I waited to see if he would slow down, but he didn’t. It was as if I’d never spoken.
“What is your problem?” I said, badgering him again.
For some reason I wanted to argue, a part of me knew I just wanted to make him talk, and if it was him yelling at me, that was better than silence.
“You,” he said after a moment.
“Why? What have I done?” I asked, he gave a short laugh and shook his head. I was a little surprised he’d answered so honestly, but then again this was Zale. I knew what I had done to annoy him, and wanted to push it further, but common sense told me to lay off.
We didn’t speak for the rest of the trip except for me giving him directions to the downtown movie theater. He pulled into the parking lot and I looked around. The familiar old theater glowed, its exterior reminiscent of the 1920’s with florescent lights, even though it was actually recently refurbished.
The sky was getting darker, long shadows stretched across the cracked asphalt and movie-goers walked briskly in the cold to the ticket booth. The wind was strong, causing everyone to huddle in their jackets and I knew the ocean must be raging with white caps. The wind was stronger down here, right next to the ocean. In fact, the back of the theater was only a short walk from the shore.
“All right,” I jumped out of my skin when Zale’s deep voice broke through my thoughts. “You get out and get inside as quick as possible. Find your group and stay with them no matter what. When the movie is done, say goodbye to your friends and walk straight to the truck. Understand?”
The doubts I had felt earlier crept back into my mind, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. I bit my lip and could feel my heart rate accelerating by the minute.
“Maybe we should just go back,” my voice was feeble in the truck and I didn’t look at Zale. “It’s not worth it, I could care less about this stupid movie and I don’t care if Laura gets mad at me for bailing out.”
It was silent after I stopped talking and I glanced to my left to see if Zale had heard me. His eyes bore into mine and he had a strange expression on his face. It reminded me of the look he had given me the night I thanked him for the bracelet.
“Did you hear me?” I asked, not really sure why he was looking at me in that way. “I said we should just go back home. There’s no point.”
Zale turned his head and stared out the windshield, “I think you should go.”
“Why? You were so adamant the other night?” My hands moved in wide gestures.
“I know,” he said and looked down for a second. “But I think you deserve a life. And not one where you stay inside, afraid of every little sound.”
I stared at him with my mouth hanging open not believing the words he’d just said.
“Go ahead,” he motioned with his hand toward the theater. “I’ll be waiting.” He finally turned his eyes to mine and held my gaze.
“Thanks,” I said and hoped he realized it was more for his understanding than his waiting. He gave me a slight nod and I hopped out of the truck quickly.
The wind grabbed at my hair. I felt the tug of it trying to coax the loose strands into whipping around my head, but it only rippled, while my jacket was torn open and flapped around my body. Zipping up my coat, I stuffed my hair into the back of my jacket and threw the hood over my head. In wind such as this, my hair would be more noticeable than usual if anyone was paying attention. Remembering there could be someone out there looking for me, sent chills up my spine and I hurried forward.
After buying my ticket, I entered the warm theater, smelling buttery popcorn, and spotted a large group of teens. Jessie noticed me first and called out when she saw me. The group turned and there were other greetings to which I responded with a smile.
My eyes scanned the group, and it was almost laughable how I could jump from the dangerous threat of the world of merfolk to this human world. Jessie was standing next to Ryan who was desperately trying to open a small carton of Milk Duds and failing miserably. Chelsea was talking loudly to Hannah about the weather and how it was messing up her hair, while Hannah looked as though she could care less. Trey stood to the side talking to a boy I didn’t know, but by his cocky stance, I ventured a guess he was a jock. Eric and Adam were standing near Jonathan and his girlfriend Brittany, and I could hear them conversing about some new movie they couldn’t wait to see. I caught Jonathan’s eye and moved through the group over to him.
“Hey,” I said to both him and Brittany; she smiled warmly.
“Hey,” Jonathan said. “I thought you weren’t going to make it in time. Laura was about to have a fit.” He smiled knowingly.
