by Sandra Cox
Joel and Tyler reach me at the same time.
Tyler grabs me and holds me. “What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
Joel is the first to see the dolphin part. He walks down the shore and comes back holding a fin. His face is carved in stone, his eyes glowing with a feral, cold light. Mouth in a hard, thin line, he looks at me and gives an abrupt nod. I wriggle out of Tyler’s arms and Joel and I head for the water.
Tyler grabs for me. “Piper, come back here. What are you doing? You can’t go in the water; they’ll be waiting for you.”
“Stay with Angel, I beg you, Tyler. Don’t let her out of your sight.” Angel, do not come in the water, no matter what.
We run through the shallows then strike out. “If a dolphin’s been cut up, there’re probably sharks out there,” I warn.
“Already thought of that.” His voice is grim.
He whistles. Several dolphins join us. He begins to chatter. They click in reply. None of these dolphins have lost family members.
“It’s got to be Stranger.”
“Oh yeah. Those parts were our warning, or invitation, however you care to look at it.”
“What do we do?” I’m so angry. So sickened.
“If he’s on water, and he surely isn’t dropping those parts from the sky, we’ve got to find a way to disarm the boat without getting caught.”
“Or he’ll try to use us as a bargaining chip to get Angel,” I finish.
Joel gives me a wolfish smile that shows a lot of teeth and no warmth. “No one will make that trade. But regardless, we don’t want to get caught. If I do, you swim like your suit’s on fire out of here.”
I shed my clothes in the water. Even though I’ve been beached, I still wear a bikini instead of underwear. It’s second nature for me. “Yeah,” I scoff, “like you’d leave me behind.”
“In a heartbeat.” He doesn’t crack a smile.
I know better. “Yeah. Ok.”
“I mean it, Piper.”
“I said okay, didn’t I?”
He makes a frustrated noise and picks up the pace. Then he chirps again. One of the dolphins beside us responds.
“What did you ask?”
“If they’d seen the dolphin body parts and where they came from.”
“And?” I blow water out of my mouth then chuff.
“Yes.”
“Yes to which?”
The dolphins are chattering again and appear agitated.
“To both.”
“The boat the parts were thrown off of is about ten miles out.”
I get distracted. “They know miles?”
“I’m paraphrasing. It’s a ways. So I’m assuming that translates into about ten, but that’s a guess on my part. The boat probably came in closer last night to dump the body parts. They had to have had enough pieces that they wouldn’t all get eaten by sharks.” His color has taken on a green hue and he looks slightly sick.
My stomach is rolling too. “Let’s find that boat.”
“I wish you’d go back. Think of our daughter.”
“I am. Let’s go.” I’ve left him no choice. He can’t outswim me. Instead of arguing further, he stretches out his arms and swims harder. I swim beside him matching stroke for stroke.
We’re silent for a couple of miles then I ask something that’s been bothering me. “Why wouldn’t they use a plane?”
“To my way of thinking, a watercraft will be less noticeable in the tropics than a plane. It would be difficult to find an isolated landing spot without drawing attention.”
At the speed we’re traveling, it doesn’t take long for the boat to come into view. We swim closer. My muscles clutch and a chill runs deep, settling in my bones. It’s an experimental ship. It looks like the same one they used to capture me. If it’s the same vessel, it has a tank inside to hold captured dolphins. “It’s Stranger’s alright.”
He reaches over and squeezes my hand, his eyes filled with the same sick dread I know is reflected in mine. “We do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
I nod.
“Listen, Piper, there’s something that you need to know— Crap.”
“What? What?”
One of the little bobbing cameras floats by, its shutter clicking.
“Dammit, we need to get out of here. Go. Go. Go.”
The urgency in his voice electrifies me and I shoot forward.
Minutes later, I hear the eager hum of an engine. “Oh my God, they’ve got a speed boat.”
“Underwater,” Joel orders, just as I bump into another camera.
“Those damn things are everywhere.” I dive down. Though I don’t know what good it’s going to do. Besides the cameras, the water is as clear as glass.
The thrum of the motorboat is getting louder. As fast as we are, we can’t outrace this boat. It must have a heck of an engine on it.
Another camera turning and bobbing in the water floats overhead clicking. We can’t get away from them. Adrenaline is rushing through my system, shooting sparks of electricity from my head to my toes. My pace picks up; we’re swimming as fast as the dolphins who are scattered around us whistling like crazy. Joel gives a piercing whistle and they disperse, going in several different directions. At least they won’t be in danger. We should do the same.
The boat is almost on us. I point my thumbs in opposite directions. He nods and veers left, I go right. Two divers go over the side of the boat after us. Oh My God, they’ve got spear guns! Do the guns shoot spears, darts, or nets? We’ve gotta get out of here!
I didn’t think I could increase my speed, but I do. The distance between me and the diver is growing. I can only hope it’s the same with Joel.
Suddenly, there’s a whistle and a splash. A net drifts over me. My heart racing, I try to swim out of its range, but its parameters are too wide. Slowly, it closes around me. I struggle, but it’s no use.
