The Trio of Trouble

Chapter Four Pulled Under

Chapter Four

Pulled Under

We had been walking for hours. Marco had slowly lost his excitement and pride, and he was clearly struggling to find our belongings in the swamp. We made our way though the dark, foggy marsh taking every step with the utmost caution, not wanting to even touch the water, unless it was necessary. Once we had found a patch of land big enough for the three of us to sit, we gladly took it, tired of walking.

"This is harder than I thought it would be." Marco said, his face full of exhaustion.

He then carefully, lied on the damp, but soft plant ridden ground, and used his arm as a head rest. He closed his eyes.

"I'm gonna take a nap, wake me up when your ready to keep going." He said coolly.

I wanted to tell him that there was no time for naps, that we where quite possibly sitting in our own graveyard. I wanted to get out of that swamp as fast as I could, ans I could tell Jacos did to. But, I knew we couldn't get back out of that foggy maze without Marco's magic and if he where to wear himself out, we would be in big trouble. So I nodded and told myself he could sleep for just a little while. After a few moments, Maco's chest came up and fell, in slow content breathing. I shook my head. How does he fall asleep so easily?

I turned to Jacos. He was sitting hugging his knees close to his chest, staring at the water, fear in his eyes.

"Why are you so afraid of water?" I blurted.

Jacos whipped his head at me, as if my voice had surprised him. Then he looked down on the ground, his green eyes studying the ground. It was a few moments before he responded.

"My parents drowned." He said simply.

"Oh." I said, not really knowing what to say.

I had no idea if my parents where dead, they had left me with my grandmother when I was a baby. SHe never talked about them, never told me any details or even vague hints about them. I wondered it they where still out there, maybe looking for me. I had always wished that, though I knew deep inside there was a reason they had given me away, and they weren't coming back. Even if they where, they wouldn't find me with my grandmother. I was forced to leave her any everything I was accustomed to, when we had helped Marco. I hadn't seen my grandmother in years. Occasionally, I would stop by and see if she was alright, but I could never go inside and speak to her. I felt to guilty about how my life had turned out. She had taught me to live honestly, and I had done exactly the opposite. Ether way, I was parent-less at least for now.

"When I knew about that, I never wanted to be near water ever." Jacos continued. "When we where here last I thought I...was going to drown like my parents."

"I promise I won't let you drown today." I assured.

Jacos smiled slightly. I looked out to the water. All was still. A blanket of fog sat right above the water's surface. I couldn't see what was below, the water was as dark as Maco's hair. I peered over straining my eyes, in hopes of seeing someting below. All I saw was my own reflection peering back at me. My hair was a dark, creamy shade of brown, though in the water it looked muddy and gray. My eyes where also brown, so dark it was hard to see my lense in its center. I had a long, oval face, with srong cheek bones, and light lips. My eyebrows where thick and dark, giving my expresstons extra emotion. I never thought about my looks. It wasn't something I had time for. I was sure if I had been living a normal life, it would have been something I though t about every day. But when I didn't bathe, and I slept on the dirt ground, looks where very low in the list. I stared at my reflection.

I guess I am pretty. I thought, In a rugged, strong way.

Suddenly, my diamond necklace, fell out of my shirt and plopped into the water. I jumped back, snatching up the necklace. I remembered, our last visit; it had only taken a small ripple in the water to attract the creatures. I waited in silence, my heart pounding. Maybe they hadn't heard.

"Jack, whats wrong?" Jacos asked.

I could hear Marco stir behind me. I didn't move. I concentrated on listening to everything around me, my eyes glued to the water. After a few moments, I carefully leaned over the water again.

"Jack?" Jacos asked again.

Suddenly, A green, slimy, webbed hand erupted from the water, and grabbed my necklace. I screamed. The hand pulled me into the icy water. I kept screaming though water filled my mouth. The hand started pulling harder. I lifted my arm, curling my hand into a fist. It came crashing down on whatever was holding my necklace. My fist collided with what I guessed was the creatures face, and the hand quickly let go of my necklace. I threw my head back, gasping for air.

"Jack!" Jacos said.

Before I could do anything I heard Marco scream. I turned to see two creatures holding Marco and pulling him into the water. They were covered in slim, and bright green scales. They had huge, yellow eyes, and rows of razor sharp teeth. The only thing human about them was they had similar body shape. They had fins on their face, head, hands and rib cadge. They hissed and screeched at us, and pulled the flailing Marco into the muddy water. I lunged forward, grabbing Marco's torso, trying to pull him out of the monsters grip. But, I couldn't pull him alone.

"Jacos!" I called, "Help me!"

Jacos stared at us in complete terror. He was pale, his breathing quick, as he stared at the water. I felt the cold water fill into my boots, I was losing this battle.

"Jacos!" I shouted.

But, still I was alone. I pulled against the hissing creatures, causing Macro to cry out in pain. Marco was almost completely under water now, and my legs were almost completely submerged. I felt something grab my foot, I screamed and lessened Marco's grip just enough to have him ripped away from me.

"No!" I screeched.

Marco was pulled into the water, and the hand around my foot tightened, and pulled forward. I fell into the dirty water.

"Jack!" Jacos shouted.

I gasped for breath, right before my head became fully submerged. I was pulled at amazing speeds, downward just as the last time I had been at the swamp, except this time, Jacos was swimming beside me, knife in hand. He stabbed the creature's arm, sending it's scream to echo though the waters. I kicked it's face, and swam up to the surface, my lungs burning. Jacos and I gulped up air greedily, once we had reached the surface. I looked down scanning the dark waters for any clue of Marco. "Marco!" I called, though I knew he couldn't hear me.

I was about to dive back into the water, but I didn't have to. Strong slimy arms, grabbed my shoulders, and I was dragged back down. I struggled, but there was no use, the creatures where holding me too tight. The lower we got, the more I could feel myself slipping away. The pain in my lungs was unbearable, my need for air was unquenchable. It felt like the first time I had been dragged downwards by those creatures, but this time I knew I wasn't getting back up.

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Ohhh, cliffhanger!!!

I promise the next chapters will be longer, as the plot thickens! I hope you enjoyed! PLEASE tell me what you think by COMMENTING!!! And Voting!!

Until next time my little brownies,

-Jack

P.S not the dessert brownie