The Search For Peace 2

Chapter 16

Water. It was her element. It was her power. She could summon it, control it, shape it. And yet, this sea of water, raging as it's waves slashed at them, and the one falling from the thundering skies, showering them endlessly, was beyond Harmony's control. She clutched the railing behind her and watched, helpless, as the two enormous fishes made from the sea itself circled the wobbling yacht.

She groaned as one of them hit them from the side, her knees colliding with the wet floor. She could see the Captain up ahead, trying his utmost best to steer the ship spinning out if his control. But, some part of her knew, that it was impossible to get out of this mess now.

"Harmony!" She could hear Sanjay's voice, but he wasn't in her sight. "Where are you?!" It was clear he couldn't see her, either.

"I'm right here!" She struggled to get up, her shin flaring up with pain. "Are Ralph and Carter okay?" She cast a wary glance at Alyssa, who still hadn't moved.

"No!" Her stomach sank at his response, and she tried her best to make her way to the other side. If they were going to do something, they had to do it together. But before she could even take a step forward, the strange siren-like sound returned, and a large shadow cast over her.

Her heart pounded with fear, and the girl slowly lifted her head, gawking at the massive jaws of water towering above her small frame. She screamed as the waves came crashing down, her hand still gripping the railing. Until it broke. The steel snapped from the pressure, causing her to lose her balance completely. With a shriek, Harmony fell off the edge of the ship, gripping the twisting bar for dear life.

To make matters worse, the yacht tilted her way, as if to offer her to the angry ocean beneath her. "Damn it!!!!" The girl cried out, desperately reaching for the ledge she was once standing on. Her fingers brushed something else when they did, and her eyes grew wide when she realized who it was. "Alyssa!" She was unconscious though, so obviously she couldn't do anything about falling. As she skidded off the ship as well, Harmony grabbed the fabric of her shirt, her hand all but tearing off when she was completely dependant on her grip. "Ah, God, why'd you have to fall, too?!"

It was no use. Her other hand was slipping off the unhinged railing, the one holding Alyssa's limp frame was about to snap in two. She didn't know if her forehead was moist because of the rain or her sweat, and she wouldn't have cared if all of that moisture stayed out of her gaze. Her fingers loosened their grip, and she closed her eyes, suddenly seeing the end for herself. She just wished Alyssa wasn't going down with her too.

But it was like the world didn't want to let her lose hope. The moment her hand left the railing, another one grabbed it. Her eyes shot open, and she took in the grunting individual straining to pull her up. "Hang on!" Sanjay used all the strength he could muster, the veins on his neck popping as he attempted to save the two girls dangling for dear life underneath.

It wasn't working, though. How could it? The wind currents were too strong, and the boat was sinking. And who knew when those fishes would attack again. But, his attempt to save them stirred something in Harmony. "Let go!" She yelled, blinking back the tears welling in her eyes.

Sanjay stared at her with a horrified expression, gasping for breath. "What-No! I'll go down with you, but I am not letting you go!"

"You have to, idiot!" Her determined, narrowed gaze seemed convincing, but he shook his head. "Or else everyone's going to die!" For a brief moment, he glanced behind him. The Captain was sprawled on the floor, and there was blood under him. Ralph and Carter were on the other side, passed out as well. He gritted his teeth. She was right. He was the only one left to actually do something.

"Please, Sanjay!" He looked back at Harmony as she tugged him into attention. He didn't want to ignore the tears in her eyes. He didn't want to let her go. "Just trust me." The boy gripped her even tighter. "I promise I won't die."

And that was it. It was all he needed to hear. His fragile heart was finally ready to let go of her hand. It would be okay. Because she promised him. With his eyes shut, he released her and placed his hands on the planked floor by his sides. He heard them hit the water. But he couldn't bring himself to check. He wanted to scream, and he probably was screaming, except over the rumbling of the sky, and the noise of the slapping waves, he couldn't possibly be heard.