“What if I don’t want to?” I growled.
Dale swung his arm, slapping me hard across my face, purposely hitting my bruised cheek. He gripped my hair, forcing my eyes back up to him. “You can chum the water or become the bait yourself. Your choice.” He shoved my head down, stepping back inside the boat.
The sky began to darken as I shuddered, filling the plastic container and chucking the fleshy fish bits into the sea.Please, Reef. Please save me.My lower abdomen cramped, aching, in pain.
My arms ached,sore and exhausted as I moved on to the second bucket full of chum. Dale remained seated on the boat, smoking, completely unbothered.Fucker. If I knew how to drive a boat, I’d have already tried to kill him, but I sadly had no knowledge.
I leaned over the edge of the boat to drop the chum when I noticed something floating just below the surface. It was metallic, glistening in the moonlight. My head turned back to Dale, before cautiously dipping my hand in the water, grabbing the small item. I pulled it out, plucking the seaweed from it, examining it closely. It was a plastic star. The faux silver coating was peeling, but enough remained for me to know what it was.
“Give me that.” Dale snatched it from my hands. “G.C.P—” He held the star close, unable to read it out in the dark. “What the hell is this?”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s a Golden Coast deputy’s badge. Deputy Danielson had one just like that, but no one’s seen him since—” I stopped, realizing Reef must’ve attacked him too. No wonder he was missing. My stomach began to ache again, but this time the pain was more intense as I hunched over, grabbing my lower abdomen.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dale picked up a flashlight, shooting its beam at me. I glanced down, instantly recognizing the feeling between my legs. He lowered his light, a look of disgust washing over his face. “Are you bleeding?” He stepped back.
Shit. Shit. Shit!I had started my period. “Listen to me, Dale. I-I need to get back to the beach. I need to go home, okay?”
He busted out laughing, watching as tiny trails of blood soaked through my jean shorts, running down my legs. “You started your period, didn’t you? Oh man, that’s disgusting.” Toxic masculinity at its finest.
“Please!” I cried desperately. “Just let me go. You don’t even need me.”
Something clicked behind Dale’s eyes as he turned off his flashlight, lifting his cigarette to his mouth, the tip burning a bright orange. “Oh, yes I do.” He exhaled, smoke shielding his face. “What better way to bait a shark than with fresh blood?”
My eyes widened. “No, no, Dale. You can’t—”
He lunged, grabbing a nearby shotgun, cocking it as he aimed it at me, the cold metal barrel gently tapping my forehead. “You see that ladder over there?” His head tilted to the back of the boat, motioning to a tiny ladder that dipped into the water. I swallowed, shaking with fear, shaking my head. “Good.” He smacked the barrel against my head, nudging me. “Go.”
I slowly stood, my legs wobbling as I backed toward the ladder, my hands raised. “Come on, Dale,” I begged through tears. “Please. Please don’t make me do this.”
“Shut up!” he shouted, causing me to jump. “Turn around and start climbing down.” I nodded, staring into the dark water, knowing anything could be under us.
I reached my leg out, my bare foot hovering over the water, petrified. “Dale, lis—” He kicked my back, forcing me forward as I slammed into the water face first. I frantically splashed, trying to resurface. “Dale!” I screamed, inhaling, my heart racing. He quickly dragged the bucket of chum to the end of the boat, tossing chunks around me in the water. “Stop it!” I cried out, using my hands to block the bits from hitting my face. “Fucking stop!”
“Shut up!” he shouted, pointing the shotgun back in my direction. “I know there’s a shark nearby. I can sense it.” I whirled around, scared as I watched the water rippling around me. Something brushed my leg, causing me to scream as I backed towards the boat.
“What is it?” he demanded, cowering against the back of the boat.
Dale pulled whatever touched me from the water. I peaked, realizing it wasn’t a shark, but a body. Dale fumbled with his flashlight, trying to hold his gun while looking closer, pointing out the large shark bit on the body’s torso. The distinct orangehair and uniform confirmed my guesses as I looked away, realizing we had finally found missing Deputy Danielson.
“Idiot.” Dale placed the cigarette back to his lips.
Something splashed just off in the distance, drawing our attention away. Dale released Danielson’s body as it drifted away and aimed his flashlight out into the water. Waves rippled around me as if something had surfaced nearby. “Let me up, Dale!” I screamed.
“Shut the fuck up!” he yelled, aiming the gun with his light, searching the water.
Something big slammed into the boat, immediately knocking Dale into the water. He splashed around, the boat rocking as gear began to roll into the water. A large metal oxygen tank flung towards him, hitting his head as he fell back, unconscious. I tried to swim toward the boat, but something slithered past my leg. “No!” I screamed, kicking faster, sobbing as I frantically aimed for the ladder. It hit me again, pushing me towards the boat.
“Delilah!” he yelled, and I spun around to see Reef wading towards me. I swam towards him, crying as we embraced, his arms comforting me as he held me close. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” He squeezed me tight. “I’m here.”
Reef held my hand, pulling me towards the boat as he helped me up onto the deck. “How did you find me?” I asked, sniffling.
He glanced down between my legs. “I know your scent.” My eyes joined his, the crotch of my shorts stained with blood. “Are you okay?” he asked and I nodded. “Good.” He kissed the top of my head, eyeing Dale’s floating body. “What do you want to do about him?”
I glanced behind to see Dale, unconscious. “Everyone knows he’s out here hunting you.” I hated what I was about to say. “He needs to stay alive.” Reef nodded, jumping into the water, dragging Dale back onto the boat. I reached my hand into his pocket, retrieving the shark tooth necklace, quickly latching itaround my neck.Mine. I spat on Dale’s ugly face, standing to speak to Reef. “I don’t know how to drive a boat. Do you?”
“I do,” he stated. Reef grabbed my hand and took me inside the boat.
I stared out into the night as Reef started the engine and began to steer us back towards the beach. He was so automatic with his motions, setting it all up as he turned to me, crossing his arms. “That’s it?” I asked.