Joel comes racing back to try to get me untangled. “Don’t. Get out of here, Joel.” The words I’m screaming come out of my mouth in a rush of bubbles.
He yanks at the net trapping me and reaches for his knife just as another settles around him. He tries to fight it off, but it covers him like a cloak. The current shifts as the net settles and the knife drops from his hand, through the netting, and begins its journey to the ocean floor. Why, of all mornings, did I forget to bring mine?
Joel twists toward me, but netting separates us. The adrenaline flowing through my system shuts off like a spigot. I’m left with no energy and a black cloud of depression pressing down on me.
Joel makes eye contact and winks. My heart does a little flutter and lightens. We’ve been in worse situations. Somehow we’ll manage to get out of this one. I pull myself together.
The divers go under us and collect the edges of the nets, which press painfully into my arms and legs as they haul us up. They attach the loops on the nets to the sides of the boat and take off, dragging us through the water. Given our time trying to escape and being in the net, we’ve been under water awhile. We both need oxygen and I need to chuff. Finally, the motor boat pulls alongside the experimental ship and we’re pulled up on a winch like we’re a haul of shrimp. I gasp air into my burning lungs at the same time I expel water through my blowhole.
“Are you all right?” Joel yells over the noise of the boats.
I give a thumbs-up. Though, I’m sure the smile plastered on my face is sickly.
“That’s my girl.”
His girl? I can’t decide whether that statement makes me happy or makes me want to cry.
Warm air slaps against us as the crane lifts us high, rocking us back and forth in the breeze then lowers us to the deck of the boat.
A man with a fanatical light in his eyes leans over Joel. “Hey, mutant. I bet you didn’t expect to see me again, did you, freak?”
“Craven, wish I could say it was a pleasure,” Joel drawls from the floor of the ship.
Th
e man with the wild eyes draws back his boot to kick Joel. “Now, Mr. Craven, let’s not damage the merchandise.” The voice belongs to the man featured in my worst nightmares. I draw into as small a ball as possible.
“Stranger.” Joel says calmly.
“Joel. I don’t suppose you have the baby with you.”
Joel doesn’t respond.
“No matter. I’ll find her. You two are just an added bonus.”
I clamp my teeth together to keep them from chattering uncontrollably. He can’t have my daughter.
He motions to the divers who are still in their suits, dripping on the boat. “Take them below. Piper, you’ll remember the accommodations.”
I don’t respond. I can’t. My mind is blank, my body limp and tingling. If I had to stand by myself right now, I’d fall on my face.
“I’ll take them,” Craven volunteers, a look of anticipation on his rat-like features. I actually wait for his nose to twitch.
“No, that won’t be necessary. You have a propensity for becoming, shall we say, overzealous. When your talents are needed I’ll let you know.”
“Too bad, Craven. I know how you like spending time with mutants.” Joel gives him a derisive grin.
Before anyone can stop him, Craven kicks Joel in the side. He instinctively flinches then sneers at Craven. “Is that the best you’ve got?”
Before Craven can have another go at him, Stranger says in a low voice that cracks like a whip. “That’s enough. If you can’t control yourself, I’ll get someone who can.”
“I know too much,” Craven blusters.
Stranger looks down his nose at the man. “Do you really think anyone is going to take the word of an oil rigger over that of a world-renowned scientist?” He turns to the divers. “Get them below.”
“You want them tied?” the shorter one asks.
“Yes, hands and feet.”
We’re pulled to our feet and shuffle along in the net as best we can. When I trip, Craven laughs. Joel’s eyes flash fire, but all he says is, “Ignore him, everyone else does.”
Craven starts forward then stops himself.
“This is getting old, Mr. Craven,” Stranger says.
“Abominations,” Craven mumbles under his breath.
“Craven’s favorite A word,” Joel responds.
His constant running dialogue on Craven helps. My nerves stop jumping and my muscles loosen. Other than to ask about tying us, neither diver has said a word. I imagine Stranger pays them well to do their jobs and keep their mouths shut.
We stumble down the handful of narrow stairs. Joel stays on his feet, his eyes alert as he looks for an opportunity to make an escape. The diver holding me pushes the door open. My breath catches in my throat and my eyes burn. It’s the same room I was in before and in the tank is a young dolphin, swimming back and forth, her fluke hitting against the glass, chirping in anguish.
For the first time, the taller of the two speaks. “Wrap up the girl in the net then help me with this one.”
The diver pushes me down on the floor and rolls me on the floor like a spool of carpet.
“Come on, fellows, what could I possibly do? You’ve got me netted like a fish.”
The man holding Joel snorts but makes no reply.
In short order, they have Joel in a chair with his hands behind his back and his legs bound. Then they do the same to me before they leave.
The chairs are facing each other but not close enough to touch. Joel chatters to the dolphin. It responds and quiets.
“What’s she saying?”
“She and her mother were captured two days ago. Her mom was taken away early this morning and never returned.” Joel’s face is white.
My stomach heaves and I gag. Luckily, there’s not much on my belly but what there is comes up. I manage to turn my head and not throw up on myself.
