Danny opened the door to Jan's bedroom and everyone helped her onto the bed. Jan was propped against the pillows. Blood soaking the comforter.
"Where's the first aid kit?" Carter asked Jan.
"In the bathroom." She said her voice a bit weak.
Carter raced off and went for the bathroom. Danny watched as Susan, Scoggs, Franklin and Preach cleaned Jan's wounds. Carter came back with the first aid kit and everyone went into action. Danny helped Carter wrapping the bandages around her legs and waist. The bleeding wasn't fatal, but Jan would need stitches. Jan breathed in and out holding Preach's hand as he started murmuring in prayers.
"Ok, that should hold it off till we get her to a hospital." Susan said as she tied a firm knot on Jan's thigh.
"Assuming we get out of here before the sharks get us first." Scoggs said.
"We'll make it out of here, we just gotta figure out how to out-smart them." Franklin said.
Carter took out a flashlight and grabbed the alarm clock nearby.
"Scoggs, you think we can still drain that stairway?" Carter asked, taking the batteries out of the alarm clock.
"We make it down there without running into the sharks, yeah." Scoggs said.
"Going back down there is suicide." Danny said flat-out," There's gotta be another way out."
"There's one but I don't think we can, with Jan's condition here, it might be a problem." Carter said.
"And what would that be?" Franklin asked.
"There's an emergency hatch on another level, but the problem is that the kind of exit is where we would have to swim." Carter said.
Everyone stayed quiet when they heard that.
"The blood will attract the sharks, unless the two are still in here."
"We'll come to that if it happens. You and Scoggins should still try and see if the stairway can be drained." Susan said.
Everyone nodded, agreeing the original plan would happen. Carter and Scoggs got ready to head back down. Preach was looking at his watch.
"4 am."
"I know. One night feels like a whole week." Scoggs said.
"Relativity." Preach said.
"What do you mean?" Scoggs asked.
"Einstein's theory of relativity. Put your hands on a hot pan, a second can seem like an hour. Put your hands on a hot woman, an hour can seem like a second. It's all relative."
Danny and Scoggs looked at Preach dumbly.
"I spent four years at Cal Tech and that's the best physics explanation I've ever heard." Scoggs said with a smile.
"Why can't they use that kind of thing in math class?" Danny groaned, making everyone around him laugh. Danny blushed.
"Math not your favorite subject?" Mr. Franklin teased.
"Nope." Danny said.
Carter came out of the bathroom with a bandage wrapped around his arm.
"Alright you guys stay here with Jan. Me and Scoggs are gonna try to get to the wet lab. Drain that stairway."
"Preach?" Scoggs faced the man,
"What?"
"Will you zip me up please?" Scoggs said turning around.
Preach just sighed and zipped the back of the wetsuit. The two looked at each other before hugging as good luck. Scoggs looked at Danny.
"Good luck." Danny said,
"Thanks Danny. See you when we get back." Scoggs said, causing Danny to smile.
He watched as the two men left. Danny had a bad feeling that something would happen again. He sighed as he sat on the bed next to Jan. The woman gripped his hand.
"Thank you for blasting the shark." She said with a weak chuckle.
"You're welcome. Besides…I couldn't let that thing eat you."
"And I'm glad you didn't. When we get out of here, we'll help you back to your family."
Danny smiled nervously. He would love to see his family again, but he was worried. Worried about the questions they would have and especially if they knew about GIW kidnapping him. They had seen Danny in his human form. A hand brought him out of his stupor and Danny turned to see Jan.
"You ok?"
Danny sighed, "I don't know."
"We'll get out of here. Don't worry."
"It's more than that." Danny muttered quietly. "The GIW saw me switch back into my human form. I don't know what going to happen once we get back to the mainland. IF my parents will be there to support me or-" Danny shuddered at the thought.
"What do you mean 'switch back?'" Preach asked.
"Danny blasted two of the sharks when one tried to get Franklin and the other had me." Jan said.
"Blasted it with what?"
"An ecto-blast." Danny said.
"Come again?" Preach asked.
Jan shifted herself on the bed, "Danny has ghost powers."
Preach looked at Danny and back at Danny, "Ghost powers?"
Danny sighed and opened his hand and let sparks of his ecto-energy come forth. Dancing in his hand like little flames. Preach's eyes went wide along with Franklin and Susan despite seeing it earlier.
"So…you're a ghost?" Preach asked, clutching his cross.
"No. I'm half human half ghost. I was in an accident involving my parents ghost portal and instead of killing me it turned me into a hybrid. The Guys In White, My parents, The Red Huntress, Masters and a bunch of people have had it out for me since."
Danny finished solemnly.
Franklin and Preach looked like someone drained their blood, and Jan was shocked. Danny looked at them nervously, unsure of what to say next. Jan broke the silence groggily,
"Do you remember anything else of how you got here?"
"Not really. My mind's all messed up from being kidnapped by the GIW." He admitted.
