Hiding Royalty

14

They were all frozen in fear as the large beast just stared at them. Its lips were pulled up in a wierd way, as if to smile at its imminent meal. Lyra was staring at the beast in amazement, until it roared, then she felt her bladder betray her. Liam felt his stomach drop as he stared at the beast.

'Damn it, I have to do something or we're going to be easy prey. I'm at a serious disadvantage, but we could try and make it to shore but the beast will certainly come get us. Which means, I am going to sacrifice myself.' Liam thought to himself

Emma was barely able to stay afloat, her legs were getting tired, and it didn't help that she was a horrible swimmer. Liam even tried teaching her but she never could become better.

'I have to find a way to make sure Lyra and Liam make it to shore. Oh god, look at how good their names go together, so much better than Emma and Liam' She shook her head 'No, I mustn't think like that, I want Liam and me to survive but I also want Lyra to survive. Ughhh, no choice then.' Emma thought before mentally steeling herself.

"Okay, on three, everyone will swim as fast as you can to the shore. We are almost there, so it shouldn't be too difficult," Liam said trying to remain optimistic, and failing.

"But we won't out-swim that monster," Lyra replied not taking her eyes off the beast, for fear it may attack her.

"It is the only way, you two go!" He said sternly.

"One," Lyra mumbled.

"Two," Emma said.

"THREE!" Liam shouted.

All three took off towards the shore, with hasty speed. The beast froze for a second before roaring and disappearing below the surface.

Emma was surprised at how well she's keeping up with the others being about 10 feet from them, that was better than her previous attempts at swimming with Liam. They were about 100 feet from the shore. She instinctively looked back and noticed at the disappearance of the monster and started get hopeful that the monster lost interest.

"Hey, the thing disappeared, maybe it gave up," Emma said sounding hopeful.

What?" Liam all but shouted.

He knew predators, if they disappear from sight then that means they are preparing for an ambush. Liam stopped and saw that Emma was lagging behind, either out of exhaustion or thinking the monster has given up. If that monster followed them all the way until they were halfway to the island then it wasn't the type to give up.

Lyra was ahead of Liam and Emma, Lyra used to swim in their families lake for hours, so she was used to swimming. So when Liam told her to run, she focused solely on making it to shore. She was able to touch the wet sand and she looked back and she saw Liam yelling at Emma.

"Emma! Keep swimming, it hasn't given up," Liam pleaded with Emma.

"But it is gone," Emma said slowly swimming to Liam.

"That is what predators do, when they get ready for an ambush," Liam warned.

Emma suddenly felt her stomach drop, when she saw the monster disappeared she forgot all about giving up her life but the reality set in. Of course, how could have she been so foolish. Emma hightailed it as best as she could to Liam.

But it was too late. The beast wrapped it jaws around Emma's waist and lifted high into the air, as if to show off its prize. Emma felt an unimaginable pressure as the beast shook her and then threw her into the air. She landed in the water and resurfaced trying to catch her breath. Her vision was getting blurry, but she spotted Liam and used up her last remaining strength to shout.

"Liam! Liam, please don't waste your life being stuck on me, I-" Was all Emma could get out when the beast wrapped her jaw around her again and dragged her under the black water.

Liam was frozen in shock, and staring at the spot Emma was just at. 'She can't be gone, no. NO. She was always a fighter, she would get away' he thought to himself but he knew that was a lie. She was gone and never coming back. He felt numb to everything, and could feel himself sinking into the black depths of this watery nightmare.

Liam was almost underwater until he felt hands grabbing at him, he looked back and saw Lyra trying to pull him to shore. She grunted and pulled with all her might, they finally reached the shore. Liam slowly sat up and stared at the sand beneath him. He was trying to comprehend what he just witnessed.

Lyra was on breathing hard after dragging Liam to shore, she was shocked at what happened to Emma, sad even. She holding back tears trying to be strong until she heard Liam do something she never thought was possible. Cry.

Liam's shoulders shook as he wailed into the night at the loss of the most important person in his life. Lyra never heard anything more sad, not even when her older brother died in the war and her mom was hysterical. At the sound of Liam crying, she started crying to and crawled to Liam and hugged him tightly.