“Where is she anyway?” I said looking around, just now realizing I hadn’t seen her.
“Over there with lover boy getting popcorn. You missed it though, she only had to whine for like five minutes to get some.” Jonathan smiled and Brittany nudged him, to remind him what he had said was rude, but I couldn’t help but notice she was trying not to laugh.
I snickered and watched as Laura came walking over with a bounce in her step. She was definitely pleased with her handy work. I sighed internally.
“Is she here yet?” She looked around and saw me, while I tried to ignore Joey’s insistent eyes that were trying to get my attention. I knew he wanted to make me feel uncomfortable, and he was succeeding, but I wouldn’t let him know that.
Laura looked around and her lips moved softly as she mentally tabulated everyone’s presence. Then with a loud clear voice, that allowed the entire theater to hear, she shouted. “Everyone’s here! Let’s go!”
She grabbed Joey’s arm and pulled him behind her. We all followed, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little and I noticed Brittany and Jonathan’s shoulders were slightly shaking. At least I knew who I would be sitting with.
Two hours later our large group walked out of the theater chattering on about certain parts of the movie. It had been cheesy and mostly stupid, but some of it was funny enough to make me laugh along with the others.
Jonathan was already imitating the leading man of the film when we stepped outside into the cold air. I couldn’t help but think the wind had picked up even more, while we were inside. I hurriedly tucked my hair into the hood of my jacket again.
“Bye guys,” I said, mainly to Brittany and Jonathan, but I got some goodbyes from the rest of the group as well. Through the darkness, I spotted the truck right where it had been before and walked straight toward it.
I reached the truck, but didn’t look inside; I didn’t want Zale to be mad at me for stalling. Yanking on the handle, I hopped in a fast as I could and sat down.
“All right we can go,” I said, just after I buckled my seat belt. I glanced over to my left when I didn’t hear anything and gasped. Zale was gone.
The seat beside me was completely empty. My heart started pounding heavily, where did he go? He’d said he was going to wait for me, that he wasn’t going to go anywhere. I had the feeling he never went astray from a plan. He always did what he said, at least when concerning my safety. Of course, the only reason he was worried about me was because of Bolrock. In his mind, Morven wasn’t dangerous and could keep me safe. I laughed to myself at that thought and then bit my lip nervously. Where are you?
Part of my mind wandered and a nudging fear took hold. What if it was a trap? What if Zale had finally given up on changing my mind? What if he had set this whole plot up all along? Tears threatened to fill my eyes as I tried to shove the thoughts aside, but it all made sense. Maybe, there really wasn’t anyone out there last night. Maybe he had made it all up to scare me. He could be getting Bolrock right now.
By now my heart was hammering away so fast, I thought it was going to bust out of my chest. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I couldn’t leave in the truck, Zale had the keys. If I went outside, I was sure to get caught. Why had I agreed to this plan in the first place?
Because you were stubborn and because of him. The stirrings of frustration began and it helped t
o clear my mind. I took a large breath and tried to think, figuring I had to get out of Coveside. It would hurt my family, but I couldn’t see any way around it. The only reason I had been able to stay so long was because Zale had lied to the Hyven for me. Now, I really wondered if he ever had, or if this was the plan all along.
I cursed myself for ever trusting him and ignored the familiar pain in my heart. He was a mindless warrior with no conscious; I should have listened to Kryssa when she’d warned me about him. I knew the answer to my inner turmoil all relied around the fact, Zale looked like Patrick, or had been Patrick. My heart had been holding on to the hope that someday he would remember, that he would realize who he was and who he had been. Even now, I couldn’t convince myself he was evil, and I was stuck in a death trap. Again the tears threatened, but I didn’t let them form. Now was not the time.
All these thoughts rushed through my mind in a matter of seconds and knew I hadn’t been sitting in the truck very long. In fact if someone hadn’t been paying close attention, they probably would have missed me coming out of the theater and hopping inside the truck.
