He felt something grip onto his back.
One of the fallens lifted him into the air.
Several tentacles burst from the water and flailed about around them.
One of the tentacles whipped the fallen beside them so that he fell back into the water. Another gripped onto Treycore’s thigh and ripped him from his captor’s grip.
Treycore stabbed at the tentacle around his leg so that it released him.
The creature rose from the water, black eyes filled with a sinister look. It latched onto the fallens and dragged them under the water as it continued to rise until it was as tall as the ship.
Treycore hadn’t realized how much had been concealed beneath the water’s surface. This beast was far too big for him or Eilee, or any of them to take on.
He swam toward the ship.
Another tentacle came down at him from overhead. He paddled to the side to evade it, but it was too thick.
He felt something wrap around his chest, beneath his arms, and pull him into the air.
“I’m here!” Eilee exclaimed as she dodged the tentacle. Two fallens, who must have been chasing quickly behind her, found themselves in the tentacle’s path and were smashed into the river.
“You’re so heavy!” she cried as she sped through the fog.
She moved away from the ship, dodging the tentacles carefully.
As Treycore glanced back, he watched the creature move toward the fallens’ ship.
He almost felt bad for leaving them with the monster. They would have been far better off had they allowed him to pursue his quest.
“I don’t think I can do this much longer,” Eilee grunted.
She sank steadily until they hit the water.
As they swam through the mist, Treycore struggled to see the shore through the mist ahead. He could only hope it was near.
After a few minutes, he saw lights in the distance. Small specks, like floating orbs.
“It’s close,” he said.
He swam faster, until he saw a shore just yards away. The mist cleared, revealing a blue sky. Past a series of rolling hills, he could see the skyscrapers of Renovere.
He grinned. Soon, he would be reunited with his Kid.
As he felt the ground beneath his feet, he ran from the river.
He turned to Eilee, to share in this moment of triumph.
But where was she?
“Eilee!” he shouted. “Eilee!”
No answer.
Treycore leapt into the water, swimming vigorously back into the mist. He was exhausted, but he had to find her.
How could I have been so stupid?
In his excitement, he’d forgotten to check on his ex-lover, his friend.
