its cracks under his chin, then faded back to normal. With a single throw, she hurled him over the edge of the boat and back to the group. As soon as he landed, everyone was worried sick as Camila helped him sit up, allowing Sebastian to hack out the remaining water in his throat. Shani hauled herself back onto the craft with the help of Nia and Aiden, thanking them for their help.