“She’s past suffering now,” Joel says quietly.
“Did you tell her what happened?”
“No but she can smell fear and death.”
“Please tell her I’m sorry,” I whisper.
Joel chatters. The dolphin gives a little whistle and sticks her snout on the Plexiglas close to me.
“I know it’s hard, but you need to guard your thoughts.”
I pull myself together and try to ignore the unpleasant aroma of my stomach contents on the floor. “I know.” My voice is barely a whisper. “I don’t know how far Angel can pick up. But even if we restrain ours, who’s to say she won’t pick up on Stranger’s or Craven’s?”
“I think if that was the case she would have done so by now. There’s got to be some link or pattern on whose thoughts she can read. It’s obviously not a problem picking up on anyone who’s in close proximity. But to go any distance at all, I think she has to have a very close bond to that individual or animal.”
“Like us.”
“Yes, like us.” His face grows hard and his eyes glow like bits of colored gems. “I promise you, I will kill Stranger and Craven before I let them get their hands on her.”
The idea of killing anyone or anything, unless it’s for food, goes against everything we believe in. But we are parents before we are anything else, and we will take care of our own. I nod my understanding and acceptance.
It brings me comfort to have Joel with me and that thought shames me. I should be strong enough to handle this. But having him beside me gives me hope and strength. No matter what, I can count on Joel. If anyone can get us out of this, he can.
The door opens. My nerves quiver and jump. Stranger steps in. He looks at the disgusting mess by my chair and wrinkles his nose. “I’ll get someone to clean this up. If you recall, the amenities at the lab are much better.”
“If you aren’t on the operating table,” I spit out.
“Some things can’t be avoided.”
“You killed a dolphin.” My stomach starts rolling again and my eyes well. I blink rapidly, no way am I going to give in to weakness in front of this bastard.
“I’m afraid the dolphin was collateral damage. But it didn’t suffer, I assure you. I don’t deliberately cause pain to any of my subjects for no reason.”
My breath catches. He actually believes his own propaganda.
“I also don’t like to waste time. While you two, though obsolete, can be of use to me, what I want is the baby you stole from my lab.”
“Our baby,” Joel drawls. There’s a pronounced tic in his cheek.
“Biologically speaking, but the subject is mine.”
The subject, such a cold hateful term for our warm, vibrant daughter.
“I must give you credit. You’ve done an amazing job of hiding her. The cameras have caught no babies in the water. And I know she can swim.”
I force my body not to jerk in surprise. He doesn’t realize Angel had a growth spurt of epic proportions when she went through the Triangle. This could work in our favor.
Neither of us responds. When Stranger’s head is turned, Joel shoots me a look of triumph and a wink. Score one for our side.
Stranger turns to Joel. “I know from experience that there’s nothing I can do to you personally that will make you talk. I also know your greatest weakness. You care about others, enough to run foolish risks and put yourself in danger, time after time. So I’m going to make you a deal. You tell me where I can find the subject and you’re both free to go.”
“And if not?” Tyler’s face is expressionless but his body is shooting off waves of tension.
“Then I’m going to take that little dolphin there and see how compatible her body parts are to Piper’s. Each day we’ll do a little procedure. She may not be quite as pretty when we’re done. And she may not survive, but if she does, when I’m finished, she’ll be a creature of the deep.”
Chapter 26
Joel
Freaking bastard. I’d rather him hack off my right arm with a dull ax than touch Piper. But I can’t hand over Angel no mat
ter what he does. I beat down the anger and look him squarely in the eye. “You harm Piper in any way and I’ll kill you. That’s a promise.”
Something flickers in those soulless eyes. “That’s no way to talk to your creator. Not to mention that you’re in no position to be making idle threats.”
“You can’t keep me tied forever.”
“You think not?” He changes tack. “But all this negative emotion isn’t good for anyone. I’ll give you till tomorrow morning to make your decision. I have a surgical center in the room next door. It’s a bit crude compared to the lab, but I can make do.”
“Why don’t you let the dolphin go?” Piper’s face is dead white, causing the purple stains under her eyes to stand out in an alarming manner. Her cheekbones are protruding so sharply they could cut paper. I think she’s more worried about the dolphin than she is about herself.
“You tell me where the subject is at and I will let the dolphin go. You have my word.”
She slumps back in her chair defeated.
“Until tomorrow.”
The door swings shut behind him and we’re left alone.
“Don’t give up, Piper.”
“No, of course not.” The smile she gives me is strained but nonetheless it’s a smile.
A few minutes later, the taller diver, now in cargo shorts and a tee, comes down and cleans up the mess. Later we’re brought sandwiches and bottled water. Both men bring our food and untie one hand while we eat and drink then tie us back up. A couple of hours later, we’re escorted to the head, one at a time. The process is repeated in the evening.
When the sun goes down and the room goes dark, we’re left alone. The tank has a Plexiglas window that looks out into the ocean. It has a levered opening to release the animal back into the sea. There’s also a tube that I assume shoots into the lab. If I can just loosen my bonds, I could get the dolphin out and hopefully Piper and I as well.