Time, PT3

Chapter 2

We had just entered Devils Acre.  In a way, I kind of missed this place. We sailed through the canal, words not wanting to be shared. Someone would probably get pushed overboard if we did. So, we rode in silence instead.  Claire hid behind Bronwyn, Olive and Millard were taking in the horrid scene that was playing out around them. Everyone else just sat, no one really caring enough to break the silence. Sharon hummed an old Guns N' Roses song, the sound of the paddle going through the water making the silence even more awkward.
Finally, Enoch cracked. "Good god, could you stop humming already! That tune is so annoying!"
"It offends me to here that you think paradise city is annoying," Sharon said, his eyes going back to the water.
And then, an unforgettable pain shot down my spine and into my stomach, causing me to lurch forward. Emma put her hand on my back, wrapping her other around me. She helped me up, and the pain worsened.
"What's wrong love," she whispered to me, stroking my back. I could barely breathe, but I managed to choke out one word; "Hollow-"
As soon as I said it, the Hollow leapt from a building, landing on the boat. But it wasn't a normal Hollow; it was a normal person, clothes and all. I was very confused at first, and then it opened its mouth. The tentacles shot out, wrapping themselves around us all. We all dangled midair, some of us being lowered toward its mouth. Sharon watched the scene unfold, switching on the blade on his staff. He sliced off three of the tongues, making it drop Horace and Bronwyn. Horace landed in the water, drenching the Hollow. It shrieked, probably because of the gasoline and other pollutants in the water. It dropped everyone except me, dragging me farther into its gaping jaws. I didn't struggle, there really wasn't any point. I was in to much pain. Just as it dug it's teeth into me, it let go and screamed. I looked up to see Sharon had stabbed the Hollow in the back of the head, its blood carrying bits of flesh and brain into the murky water.
"Serves you right, ya ugly bastard." Sharon muttered, going back to rowing us across the water.
"That was a Hollow alright...but I could see it. How come?" Millard said, his thoughts starting to wander.
"And it looked like a regular person. How can that be?" Bronwyn said.
"I think I might know," Millard said, "I think the Gryym might be fusing the bodies of the Peculiars here with dead Hollows."
"How would they do it though?" I said, confused.
"They must stick them into the loops in the panloopticon, and then make them collapse. Which is how the Hollows  were created in the first place," Millard said.
"Now, would you guys stop your blabbering! Land ahoy!" Sharon yelled.
The boat ran up onto land, Sharon getting off to dock it. But, that didn't last long, because a surge of water slammed into the boat, causing it to spiral out of control. Everyone held onto each other, me shielding Emma and Claire from the water and wood that was flying everywhere. Suddenly, a massive crack opened in the boat, and water started to pour in. And finally, the boat hit the wall of the canal, splintering into a million pieces. Everyone was thrown from the boat, and a large cloud of smog enveloped us.
.......................
"My hat! Where is it?!" Horaces voice.
"Horace, shut up! The hat was stupid anyways!" Enoch's voice.
"It's okay, little ones, you'll be alright." Bronwyn.
"Guys, what is this stuff? Is it smoke or fog?" Millard.
I started looking around for Emma, and I noticed smoke coming from the water.
I dove down quickly, the water stinging my eyes. I saw her leg was caught on something.....a tentacle. Somehow, a Hollow was in the water. I came up for air, shouting for Bronwyn. She came out of a wall of smog, and we dove under.
The Hollow had a pretty good grip on Emma still. But it was dying. The way it's eyes were glazed over, and it's jaw was lazily hanging open. I found a good sized metal pole, and I started to beat it with the pole while Bronwyn tangled with tongues. I heard a few tears and shrieks, and Emma came loose. I thrust the pole into the Hollows eye, and I swam away as it crumpled and tumbled down a cliff.
We surfaced, our lungs crying for air. Bronwyn and Emma shared a hug, and Emma embraced me, her arms around me. We floated there, arms around each other, our breathing heavy.  We separated, and we all swam to shore.  I flopped down onto the ground, exhausted.  We were all exhausted for that matter, we all were sleep deprived, hungry, and hurt. 
"Oh my god!  Are you okay?" Horace said, rushing to Enoch.  Enoch hugged Horace, and Horace hugged back.
"I'm fine.  You?" Enoch said, pulling away.  Horace nodded, and buried his face in Enochs shoulder.  They sat there, holding eachother.
"Um....can I get an explanation?" Emma said, confusion crossing her face.
"What about a reality check?!" Millard insanely surprised.
"Hold it....are you two...you know....a thing?" Bronwyn said.
"Uh..........Yes?  No? I don't know? I guess so?" Horace said, his face flushing completely red.
"So what?  Jacob is allowed to be with Emma, Fiona and Hugh were together.  The moment I'm happy, you guys act like it's the end of the world!  It's so UNFAIR!!!" Enoch screamed, tears pouring out of his eyes.  Horace hugged him, smoothing back Enochs hair. 
     Well, after we all recovered from the shock we had just recieved, we called out into the smog, to see if Sharon was okay.  He finally came out of a cloud of the stuff, the Hollows head lolling around on the top of his staff.
"New trophy, I see." Millard said, nervously raising a finger towards Sharon.
"Yep.....I like being a show off." Sharon said with a grin.
"Oh, wow.  The boss is gonna be happy with this load."