I began to feel scared, I had never been able to open my eyes underwater and my face and head were so numb that I had to force myself not to panic, and to focus on the fact that my aching body was being relieved of its duties by the water. Suddenly, there was a great suction and water began draining as swiftly as it had topped up the tank, and we were both forced out like large bullets into the thunderous ocean beneath the ship. My one goal now was to get to the surface. Already, my lungs were burning from the lack of oxygen, I tried to swim for the surface but it seemed to be getting further and further away.
I forced myself upwards but could hardly hold my breath any longer. I breathed out and gave myself another second or two of time, I forced myself closer to the surface and coughed into the ocean, naturally, I breathed back in and my lungs filled with seawater. I finally hit the surface, spluttering and gulping in deep breaths, which, because of the stormy seas only served to fill my body further with thick sea salt and grime. It was even harder to breathe now, every time I tried to take a breath, another harsh wave would slap my face and drive me under. I frantically looked around and could see the ship next to me and the Island in front but I couldn't swim, not only was I absolutely exhausted but the terrible force of the waves prevented me from moving. I decided to resign myself to the sea and let the tide carry me for a while.
The tide seemed to be bringing me towards one side of the Island, about half a mile around the corner from the dock. I desperately tried to keep my head above the water as the ocean waves repeatedly ducked me under.
The sea was an inkwell and swirling around me in a fierce whirlpool, desperate to suck me under and feed me to its grim darkness. I moved closer and closer to the Island on the current until with one almighty smack, I was thrust into the side of the Island cliffs. The mud from the cliffs filled my vision and I was blinded by mud and sea sludge. I was drawn back by the immense suction of the water and thrown against the cliff edge again, I desperately tried to grapple onto the cliff and managed it briefly before being pulled back in the next recession. I began to feel somehow a little more in control, slowly making my way around the Island.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, I could see the Cerberi huddled on the shore. I tried to wave but my muscles were exhausted and I couldn't begin to lift my arm. I managed to somehow grab onto a jagged rock, jutting from the underwater beach, whilst I clung on with the fraction of strength I had left, I closed my eyes tightly and hoped that someone would spot me. I had no concept of time but suddenly became aware of movement in my direction, I could sense people coming quickly towards me, this thought must have triggered my brain back into action and once again my muscles gave out and I was dragged back under the thick, powerful waves.
Suddenly, I felt a strong arm wrap around my waist and felt myself being pulled to the surface, all I could do was keep my eyes squeezed shut and allow my body to go limp. When I could feel pebbles beneath my back, I knew that I was safe, but still didn't open my eyes.
Another pair of hands grabbed me as the sea desperately trying to suck me back in, to no avail. I was laid down on my back where I began to cough and splutter, I tried to roll myself to my side but I couldn't, I felt a strong pair of hands roll me and I emptied onto the beach what I hoped was the contents of my lungs and stomach.
I continued to cough and as someone rubbed and patted my back, I managed to bring my hand up to wipe the wet sludge from my eyes and look at the Cerberi crouched in front of me. He was drenched, his black hair stood in thick black spikes that flared off in every direction, and it was Kuri, my fighting tutor, as if I needed another reason to disappoint him. He looked at me with concern and asked "what happened?" as someone placed a thick cloak and towel over him. I opened my mouth to respond but just purged again. Exhausted, I lay my head down on the beach and pointed to the ship "Venators," I forced myself to say, I whispered it again and Kuri stood up and turned to the other Cerberi and said something to them, whilst holding his cloak and towel around himself.
He came back over to me and gently, with the help of the other Cerberi who had been patting my back, lifted me up. I kept my head angled downwards, partly because I didn't know if I was going to be sick again and partly because I couldn't physically lift my head up.
I was shaking violently and when asked again what had happened by a Cerberi whom I recognised as the Senior Guard, I couldn't answer because my lips and teeth were chattering so hard. A towel and thick cloak were wrapped around me like Kuri had but I was still shaking hard. Suddenly, in a moment of clarity, my mind turned to Dan and the crazy guy who had helped me escape. "There are Cerberi trapped on the ship," I managed to hiss quickly between shivers.
The guard must have heard me because he looked at me with urgency and then jogged off down the beach to the others. Kuri took his top cloak off and placed it on top of my mountain of layers, he then put his hand on my back and one hand on my arm and led me to the only other entrance to the Island-the cargo tunnel.
We travelled halfway down the tunnel before I began to warm up and could feel pain again in my foot, along with my exhaustion, I began to drop thinking that it might be okay if I just sat in the tunnel for a while, but Kuri, being my fighting mentor and alternative support system, grabbed me and looked me in the eye. "You're better than this. Come on," he said with affectionate determination. I nodded once and continued to move with him into the Island.
The further I walked inside the Island, the less stiff my joints became, and despite the fact I was in pain with my ankle, walking was now considerably easier. However, now I had to make it to the sixth floor. Kuri left me with a guard when we reached the games corridor, the one that his room was on and somehow-I can't image how-I managed to make it to my room. The second I was in I lay on the floor enjoying the weight of the blankets and cloaks on top of me. My cheek against the floor felt wonderful and I briefly hoped that Dan was okay before falling into an exhausted slumber.
I awoke hours later to knocking on my door "Don't come in," I croaked, feeling a burning, swelling sensation in my throat. My mouth tasted horrible and my body felt like a wet flannel, soaked through and heavy. I shivered as I tried to move and decided that any movement would make me colder. "They've recovered the Cerberi from the ship," came the gruff voice of a guard "I was given orders to tell you-that is all." he finished, and walked off down the corridor.
"Thanks." I attempted to shout but doubted that he had heard me.
I eventually forced my shivering body to stand up and staggered to the bathroom. I dropped the blankets and towels and turned on the shower, which even at the lowest setting seemed scalding. I forced myself to step in, fully clothed and spent a long time standing there under the warm spray. I eventually brought myself to take my clothes off and throw them in the bin next to my shower, I was sad about getting rid of them but at the same time, Happy that I could finally get out of them.
After the longest shower in the history of Cerberi-kind, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel. I threw on some fresh clothes, brushed my teeth and felt a thousand times better. I then put on my thickest cloak and picked up the two cloaks and towel that had been wrapped around me on the beach. I folded them each up and looked at them, I didn't know who two of them belonged to but I knew the top cloak belonged to Kuri.
