"What day is it?" Patrice asked, breaking the silence we were in for the past twenty minutes.
We were still in the living room of the cabin, waiting and hoping that someone would come for us soon. The room was not quiet though. We were all having small talk, trying to make light of our situation.
"It's Wednesday." Tamika answered.
"So, we've only been here for five days." Patrice said. "Honestly, it seems longer."
I nodded my head in agreement. It did seem longer. I guess it was because we were not doing anything, but waiting and trying to figure out how to leave this place.
After that we all fall back into silent conversation. Brian, who was still standing beside the window and looking through it, spoke up. "It's still out there."
Kate, who was on the other side of the room, look around at Brian confused. "What?"
Brian looked around at her and then indicate his head to the window. "The sharkgator. It's still outside. It didn't leave."
"So, it's just out there, lurking and waiting for us?" Patrice asked in a shaky voice. Her words barely concealing her nervousness.
Brian nodded. "Yes, I think so."
I got up from the couch I was sitting on and walked over to where Brian stood. I looked out the window and saw that Brian was right. The sharkgator was just outside the cabin, walking from one end to the next, waiting for one of us to be stupid enough to go outside. This time it look as if it has no intention of moving. It was just going to stand guard of the cabin.
Even though I was looking at it, it still seem so surreal. Who would believe that there was a half shark, half alligator creature living on the lake? And that it was big enough to swallow two people at a time? I really wish that all this wasn't happening.
"Hey," I heard Brian say beside me bringing me from my thoughts. "Thanks for what you did out there. I really appreciate it."
I turned to looked at him and smiled. "No problem." His lips slowly formed into a smile of his own. It was one of those smiles that reached his chocolate brown eyes and lit up his face. Once again, I don't know what got into me as I turned back around and rest my head on his shoulder. I don't know why, but I felt better when I was in his arms and for some reason, I felt that everything was going to be okay.
I was resting my head on Brian's shoulders for a few minutes now, when I heard a loud noise overhead. I lifted my head from Brian's shoulder and turned my attention to the window, trying to figure out what the sound was. After a few seconds, it came to me.
"An helicopter!" I shouted unable to contain my excitement. "I hear a helicopter coming!"
"Really?" Patrice asked, looking at me with wide eyes.
I nodded my head. "Yeah." By this time, the noise was close. It sounded louder than when the last helicopter showed up. I inclined my head, trying if I could see the helicopter from the window.
"I'm going to get a better look from the door." I heard Mr. Ragland said behind me. I shifted my eyes from the sky and look to see if I saw the sharkgator. It was nowhere in sight.
Brian and I turned away from the window and followed everyone else to the door. Mr. Ragland, who was at the front, opened the door slightly and looked out.
"Okay, he isn't anywhere near the perimeter. We can step out on the porch, but no one should go any further than that." Mr. Ragland said. "Remember, we don't know exactly where he is." With that said, he stepped through the door and unto the porch. We all followed after.
From out here, I could see the approaching aircraft. A wide smile spread across my face when I notice that it was not one, not two, but three large search and rescue helicopters.
"Woah," Kate whispered beside me.
I looked around at her. Her face reflected the joy I felt in my heart. I laughed and nodded my head in agreement. "Yeah!"
By this time, the helicopters reached where the cabin was and hovered overhead. Suddenly, I heard a loud voice coming from a loudspeaker. "Are you guys okay?"
"Yes!" We all shouted in chorus, waving our hands. It was obvious that we were all happy to be getting off this island.
Just then, I saw a movement coming from the waters. I turned my head around quickly to see the sharkgator emerging from the waters. The noise we were making must have attracted it back.
"Everyone, stay close to the door and run inside if it's coming in this direction." Mr. Ragland advised.
I took my eyes off the sharkgator for a while as I saw that one of the helicopters was slowly letting down a rope with what looks like meat at the end of it. I noticed that he was letting it down in the sharkgator's direction.
Wow! They sure came prepared!
The meat finally reached the ground and the sharkgator instantly walk over to it. Without a moment to spare, he snatched the entire meat in its mouth whole. "Take cover! Now!" The same voice on the loudspeaker shouted.
As soon as I figure out what was going on, there was an ear splitting explosion and I brought my hands to cover my face and ears immediately. All around us blood, and big chunks of flesh and skin were falling. It also fell on my clothes and hair. As soon as everything stopped falling and the cloud of dirt cleared, I opened my eyes slowly. The ground was covered with the sharkgator's blood and skin. The sharkgator was no more. I can't believe it; they actually blew it up!
Soon enough, all three helicopters landed and we ran over to them. This was the moment I was praying for; we were all going home. Kate, Brian and I went into one helicopter and Tamika, Patrice and Mr. Ragland went into another one.
As soon as I entered the helicopter, the co-pilot pointed towards the back of the helicopter and said. "I'm guessing he is one of your friends. I found him in the woods."
At his words, I looked in the direction he pointed and noticed a small cot towards the back and someone was lying on it. My eyes widen as soon as I saw who it was. It was Vincent.
He is alive!
I walked over towards the small bed he was lying on quickly. His left foot was bandaged up. There was another bandage around his waist as well as his head. Other cuts and bruises were all over his body. His eyes, which were closed, opened as I stood over him. Soon after, Kate and Brian came and joined me.
"Hey," I said.
It took effort for him to smile. "Hi." He whispered, barely audible. Soon after he winced. It was obvious he was in a lot of pain. The damage the sharkgator did him was bad. It was a miracle he was still alive.
"You made it." I said, giving him a small smile. He nodded his head.
"What happened?" Brian asked from beside me.
Vincent wet his dry lips before he began. "After the son of a bitch pulled me away, I kept on stabbing him with my knife." He paused to catch his breath. "Finally, he let me go, but we were at the edge of a steep slope; so the next thing I know I'm rolling down hill. I knew he was....I knew he was going to come back for me, so I spotted a dug-out hollow inside a tree. I dragged my body inside it and waited until he was gone."
"I'm really glad you are okay." I said sincerely. It was a good thing the sharkgator didn't tracked him there. He was definitely lucky.
"Yeah, me too." Vincent said.
Soon after, we were all seated and ready to go. "All right, buckle up folks, let's get out of this place!" The pilot shouted from up front. I smiled as the helicopter took off. We were finally leaving this place behind with all of its deaths and memories. I knew that I would never forget this place or the friends I've lost.
I was still deep in thought when I felt Brian's eyes on me. I turned to looked at him and once again felt that sense of belonging. The look he gave me, made me feel hopeful and better. I don't know how I'm going to get through the coming days, but with Brian there, I knew I'll be just fine.
He took my hands in his and gave it a light squeeze. "Let's go home."
I smiled at him. "Let's go home."
=========================
A/N: Hola!
I hope you liked this chapter. Please vote and comment to let me in on your thoughts. Don't be a silent reader XD!
Stayed tune for the epilogue!
Love always! â¤ð
Alecia