I tapped his back again, releasing Reef’s fin as I swam, and gently broke through the surface. Chum muddled the water around me, the foul smell gagging my senses as the harsh, aggressive waves knocked the bloodied water into my mouth. I spat it out, disgusted.
I grabbed a piece of hanging rope along the side, struggling to pull myself up, my bare feet slipping. I watched as Reef swam by, pushing me higher so I could climb onto the side of the boat. I grabbed onto the edge and pulled myself over, watching as he swam away and prepared for the next part of our plan.
Remember what Reef said,I repeated to myself, going over the information he had given me earlier as I leaned against the side of the boat, carefully inching toward the cabin, waiting for Reef. I stared out into the dark sea, noticing his fin as it pierced through the waves and began to circle the boat. I gripped the rope for stability, bracing myself.
Reef nudged the fishing boat, tipping it lightly as it rocked back and forth. My father and Dale both rushed from inside the cabin, immediately noticing him.
“It worked!” Dale hollered. “Chumming the water worked! Yes! Oh, see that?That’sour shark, Chief!”
“Yeah, yeah, now what do we do?” my dad yelled, wobbling.
“Now, we kill it.” Dale grabbed his shotgun, loading the barrel.
“You really think that is going to stop it?” my dad called out.
Dale cocked the weapon, aiming it as he waited for Reef to return. “We’re about to find out.”
Right on cue, Reef rocked the boat a second time, knocking both the men to the ground as I quietly snuck by and entered the cabin. They cursed, trying to stand as I did what Reef mentioned—I sabotaged the boat. My hand pulled the wires of the radio, the electrical wiring sparking as I screamed.
“What was that?” Dale whipped in my direction as I ducked, trying to hide. “Chief, did you hear that?” Their footsteps grew louder as they headed in my direction. I began to panic, searching for another way out…but there wasn’t one.
As the handle to the cabin turned, the boat rocked again, creating a small leak in the cabin as the men outside tumbled over. They rushed to the edge of the boat, wobbling to stay balanced as Dale shot at the water.No, Reef!
I crawled across the wet floor of the cabin, cracking the door and sliding out onto the deck. Dale was shooting into the water as my father covered his ears. The shooting stopped as Dale reloaded his gun, the empty shells clanking against the deck. I scuttled the edge of the boat, trying to climb down, when someone yanked me back onto the boat.
“Look who we have here!” Dale shouted, pushing me down as I fell at my father’s feet. “Our own little troublemaker.”
“What the hell are you doing out here, Delilah?” my father scolded me, grabbing my arm as he forced me to my feet. “Answer me, dammit!”
“Chief.” Dale called my father to him. He continued to squeeze my arm, dragging me along as Dale lifted the sparking wires. “Looks like your daughter doesn’t want us to find the shark.”
My cheek stung as the back of my father’s hand slapped me. I fell to the ground, water splashing my burning face. “I’ve grown tired of your disobedience and lack of respect.” Tears fell down my face as all the repressed, painful memories of his abuse flooded my brain. “After your mother died, I tried everything in my power to steer you right, and yet here you are—wasting the life your mother gave you!”
“Chief.” Dale tapped his shoulder. “It’s back.” The two men rushed to the desk as Reef swam towards them. “Get the engine going!” Dale screamed, cocking his gun. “Now!”
My father shuffled past me and tried to start the boat, but he couldn’t. “Why isn’t it starting?” He tried again, his temper quickly boiling as I laughed at him. He turned around with a stone-cold expression. “What did you do, Delilah?” he demanded, tightening his jaw. “Tell me.”
“Bite me,” I spat.
My father stepped to my side. “It should’ve been your life that was taken early from this world, not your mother’s.” I knew he meant every word. I could feel it, the pain and hatred seething off his dark soul.
I leaned up, glaring at him as tears burned my eyes. “Mom was a coward. She let you beat us, every day, until she couldn’t live with it any longer. She might have held the gun to her temple, butyoupulled the trigger.” He grabbed my face, squeezing my bruised, reddened cheeks tight.
Dale fired two more rounds into the water. “Chief! The engine!” My father pushed me back, kicking me in the face with his boot as he rushed to start the boat.
My nose began to bleed as the boat engine came alive.No!I grabbed my face and looked around. We were moving.
Dale cheered out on the dock, joining us. “That’ll at least put some distance between us.” He glanced at me, noticing the blood. “What happened here?”
My father stared ahead, speaking with a calm voice. “Discipline.”
Dale removed his hat, sitting on the cot as he stared at me, enjoying my pain. “Buckle up buttercup. We’re going for a ride.”
Reef
Delilah hadn't returned to the sea as we planned. The increasing fear of what could have happened to her flooded my veins as I swam through the cold water, searching the darkness for any sign of her.Where are you, Barracuda?
The motor of the fishing boat rumbled to life as the boat took off into the night.Shit.Delilah must still be on board, which wasn't ideal. I needed to stop them.No one takes my girl.
