The Order of the Pig Story 5: A Secret Beneath the Waves

Chapter 16 - Finally Free!

PETRA'S POV

Sammy took me and Bailey to the very back of the cave into the darkest corner.

Petra: "Wait, this is the hatch right here? How did I not notice this before?"

Sammy: "Heh. Saturn wanted to make sure it was 'completely un noticeable' by putting it in the darkest corner of the cave."

Sammy took the key and unlocked it and opened it. While he was doing that, I told Bailey.

Petra: "Remember, buddy. We're sneaking. I know you want to swim around and play but you need to get above the Cloud first. Safety is what's most important. Do you understand?"

He made an assuring noise.

Sammy: "He also needs to be very quiet. Until we get up there. The Cloud is thick enough that when we get up there, we won't need to worry. But we all need to be completely silent."

Petra: "Got it."

When Sammy opened the hatch, light poured into the cave. We swam through the hatch followed by Bailey. The playful giant needed to contain his excitement. He's probably been in that cave for decades and now he's free. 'Just keep swimming up. No stopping and no looking back.' I kept repeating those words in my mind. When we got to the Cloud I whispered to Bailey.

Petra: "Remember, buddy. Just keep swimming up."

We then swam through the Cloud.

Petra: "*cough cough* Oh geez! What is that thing made out of?! That smelled horrible!"

Sammy laughed.

Sammy: "No one knows. It's more than just a dome of darkness. But it keeps unwanted attention away so we put up with it."

Petra: "Makes sense."

I looked at Bailey. He was swimming around and playing and making happy noises. I smiled.

Petra: "Stay close, goofball!"

I looked over at Sammy he was just staring around.

Petra: "Sammy?"

Sammy: "I had forgotten everything. I have been in that cave for 10 years. And the sky. I hope it's nice."

I smiled and took his hand.

Petra: "Well, I could tell you. Or I could show you. Come on."

Sammy: "But we need to wait for you're friend."

Petra: "We have some time. Come on."

I lead him up close to the surface. I then took his hand and put it above the water. He smiled.

Petra: "What does it feel like?"

Sammy: "It feels... like a breeze."

Petra: "Do you trust me?"

Sammy: "Yes."

Petra: "Then come up."

Sammy: "What?"

I surfaced myself and pulled him up. He just stopped and stared.

Sammy: "It's amazing."

Petra: "Yeah. It is. The sky is just one of those things us humans take for granted because we see it everyday."

Sammy looked at me and smiled. He splashed me.

Petra: "Hey!"

He laughed and hugged me.

Sammy: "I love you, Petra."

I smiled.

Petra: "I love you too, you jerk."

Sammy: "Heh. We should go back down."

Petra: "Yeah."

We swam back down and waited for Lukas. It wasn't too long before Lukas popped out of the Abyss.

Lukas: "Petra?!"

Petra: "Lukas! Over here!"

I swam up to him and hugged him.

Lukas: "Thank goodness you made it here safely."

Petra: "Haha. You worry too much."

Lukas: "For good reason!"

Petra: "Alright. Alright. I know. So what's the plan?"

Lukas: "Well..."

He told us the plan.

Lukas: "... And while that's happening, Jesse and Reuben will come tell us it's safe to go back down. In the meantime, I'll be waiting for them just below the Cloud."

Petra: "Alright. Are you going to be ok?"

Lukas: "Now look who's worrying."

Petra: "Lukas..."

Lukas: "I know. I know. I'm just teasing. I'll be fine. I'll just be on the other side."

I hugged him.

Petra: "Alright. See you soon."

He swam back down through the Abyss.

Sammy: "You all really care about each other, don't you?"

Petra: "Yeah. We've been on all sorts of crazy adventures together. We're like a family."