Hello:

The drama and stirring of emotions set off by the uninvited guests, Tia and Agent Torello will be coming to a head.

Will there be any collateral damage?

Chapter 50

The scramble takes shape

Flying up US 101 the black Sportster slows down to glide to the underpass. A helmeted driver flips up the haze colored visor and speaks into the I-phone.

"Angel, I don't have much time."
As the voice on the other end begins to speak, the impatient driver interrupts.

"Yeah! Sure!" His expression is one of annoyance. Through furrowed eyebrows and strained lips he continues.

"I know. I know you're gonna strip the skin from my ass, and so on and so on. But now shut the hell up and listen."

There arises a deafening silence on his cell.

"The Navy is coming to the motel. Get your ass out of there. Leave Maddie, she'll slow you down." His second request is quickly denied.

"Ok, but there is no need to hurt her. I got you bigger fish to fry." He inhales after speaking.

The female voice describes a brutal future for the woman named Maddie, if he does not explain.

"Meet us at Olympia Peninsula. You have the scramble phone?" He asks. "Good, I showed you the tracker screen. Just follow the directions. It'll talk to you."
"So, you want to meet us at the Peninsular? Why?"

"Why!?" He repeats her question to him.

"Because Ryn will be waiting. And this can end."

The female voice asks another question.

"Yes," he closes his eyes as he answers.

"I love you and always will. She means nothing to me."

The rider gets back on his motorcycle and returns to the road.

As the connection is broken, a grinning woman chuckles. She had put the speaker on for his last answer.

"I'm not guaranteeing anything Dr. Bishop." Tia walks to the bound woman. "You heard him. He loves me and always will. So," she rips the duct tape from Maddie's mouth. "You were just some tramp to use." She snorts through flared nostrils. "You might just live another day."

Another vehicle drives in the direction of the Peninsular

The couple had not spoken since Ben turned onto Interstate 5 from 405.

"Can we trust him?" Ben asks with his eyes on the road.

"He helped our Hope and," she pauses turning her vision toward him. "I sense there is something with Maddie."

"What?" His question coincides with a patch of bumpy road.

As the vehicle settles, "I sense something in her when she was talking about the escape. Her voice her expression, whenever she mentioned his name." Ryn takes a deep sigh. "I know Hope acted strange because of her sensing it too." Shaking her head, "she was jealous of Maddie. I think Hope wants to mate with him."

"You don't trust him. He sounded sincere when he called us." Ryn states.

"Ryn, why Olympia Peninsular? Puget Sound?"

Her answer is immediate.

"We can fight in the water, where it should end." She tilts her head to see an expression full of doubt.

Ben stares straight ahead with teeth clenched.

"My darling, we will get Maddie back. I will kill Tia once and for all."
"Ryn, it is not a place for fast transformation." Turning his eyes from the front windshield. "The runoff from land mixes with the ocean's saltwater."

"But, isn't that good?" She asks.

"The salt is denser and falls to the bottom. It actually gets closer to the shore, but drifts downward." He peers over the steering wheel. "The fresh water goes into the ocean."

"You mean transformation may take longer?" Ryn bites a lower lip and then inhales. She understands the significance of the process.

"Ben, then she can use human weapons while I still am transforming. I know she has developed to an extent that she can control her body when in ocean water."

"And this guy, Torello," a deep blast of disgusted air leaves his nose and mouth. "The stem cells are definitely for him. He could be double crossing her…and us."

"That is a chance we have to take. We must save Maddie." