Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 18

CYBERLINK COVE (REEF’S HEAD)-2078

 

As soon as Eli heard Danny yell out that Ella was going the wrong way, Eli flicked the motor on and sped around the freighter, spraying salty droplets everywhere. He sharpened the focus on the night vision goggles that encased his eyes, squinting until he pinpointed Ella.

 

Eli maneuvered his way to the side of the large ship, watching as his half-sister dodged bullets and put a foot up on the railing, tumbling down into the water below. He searched the surface of the waves for Ella’s sleek dark hair to pop up, but he didn’t see anything.

 

Ria Sonwane quickly climbed down a ladder on the side of the freighter, diving into the water after Ella. She resurfaced a minute later with Ella’s dead body, trails of blood pooling into the ocean, dyeing it a dark maroon.

 

Eli let out a cry of pure, uncontrolled rage. Sonawane whirled around, seeing nothing but two bright beams of light blinding her vision.

 

“Eli!” Isla yelled out his name, but Eli barely registered his comm link. A deafening roar resounded in his ears, and the world came into focus with a startling clarity. Eli drew his pistol and aimed carefully at Sonawane’s back, pulling the trigger back and releasing it. A loud bang filled his hearing, and Ria Sonawane flinched in pain as the bullet connected with her shoulder, falling forward into the water and releasing her hold on Ella’s body.

 

Eli splashed into the water, feeling the impact of multiple bullets hit the water around him. He swam over to Ella, and grabbed her corpse. Grunting with the added weight, Eli kicked fiercely back to the speedboat, feeling the taste of the salt sting his lips. More security personnel swarmed the sea behind him, and Eli swam faster, until he reached the agile speedboat.

 

Lugging Ella’s body up into the small aquatic vehicle, Eli switched the headlights off and coughed up a torrent of water. He set the corpse to the side, Ella’s lifeless turquoise eyes staring up at the heavens. Swallowing a lump of sorrow, Eli shoved away his grief and instead concentrated on getting the hell out of there.

 

He sped full throttle towards Reef’s Head, struggling to take in breaths and choking on the liquid still clogged up his throat and nose. Eli heard the sounds of a pursuit taking place behind him.

 

“Eli? Eli? Eli, can you hear me?!”

 

An impatient voice fraught with concern broke its way into Eli’s mind. It was Isla, demanding to know, quote:  “What the fuck is going on?”

 

“I’m here,” Eli replied gruffly, his body still numb and in shock of what had just happened.

 

“Oh, thank God! Where’s Ella?”

 

Eli clenched his jaw, and threw the comm link to the floor. He gritted his teeth, narrowed his eyes, and streeled his resolve. Then he pressed the accelerator pedal down even harder, pushing the speedboat ahead. He would worry about the rest later.