Disclaimer: for the last time, only Tara and this nutty plot belongs to me. The rest, sadly, is not. See ya!
Chapter 21 - Focus
Back under water, Tala, Kai, Bryan, Johnny, Lee and Ray all froze as they heard Tara's shriek pierce the night.
Tara screamed as five guards rose up out of the water, trapping her and Spencer in the circle they had made. Each one held a weapn of some sort, and all had breathing equipment as well. Spencer's grip on Tara's body tightened.
On the other side of the lake, Tara faintly saw figures jump in to help. Three of them. She could also see some being held back, Aelita and Mariah were definitely in that mix though.
Suddenly, three guards went down, floating back up unconcious. Robert, Michael and Eddy came up next to them, and Spencer dropped Tara to knock the other two out as well. Eddy took Tara while they watched the Russian in action.
Eddy started back to land, Tara in his arms and Robert next to him. Michael waited for Spencer, and they started back a few seconds after.
Tara started concentrating, trying to get her strength back up. Eddy must have seen this, since he started to go faster. Tara opened her eyes and smiled reassuringly at him, but he still didn't slow. Tara went back to her concentration. Tara gasped.
Three guards sprung up out of the water, tackling Robert, Spencer and Michael. Eddy swam faster, pulling you along too.
You saw another four rise up in front of you again, two taking Eddy, two taking you. You felt hands on your waist as they forced you under with them.
As you went down you saw Eddy, Spencer, Michael and Robert rising up to the surface, all unconcious. Cloth smothered your mouth again and your vision stops short.
Tara gasped again as her vision stoped shortly. Eddy and Robert were giving her strange looks, and for a moment she focussed on what she now knew. Too late.
Before she could warn them of what was too come, three guards rose up behind them, tackling Robert, Spencer and Michael. Eddy started to go faster, pulling Tara along so fast she couldn't think and warn him.
The other four guards came in front of them as well, and Tara felt Eddy hug her to him. Fear took her over.
Two of them went after Eddy, while the other two prised Tara from his grasp. Tara felt their hands on her waist again as the forced her under with them.
She saw Eddy, Spencer, Michael and Robert floating back up unconciously to the surface again, and squeazed her eyes shut, making her vision stop short.
She opened them again, and saw Tala, Kai and Bryan swimming towards her. Lee, Johnny and Ray were not far behind them, tackling a guard still. Ray broke free and went to help the three Russians.
Tara felt two strong arms wrap round her stomach, and she saw Tala and Kai glaring. So were Bryan and Ray. Tara was still shaken and woozy, and wasn't thinking straight.
She saw them all swimming towards her, and her eyes drifted closed again. The man jogged her again, and her eyes snapped open again. She needed air, fast.
Tara found hersef going up again, and saw Tala, Bryan, Kai and Ray folowing her not far below. She gasped in air as she was taken back up to the surface, but quickly found herself slipping through her guard's hands.
She slipped into Kai's strong arms, who started swimming away, holding her under him as he swam. He swam diagonally; up and away from the others. Lee and Johnny joined him shortly, leaving the guard unconcious below them.
Kai took her up for more air; she was close to passing out. Tara tried to focus her energy again, but knew it wasn't worth it. Johnny and Lee started to escort her back again.
Tara cried out again as strong arms took her underwater again. She swivelled herself round to see Bryan, who put a finger to his lips. Tara nodded and let him lead her away.
Bryan nodded to Lee and Johnny, who had followed her under as well. They swam off, probably to help Tala and Kai.
Tara trembled as three guards blocked their path. Robert, Eddy and Michael could be seen behind them, and together, Bryan helped them get rid of the guards.
Tara floated down again, without enough energy to call out to the others. Michael swam down to catch her, but was beaten to her by yet another guard.
Tara sent up a shield round her, but it didn't look strong. She bounced herself back up, not caring if Michael caght her or not. He missed due to a punch from the guard, but Bryan did catch her.
He took her back up, and Tara faintly saw that they weren't too far from land. A van pulled up, and bladers got out to help.
Bryan frowned. 'No police then?' he yelled to those on land. Judy shook her head.
'Traffic. They can't get here. This is our best bet. Sorry Bryan.' She called back. Bryan muttered something in Russian that Tara could only recognise as not too nice. She smirked despite her weak state.
The Saint Shields, Kane, Goki, King and Queen all dived in to help, just as a squad of guards pulled up on the opposite side of the lake.
Guards surrounded Bryan and Tara, but Goki reached them quickly. He took out two, before Kane reach them as well. He sent off another two, but King and Queen were the best. Together they beat back the last six, clearing the path to land.
The duo took Tara, and started to get her to land, but were interrupted by yet more guards. They tried to fight, but were caught, leting Tara be taken away again.
Tara suddenly felt stronger, and saw Tala and Kai swimming back for her. Tala smiled to her as they got closer and closer.
Tara watched as Kai punched the guard in the nose, and Tala prised her from his grip. She huddled close to him.
Across from them, Mariam, Joseph and Ozuma were fighting about six guards. One spotted Tara, Kai and Tala and yelled something to the others. Three of them went after them, while the others took the three Saint Shields.
Tala untied her wrists, but before he could get to her ankles, he was sent backwards by a guard. He took Tara round the waist again, one arm across the top of her chest, near the start of her shoulders. Tala growled and swam towards him with Kai by his side.
They tackled the guard together, sending him backwards, still holding onto Tara. Tara closed her eyes.
Suddenly, Tala, Kai and the guard who was still holding Tara, shot up through the water, bursting up at the surface. Tara opened her eyes and the guard shot away from her. She smiled.
'I'm guessing you did that?' Tala asked as he undid Tara's ankles at last. Tara smiled and nodded, flexing her fingers readily.
Kai frowned as a figure swam towards them. Mariam tred water in front of them, waiting to take Tara back. Kai and Tala took her instead, leaving her to fight another guard.
Tara didn't send them faster that time, but kept an eye out in the water. Tala took hold of one arm, while Kai held her other. Tara was swimming as best she could too, but the boys were doing most of the work.
'Look out!' Tara warned as a black figure rose up in front of them. Tara ducked a jab from his sword, and plunged underwater. The guard followed as two more appeared.
Tala and Kai went under as well, and started tackling the other two, letting Tara put up a shield round herself. The guard tried to break through, but Tara was stronger, and blocked him out, letting her get strength as he lost it trying to get through.
Tara swam up again, whizzing through the water, not hearing the motor until it was too late.
Tala pulled her under as a motor boat with three guard in it went past. Tara gasped as she saw the trail left; only guessing how fast it was going.
'Stay under except for air.' Tala ordered as they went up again. Tara nodded and dove under, straight into Bryan's arms. He smirked as Tara tried to get away, and Tara turned round to see Tala there. He nodded to Bryan, who swam off, still holding Tara.
Bryan took her abut half the way, fighting off guards when they opposed them. He always caught Tara again though, and ended up pulling her along again.
Tara glared at the guard in front of her and gasped as he punched Bryan, sending him backwards and into a rock. Tara tried to swim away but his strong arms found their way round her waist.
He smirked at the struggling redhead in his arms, and started off towards the the edge of the lake; the side the guards were waiting on.
Tara kicked and thrashed, trying to focus her energies again, but she already knew it was too late. Just before she passed out, air came to her lungs.
She looked up to see Tala had replaced the guard somehow, and had stolen his airtank. Tara breathed in deeply, and felt her dizziness start to fade away again.
enoy, review, and thanks for reading! naioka1992 - xoxo