My chances of staying in the vehicle and being safe were slim to none. Somehow I had to get home, but by this time the parking lot was emptying and the truck was secluded in its own spot. I felt as though I stood out blatantly and wanted to duck under the dashboard to hide from whatever was coming my way.
Shivering in my vulnerability, the dim glow of the florescent movie theater lights caught my attention. There were people inside; if I could make it to the lobby, I would be safe. I didn’t know what would happen once the movie theater closed, maybe I could call Derek to come and pick me up. Everyone knew this side of downtown never got any type of service at all, so I had left my cell at home. But the theater provided a phone free of charge at the concession stand.
My mind made up, I took a deep breath readying myself for the mad dash to the theater. I stared out the windshield and guessed it was probably a hundred yards or so to the front door. Determined, I thought I could make it pretty quickly, I had to make it. Sliding my hand along my wrist, I reached under the sleeve of my coat and pulled out Patrick’s dagger. It was my only defense.
I slipped off its leather sheath and put it on the seat beside me. I didn’t care if I looked suspicious carrying a dagger with me. By now, I was beyond worrying about social propriety.
Not wanting to wait any longer, I threw my hood back over my head again, and counted to ten. With a quick tug, I pulled the truck’s door handle and pushed it open.
The wind caught the door and jerked it from my hand as I jumped to the asphalt. I slammed the door back in place as hard as I could and ran for all I was worth toward the theater.
I was halfway to the lobby when something dark pounced out from behind a car to my left. I screamed and jumped to the side, but it hit me anyway.
15. Fear
The dagger flew from my grasp and strong tight arms wrestled me to the ground. My head collided heavily with the pavement and I groaned. The breath had been knocked out of me and I couldn’t get enough air to scream again. I tried to see what my attacker looked like, but could only make out the shadow of a head, as he pinned me to the ground. He loosened his grip slightly and it looked as though he was about to sit on top of me.
Frantic, I gathered up some saliva in my mouth, then with as much force as I could put behind, it I spit it straight at the merman’s face. He made a disgusted sound and let go of my hands. Expecting this, I pulled back my fist and then released. My knuckles hit his chin with a thick hard thud and he fell off of me astonished. I felt the force of my punch reverberate back through my arm. I scrambled away, but he grabbed at me again. With a violent kick, I hit him in his most vulnerable spot as hard as I could, and he groaned in pain.
I knew the kick wouldn’t hold him off for long and clambered to my feet. I saw my dagger just a few feet away and ran to it, scooping it into my hand as I passed. The wooden handle gave me a sense of security, but it wasn’t enough. I could hear the merman behind me get to his feet and begin to chase me. I hoped he didn’t have any knives with him or I could have a dagger in my back at any moment.
My mind reeled as my feet began to pick up speed. I hated being chased, I had never even liked to play tag when I was a child, yet that had only ended in a kid yelling “Tag you’re it!”, rather than death. I wondered why such memories would bombard my brain now of all times, but pushed it all aside. I had to figure out where to run, how to escape.
The ocean, it entered my mind on instinct and I turned to run toward it. I knew if I went down any of the alleys that stood between each of the buildings, I would reach the shore quickly. I turned sharply to my left, catching my pursuer off guard, and ran straight for the sand I could just barely make out in the darkness.
The waves crashed up ahead, as though beckoning me into their embrace, and I pushed my legs harder knowing it was my only chance of escape.
My shoes hit the sand and I kicked up the grains as I ran down the sloping hill onto the flatter shoreline. The merman behind me was getting nearer, but my escape was in sight. I pumped my legs faster as the waves got closer and closer, I hoped I would be able to out swim him.
Just then three shadows loomed out of the darkness to my right. My eyes widened as I realized there were other mermen and they had been waiting for me. I tried to run faster, but two of the mermen split away from the third one. One ran into the ocean until he was knee deep and then turned around to face me. The other two were on either of my sides and I knew the merman I had kicked was still behind me. I was trapped, and came to a staggering halt.
