Disappeared once or twice

9. The actual journey

"Alberto! You ready." Luca happily shouts to get the older boy's attention. "Yeah yeah." He replied cantankerous, really not enjoying being waked this early. To keep on schedule they had to leave at 8 am, he was lucky he didn't have the first boat-pulling shift. Otherwise he'd have to wake up even earlier to get ready. 

They had already loaded their luggage on the boat the evening before. That way they didn't have to do so much in the morning and Alberto really enjoyed not waking up until 7:50. The only thing left to do was to say goodbye to Massimo and then they could head out.

The farewell fell heavy, like a thick blanket covering them in sadness. Especially on Giulia, she hasn't seen her father all year and now she's leaving him behind again. She had left a letter on his nightstand telling him she loved him very dearly and that she's hoping to be back soon to give him a warm embrace. 

They stood their in silence, the three kids in front of the tall intimidating man. Both groups too afraid to say goodbye. All taking this little moment to appreciate the time they spend together, because what if this is the last goodbye they'll ever say to each other?

Luca broke the silence by stepping forward and pulling the man in a big hug. "Goodbye Massimo, thank you for all you've done for us. Keep an eye on my parents will ya." Luca had avoided his parents for a bit, 'cause otherwise he knew it would be very difficult to leave again. 

Giulia and Alberto soon followed his example, stepping forward and putting their arms around his big and steady waist. In return he embraced them too, his arm warm and comforting. A silent tear made its way down his face. He wiped it away before his daughter could see him cry, his little girl was so grown-up now. She didn't need her father anymore to tell her what she could and could not do.

Massimo distanced himself from the kids and they silently walked towards the boat. Giulia and Luca were silent because of the pressuring atmosphere, Alberto was quiet because of his lack of sleep. At their arrival Massimo waved them goodbye as the younger boy jumped in the water, while the other two went inside. The seamonster immediately dropped down at the couch, to catch those extra few hours of sleep. Giulia was at the wheel, reading the map thoroughly and adjusting their direction every now and then. Luca was doing a splendid job at pulling the boat. 

Soon enough three hours had went by and it was Alberto's turn to pull. Giulia gently shook him awake. "What. Where am I?" The sleepyhead really was clueless. "In your own boat dummy, it's your turn to pull it." "yeah yeah, but first breakfast." Giulia sighed at Alberto, but when he got up she couldn't hold her laugh in. He was probably the worst case of bed hair she had ever seen. The usually fluffy curls were now tangled and the position in which he slept made them flat.

"Here you go." She handed him a pre-made sandwich. They had a little bit of food on board that had an expiration date coming up, so they decided to consume that first. Alberto basically threw the sandwich in the back of his mouth, chewed twice or thrice and went outside. 

"Yo Luca." He yelled as loudly as he could, the remainders of his sandwich landed in the sea. Luca's head popped up between the dangerously moving waves of the ocean. He tilted his head slightly, to ask what Alberto wanted from him. "We're switching it up." Alberto said while he took a graceful dive into the water. His body immediately changing from human to a more fishy one. 

He could now move way more aerodynamically through the sea. He helped Luca on the boat by giving him a shoulder to stand on. Then he went under the surface, searching for the rope attached to the strongest point of the boat. When he had finally found it he grabbed it tight and started swimming. He saved his stamina for this, starting smart by not using all his energy at once. At the pace he was going he could easily handle swimming for an hour or three. 

He had been going for a while when he suddenly noticed something weird behind them. A creature was following them. Not one, but two green monsters were very close. The further Alberto swam, the more the followed. When he changed his pace, they adjusted it too. 

Fuck, could this trip be the end of them after all?