All the stress that has built up since their capture seems to slowly start to melt away as the couple relaxes in their quiet embrace. Despite the cold, dark and damp environment that surrounds them nothing has ever felt so comfortable. Jason closes his eyes savoring the feeling and hoping this peace will last for just a little longer. That is of course when he hears it, a low rumble followed by the sound of metal creaking.
He feels Kim's body tense in his arms and knows that she has heard the same thing. Opening his eyes, he looks around half expecting to see the walls crumpling in on them but everything appears just as it was before. Suddenly there is loud pop off to the side of where they are standing.
Jason turns his head at the same time as Kim. Shit. Water is rapidly rushing in around the edges of the loosened panel. So much for peace. They both quickly run over to the wall and try to push the panel back into place.
Not yet. Not yet. Jason's mind is racing as throws his entire weight against the pressure pushing the water in. There is a flash of light and the room shakes as another rumble fills the air. Great… He says loudly as the rumbling increases. "We're gonna have to wait 'til we pass through the triangle!"
"We better pass through very quickly." Kim answers back as she notices the water beginning to rise around them. "Jason, the room's filling up!" She has to shout as the water begins coming in faster. The flashes of light begin to increase in frequency and intensity as the rumbles get louder. "What's happening?!"
"I don't know!" Jason responds trying to keep the panic out of his voice. He doubles his effort trying to hold the panel but as the pressure outside increases it is becoming clear that it may not be enough. "I don't know how much longer I can hold it!"
The water continues to rise as they struggle to hold the panel in place for just a little while longer. We have got to be getting close… Jason thinks as his muscles protest again the strain. As the water reaches their chests, a lifting feeling almost like an invisible wave passes through them and the storm that has been beating around them stops. It is becoming hard to think straight as the frigid water continues to pour in. We have to be surfacing. Jason quickly checks his dive computer and confirms his suspicion.
"Okay, its time to get this off." Jason tells Kim as he wraps his fingers around the edge on the metal. He starts trying to pull the panel away from the wall but with the cold water beginning to numb his already tired muscles and the pressure of the rising water is making things difficult. "We need to pry it with something."
"Get the pipe."
Duh. "Good idea." Jason turns away from the panel and scans the water quickly before diving under the surface. Grabbing the pipe from the floor he swims up and back to the wall. "This should do it."
Kim begins has to force herself to stay calm as her own body begins to freeze. Beside her Jason is trying to work the panel off with the pipe but she can't help the panic that is rising in her voice. "Okay, any time Jason."
"I'm trying." He puts more force into his efforts knowing that time is quickly running out.
"Okay," She knows he really is but tension and fatigue is starting to set in on both of them. "This water is getting too high for me."
"We go swimming?"
The voice behind them becomes a reminder that they are not only ones in trouble here. With that to add to his building tension, Jason can't keep from snapping, "Will you guys be quiet?! I'm trying to get us out of here!"
Jason turns his frustration back to the stuck panel. His fingers are going numb making the pipe hard to hang on to and it keeps slipping from his grasp. Above him he starts to hear what sounds like an alarm going off.
"We're running out of time." Kim says as she glances up. She looks back to see the top of the round panel slip beneath the surface of the water.
"I know." Jason forces the sharpness out of his response. "We are going to have to go down. Now that it's under water it should be easier to pry off."
"Okay."
Taking a deep breath, they both push themselves down into the murky water. Feeling along the edge, Jason hooks the pipe between the two pieces of metal and begins to work it back and forth. After a few times he is reward as the panel pops loose allowing them to rotate it open.
Propelling themselves upwards, Jason and Kim cough and gasp as they try to regain their breaths. Kim glances to her side to see the faces of Angel Groves' former bullies looking back at them. "We gotta get Bulk and Skull first." She looks back at Jason seeing her emotions mirrored on his face. "Okay."
When he nods his agreement, they take a deep breath and push themselves back below the surface. They swim over to the door that separates the chambers and try to the wheel only to find it stuck. A pounding come from the other side of the door signaling that they should turn it the other direction. Their lungs are beginning to cry out for air so they quickly turn the wheel and are relieved when they hear it click. Using their combined strength they force the door open. Jason waves them out as Kim leads the way back to the surface.
"You guys, you have to exhale slowly on the way to the top now. Alright?" Jason looks directly at the other pair as he speaks because he knows that Kim will listen without question.
"Swim now. Like a little guppie." Skull says in that ridiculous Spanish accent before the pair take a deep breath and dive.
Jason follows them with a bewildered look and glances at Kim. Taking another deep breath they descend after the men. Jason reaches the opening first and quickly wave Bulk and Skull through first. Looking at Kim, he signals her to go first but as she enters the gap she suddenly stops. It take him a second to realize that she is caught. Panic begins to fill his mind as rushes to her aid. Tugging on her shirt a few times he is able to break her free and relief fills him as he watches her swim through the opening.
Jason enters behind her but a dark shadow falls over him as another panel slides down and stops his escape. With no way forward, he is forced to retreat. Pushing himself back, Jason returns to the pocket air at the top of the bilge. Within seconds he feels a pull from below and knows that their captors are now draining the room having discovered their plot. He has to hold his breath as the water level rapidly falls dropping him quickly back to the floor. Jumping to his feet, he looks up toward the grid paneled ceiling and hopes that Kim and the others had enough time to get away undetected.
"Now open the hatch to the bilge! Hurry up!"
The shrill voice echoes from above as a small door opens in the ceiling. For the first time Jason sees the face of the woman who has been holding them.
"Well, I guess Maligore will have to do with only one sacrifice."
Jason glances over at the now sealed walled and smiles as the woman's words sink in. Yes! They got away! Looking up, he gives her a cocky grin as the hatch closes.
So, I can't believe how fast I was able to get this next chapter done. The next chapter should be all interesting and possibly evil.
