Internal Light Part 2

Chapter 15

My stomach jumped into my throat as I downed the potion I snatched from Tanu. It tasted like seaweed, squid, and what I hoped wasn't blood, but it was better than facing the water alone. I didn't even know what the potion did yet, but I assumed it was good when Tanu smiled contently and grabbed Grandpa (who was sobbing uncontrollably) to pull him away from the coast. It was a long fall, but I barely finished the potion and took a deep breath just as I hit the water and was immediately thrown to the side by the thrashing dark waves. So far I felt no difference in my body. The water was throwing me across the ocean maybe even faster than Tinigi would have. I was already far enough from the island that the trees looked as small as popsicle sticks, and still no difference in how I felt except for the bad taste still in my mouth. Hoping I would free something soon, I continued gasping for breath every time I was able to get my head above the water. But then suddenly my neck started burning. Burning like someone had just set it on fire. I threw my hands over my neck to try and ease the pain and yelped when I felt I huge opening just below my jaw bone. My hands and feet began tingling as if they'd fallen asleep, and when I looked at my hand I saw my fingers were being stretched out and were now webbed...it was then I realized the openings in my neck I felt were most likely gills like a fish would have. When I thought about it, I realized I could now breathe through these gills, but it was different than my nose and mouth, so in a way I still had to hold my breath. But I could survive, and that was the important thing. Still clutching the knapsack, I dove into the water using my new...fin...things...to go below the thrashing waves and into the depths of the sea. I couldn't see very well since the sun hadn't come out yet, but swam back to the island anyway. Maybe I could grab Vanessa, Tanu, Grandpa, and Warren...I stopped. Warren sacrificed himself for me. And it was for nothing...unless I made the right choice. I poked my head up out of the water and remember that I had seen Tanu and Grandpa retreating away from the coast knowing I would be OK. I wouldn't be OK if I headed back to the island where Tinigi was probably waiting, and no one was there waiting for me. I turned in the opposite direction. I knew where another island was...so making a final decision, I sped off away from the island. Towards Roti.
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Navarog didn't come back for a long time, and his giant claw never released me while he was gone. When he did come back (still controlling Kendra) he was strolling happily and humming to himself. That couldn't be good. He plopped down in the auditorium seat next to me and traced Kendra's finger across my shoulder. I tried pulling away and he just laughed.
"What's the matter?" He asked dumbly. "I thought you were in love with me." He faked a giggle. I scowled and shouted through my teeth,
"Why you sick, twisted—"
"Now, sweetheart." He said lightly touching my nose. "That's no way to behave." I struggled in the grasp of the giant claw, but Navarog and I both knew there was no way I would free myself without help. He stood up. "I have just finished dealing with your little rescue party you must have sent for." I stopped struggling and looked to him in fear.
"I didn't send for a rescue party." Navarog scoffed.
"I know you did. They wouldn't have found you if you didn't send for one." Looking at him darkly, I asked quietly,
"What did you do..."
He smiled. And even though he was smiling with Kendra's mouth, that smile didn't belong to her.
"Nothing much...I just took care of your little friends before they could make their way to Roti, that's all."
"Who?" I asked, hoping it wasn't the Sorensons.
"Oh, no one..." he said. I screamed,
"WHO?!" He looked back at me innocently.
"Well, if you MUST know, it was only Stan traveling to your rescue." I shook my head.
"Only Stan?"
"No. He came with Tanu, Warren, Vanessa..." He turned to me darkly and finished, "Oh. And Seth." I shook my head sadly and looked up to him in fury.
"Did you hurt them?" He laughed.
"If by hurt you mean killed Warren and Seth scaring the rest away from the coast, then yes. I did." My head fell forward as I sobbed in disbelief and agony. Now both Kendra and Seth were dead, and it was all my fault. Navarog laughed. How could he laugh at something so cruel? Suddenly my chin was grabbed and faced towards Kendra's face. Navarog grinned.
"What's the matter, pretty boy?" He asked leaning closer. A little too close...
"Navarog, what are you doing?!" I asked pulling away. I was suddenly zapped by the claw-like hand holding me in place. I shouted in pain and met Navarog's eyes again. Navarog smiled darkly.
"I'm sorry...what did you call me?" I squinted at him in confusion until he shook his head and clarified,
"I believe you are accustomed to calling me, M'lady. Is that correct?" I scowled at him realizing what he was doing. Breathing heavily, I spat,
"You are not, and will NEVER be my Kendra. You MURDERED her, remember?" Navarog shook his head.
"What do you mean, sweet heart? I'm right here." He said leaning closer once again for a kiss. I turned my head and pulled back shouting,
"NO! I REFUSE! THIS ISN'T RIGHT! SOMEONE HELP!" I was zapped once again by the huge claw and screamed realizing just how alone I really was. Then the claw roughly shoved me down into the auditorium chair. I shouted and tried to jump up, but metal shackles in the chair clamped down over my hands and feet leaving me stuck still. The claw grabbed the top of my head. It still had the power to zap me...I pulled desperately at the shackles around my hands and feet, but Navarog climbed onto my body and grasped my face. This was going to be a rough few hours.