My sudden stop was a gift for the merman that had grabbed me in the parking lot. He leaned over slightly, his groin obviously still smarting. Serves you right, I thought.
I scanned the faces of the four mermen, my head constantly swiveling, as my feet moved in a circle. I was boxed in with no escape, they all stood about twenty feet from me, and an equal distance separated each of them from each other.
I tried to look at each of their faces quickly and determine who would be the easiest to get away from. I figured the burly dark haired merman, who was still having issues with the results of my well placed kick, would be the easiest. He was attempting to stand up straight, but the effort was written all over his face. The merman that was in the water, and who had entirely cut off my chance for escape was a thin wiry young man with pale skin and hair that made him look washed out. In front of me was a dark skinned merman, with hair shaved close to his head. His dark eyes gleamed in the moonlight with a vicious delight.
To my right, stood a merman with long dark hair, and in an instant the night of my escape from Hyvar rushed back to me. I remembered seeing him on the shore and listening to the loud call he’d made. I could hear the boar-like roar that came from his mouth and the responding battle that had ensued. My hand shook on the dagger I held, as I remembered bringing the blunt end down upon Bolrock’s head with a crack.
The look on these mermen’s faces made fear unravel in my stomach. I was in this worse than I had thought; they weren’t here to just simply take me back to Hyvar. I could see by their faces they weren’t going to let me get away easily. Pain was coming, I was sure of it. My instinctive nature forced me to hold my knife out, in an attempt at self-defense, even though I was surrounded. I pointed it at the dark merman, somehow sensing he was the most dangerous of the four.
“What do you want?” I asked. My knife trembled slightly, a fact the other mermen noticed.
The dark skinned merman leered at me, “Don’t be stupid, you know what we want.”
“No, I don’t.” I shook my head innocently. The merman gave a short laugh that told me my acting skills were terrible.
“She might not be the right one,” the merman who I’d kicked said.
“Didn’t you check?” I glanced over at the pale merman in the water; he looked annoyed with his partners.
“Tried to, but then she kicked me.” My former pu
rsuer looked slightly ashamed.
“So that’s what happened to you? I hope the little girl didn’t give you too much trouble.” The dark merman’s said and my momentary victim winced. A short bark of a laugh came from the long-haired merman who was in front of me. “But it doesn’t matter. We’ll take her anyway, Bolrock wants her.”
“How do we know she’s the right one?” The pale merman in the water was stepping closer to the dark one, I watched his movements. “I’m not showing up in Hyvar, just to find out we got the wrong girl.”
The dark merman laughed, “Oh, she’s the right one. Why else would she have been running for the water? Why else would she be carrying a knife? And look at her hair.” He raised a dark eyebrow and all three mermen in my line of vision, turned to look at me. I could feel the eyes of my former captor on my back as my hair betrayed me.
A deep chill ran down my spine. I was done for, this was it.
The dark merman stepped toward me and I moved back, although I knew there was no escape.
“Put the knife down Marina,” The dreadful name Morven had given me, washed over my ears. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I didn’t do as the dark merman bid, and a hard look formed in his eyes. With a flash, his blades came out of the backs of his forearms and my eyes widened in horror. He stepped closer and I staggered backward again, my dagger held out feebly. Yet, I knew I would throw this knife at him before he came at me. I didn’t know what to do about the other three mermen, but I would at least take one down before they got to me.
The dark merman saw the fight in my eyes and smiled an evil grin that showed a rotten black front tooth. My blood pumped and I waited for just the right moment, when there came a shout of pain and a loud thump.
I whipped around and my eyes widened at the sight of the merman who had chased me. His face was in the sand, his whole body limp, a large blade sticking out from his back. The sight horrified me and I froze where I stood.
Ripples (DROPLETS Trilogy Book 2) Page 15