"Well, once we get out of here, we can vouch for the GIW to leave you alone." Franklin said.
Danny's head perked up, "Why? You guys barely know me, plus I just showed up out of blue here, and-"
"While that may be true," Jan said, "You saved our lives down there. And because of that we trust you."
"She's right." Franklin said, "You saved my life back down there."
Danny blushed causing Franklin and Preach to laugh and Jan to smile.
"How long do you think it'll be till Carter and Scoggs drain the stairway?" Danny asked Jan.
"Don't know, depends upon-Where's Susan?" She said.
It was then everyone noticed Susan was not in the room. She slipped away from them.
"Where'd she go?" Franklin asked.
Jan groaned, "She must've gone back to her quarters on the next level."
"What's down there?" Danny asked.
"Her research. The tests, all the data she and Jim did. It's in her bedroom."
"She went back down there?" Franklin asked dubiously.
"Possibly." Jan said.
Danny's mind worked in overdrive. The facility was still flooded. The sharks are still inside. Danny got up and ran out of the room.
"Danny!" "Kid!" Call came from the room.
Danny went to where they submerged from the elevator shaft. His eyes darting around for a map. He found one right next to him, he quickly scanned it and ran off into the direction towards the bedrooms. Ignoring the calls of Preach, Jan and Franklin as he ran down the hallway.
-
Susan was waist deep in the water as she slowly walked to her bedroom. It wasn't too far. All she needed was to get the disks out of the cabinet and she would be out there. Easy as pie. She grabbed the key chain she had on her necklace and opened the cabinet. The whole thing was flooded like the rest of the room. She moved her hands around and closed around something. She pulled it out and sighed in relief as she realized it was her research data. She kissed it thankfully and heard something coming from behind her. She screamed thinking it was one of the sharks, only to see it was just the shark model she used for practice tests. Breathing heavily she pushed the model away. It disappeared into the water. A small tip came up and slowly rose out of the water; Susan noticed it and narrowed her eyes. It moved suddenly and she screamed as she realized it was s shark! The shark thrashed as it opened its jaws and tried to bite Susan but bit on the desk in front of her! Susan screamed as she tried to get away from the shark.
-
Danny meandered slowly through the flooded hallway. He was not too far away to where Susan had gone, or he was hoping. He heard a shrill scream echo through the hallway. Danny moved faster and heard the scream coming from inside a door. He heard banging and water thrashing around. She was locked in the room with the shark! Danny knew he couldn't open the door without it coming at him or it escaping. He willed himself to go intangible and to his surprise, it worked! Danny phased through the door and saw Susan was scrambling to get on the nightstand on the other side of the room. He moved his eyes, looking for the shark. It came up and started going for Susan. Danny concentrated and flew up a few feet out of the water, heading for her. It didn't last thought. As Danny was just near the woman, until his intangibility stopped and he was solid again! Landing in the water. Susan looked up and saw him pop up.
"You ok? What were you thinking about-" Danny started talking to her, she screamed,
"Behind you!"
Danny saw the shark coming. He went straight for the bed nearby. Danny threw himself over it, barely missing the jaws of serrated teeth before the shark went back into the water. Danny was shaking. That was too close for comfort. He turned to Susan.
"You ok?" She asked.
"Yeah. You?"
She nodded. Her hands slipping and her packet of discs were floating away from her.
Susan reached out, splashing the surface trying to grab her discs. She almost had them till the shark came up and snapped its jaws.
"NO!" She said as the shark took the discs out of her reach.
Danny watched the shark circling again.
'It's gonna try again.' He thought.
He heard crackling and saw Susan pulled the cable out of the junction box near her, electricity buzzing sparking. Danny turned away as he noticed she was taking the wetsuit off her. Danny focused on the shark as he heard a bang up ahead. The fish was getting ready. Danny watched scared and in awe as the shark tried leaping at Susan only to get a mouth full of electricity as it bit the wire and it fell back into the water. Danny closed her ears as he heard the sparks flying and the shark thrashing.
"Danny?" He faintly heard. He didn't do anything.
"Danny." He heard it louder and turned.
He saw the shark turned on its side, dead. Susan looking at him,
"You ok?"
He numbly nodded, looking back at the shark. He heard splashing and then felt a hand on his shoulder, he saw Susan back in her wetsuit.
"C'mon."
Danny let Susan lead him into the water, steering clear of the dead shark. As Danny and Susan walked out to the door. She unlocked it and they all heard,
"Danny!"
"Susan!"
Franklin and Preach carrying Jan and Carter rushing ahead to them.
"Did you do it?" Susan asked, Carter shook his head 'no,' "where's Scoggins?" She asked.
Carter just shook his head again 'no.'
"Look I hate to interrupt this moment of burgeoning intimacy…but can we get the fuck out of here?" Preach asked.
Jan slapped his arm," Don't cuss in front of Danny!"
Carter opened up a hatch. Danny and Susan carrying fire extinguishers and life vests while Preach and Franklin had Jan.
