Surviving the Waves

Chapter 7 & 8

Chapter 7: The Water Below

It wasn't long before the engine roared to life, and the yacht began moving through the gentle waves. But just as things seemed to be going smoothly, Kenji frowned, looking over the edge of the boat. "Uh, we've got a problem," he muttered, pointing toward the rear of the vessel.

Darius followed his gaze and spotted the culprit—seaweed, tangled thickly around the propeller.

"We're stuck," Kenji continued, shaking his head. "This thing won't go anywhere unless someone clears that out."

Without a second thought, Darius stepped forward. "I'll do it."

"What?" Yaz turned to him, surprise evident in her voice. "Darius, no, you don't have to. We can figure something else out."

Darius gave her a reassuring smile. "It's fine. I'll be quick. Just keep an eye out for anything... you know, big."

Yaz hesitated, her eyes searching his for any sign of doubt, but he was already heading to the side of the boat, preparing to dive into the water. Brooklyn and Kenji watched with wide eyes, but no one argued with Darius' decision.

The water was surprisingly cold as Darius slipped in, his body immediately tensing at the chill. He took a deep breath before diving under, swimming toward the yacht's propeller. The seaweed was thick, but Darius worked quickly, pulling it away with sharp, efficient movements.

The silence beneath the surface was calming at first—just the soft swaying of the seaweed and the gentle rippling of the water. For a brief moment, Darius' mind cleared, and all the tension he'd been carrying seemed to lift.

But then something changed. The water shifted, a ripple that felt unnatural. Darius' instincts kicked in, and he glanced up, his heart stopping when he saw a dark shadow moving toward him. Fast.

Chapter 8: A Swim for Survival

Darius shot to the surface, gasping for air as he called out, "Something's coming!"

Yaz was already at the edge of the yacht, leaning over as her eyes widened. "Darius, get out of there! Now!"

He didn't need to be told twice. The dinosaur was closing in—something large, sleek, and deadly, cutting through the water like a torpedo. Darius kicked hard, his arms slicing through the water as he swam toward the yacht. His muscles burned with the effort, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushed him faster.

Yaz reached out as he got closer, her hand extended. "Come on, Darius, you're almost there!"

The dinosaur was too close now. Darius could feel the water pulling at him, the waves growing stronger as the creature neared. He reached out desperately, his hand clasping Yaz's just as he felt a rush of water at his back.

With one powerful pull, Yaz hauled Darius out of the water and onto the deck. The two of them collapsed in a heap, panting heavily as the yacht rocked violently from the creature's impact.

"What the hell was that?!" Kenji shouted, his voice a mixture of panic and disbelief as the others gathered around them.

Darius sat up, catching his breath, and glanced back at the water just in time to see the massive head of the dinosaur break the surface. It was a Mosasaurus—a terrifying, prehistoric sea monster, its jaws snapping inches away from where Darius had been moments before.

"We need to move!" Darius yelled, pushing himself to his feet. "Get the engine running! Now!"

Brooklyn and Kenji scrambled to the controls, frantically working to get the yacht moving. Yaz stayed beside Darius, her eyes wide as they both watched the Mosasaurus circle beneath the water, its dark shadow looming beneath the waves.

Finally, the yacht lurched forward, the engine roaring back to life. The Mosasaurus followed for a few tense moments, but eventually, it gave up the chase, disappearing into the depths of the ocean.

As the yacht picked up speed, putting more distance between them and the creature, Yaz let out a shaky breath. "That was way too close," she murmured, still in disbelief.

Darius nodded, wiping the water from his face. "Yeah. Too close."

There was a long pause as they both sat there, the adrenaline slowly wearing off. Yaz glanced at Darius, her voice soft when she finally spoke. "You didn't have to do that, you know. Jumping in like that."

Darius looked at her, his expression serious but calm. "I did what I had to. Just like always."

Yaz stared at him for a moment, something unreadable in her eyes. She didn't press further, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Well... thanks. For saving us. Again."

Darius gave her a nod, grateful for the brief moment of normalcy between them, despite everything that had happened. "Anytime," he replied.

As the yacht continued toward the mainland, Darius leaned against the railing, the cool wind drying his damp clothes. He kept his gaze on the horizon, knowing that while the danger of the island might be behind them, the challenges ahead were far from over.