"Is this the only way?" Preach asked.
"Exits are flooded. Whole place is sinking. IT's this way or no way at all."
Danny snorted at the irony as he helped Carter tie the life vests around the extinguishers.
"You can bring on the good news any time now." Preach said as he helped Franklin gently put Jan down on the stone floor.
"Sharks are attracted to churning water, bright colors. These extinguishers should be a distraction."
He grabbed the life vest from Preach, "What about us?" He asked.
"The vests will bring you up too fast. Your lungs will pop like a balloon."
"You weren't the sunny kid in your class, weren't you?" Preach asked.
"I never went to class." Carter retorted as he tried a big knot.
"What about Jan? As soon as she gets out in the open the shark will come once they smell the blood." Franklin asked.
"I have an idea that might work." Danny said, grabbing Franklin attention.
Danny opened his palms and tried to form a small shield around her torso. It flickered in and out.
"That should be enough till we get out of the water." Danny said.
"Can you hold the shield around her that long?" Carter asked.
Danny shook his head, "I'll try. My powers are flickering in and out, but I think I can hold it for her once we get out of the water."
Carter nodded, "Than do it, kid."
"How far to the surface? Was it is? 60 feet?" Susan asked.
"Nothing to it, remember exhale on the way up, get the hell out of the water. I gotta equalize the pressure before we blow the airlock. I gotta let the room fill up with water."
Danny's eyes went wide along with everyone else. Jan whimpered a bit.
"It's just gonna be a few seconds. You ready?" Carter asked.
"No." Susan said.
"Not in the least."
"No." Jan said.
"If it's the only way, yeah." Danny said,
"Same." Franklin said.
Carter started turning the wheel and water came from the holes around the room. Danny was next to Jan and Franklin did the same. Danny got himself ready to activate his shield as he helped Jan stay afloat. Preach got everyone holding hands in a circle as he started praying,
"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…because I carry a big stick and I'm the meanest mother-fucker in the valley. Two sharks down Lord, one more demon fish to go. Can I get an amen?"
Danny started saying, "Amen," with everyone as they all floated to the top with the extinguishers closely behind.
Danny turned to Jan who looked ready to cry. He nodded to her and she hesitated before doing the same,
"Alright everybody on 3. 1, 2, 3!"
Danny activated the shield around Jan, and everyone took deep breaths as they all went under the water.
Danny opened his eyes and Carter opened the hatch. Bubbles trailing out. Danny made sure to keep his focus on the shield on Jan as he and she were gently pushed out first by Carter and Franklin. Everyone grabbed the extinguishers and slowly came out of the airlock room. Susan let go of an extinguisher and let it go to the top. Preach let one go shortly after, than Franklin, and then Carter. Danny felt his lungs starting to hurt as he started swimming with Jan closely. The shield flickered a bit, but Danny scrunched his eyes, willing the shield to hold. He was in the middle with Jan, Franklin and Carter next to him with Susan above him along with Preach. Thirty feet to go. They could make it. Danny saw a dark shape moving down below and did whatever he could to not panic. The Gen 2 shark was out and swimming towards them! Carter looked below and was doing his best to not freak out as well. Nobody took their eyes off the Gen 2 as she came in closer, curious. Jan looked ready to scream, but Danny actually slapped a hand over her mouth as the shark came in faster. The shark sped by them and snatched an extinguisher clutched in its jaws. Jan looked relieved and Danny took his hand away. Ten feet to go, almost there. The shield looked around Jan was going out. Danny grimaced as he put more effort to keep it there. Five feet. They were going to make it! Danny saw Susan and Preach made it. He and Jan broke the surface first taking large gulps of air. Franklin came up next and then Carter. They were safe.
"Ahh!" Preach yelled out, everyone turned to see him go under. Preach was slightly hoisted out of the water and being dragged away from the group with the signs of blood gushing out. The Gen 2 had him!
"No!" Carter yelled.
Everyone watched as the shark dragged him away.
"Swim!" Carter said.
Everyone began making a beeline for the rubble fifteen feet away. Danny watched his shield around Jan fizzle out of existence. They had to get out of the water fast. He screwed his face in concentration and slowly he and Jan began to rise out of the water. Jan screamed in surprise.
"Hang on." The teen said as he tried to fly towards the rubble.
Carter kept his eyes on Preach and saw Danny flying with Jan to the rubble. Danny's body twitched in pain as it became too much for him and he dropped both of them into the water a few feet away. Carter and Franklin, still in the water swam out to them. Danny came up coughing as both men came,
"I got her." Franklin said as he took Jan from Danny and began taking her to the rubble.
Carter helped Danny up against his side. Both looked back at Preach trying to escape the shark. They both went under again. All of a sudden, Preach came bobbing up the surface and the shark was swimming away from them! Carter free styled to Preach and began pulling the man behind him. Blood gushing out. Danny got up onto the rubble and both he and Susan pulled him out of the water. They were safe…for now.
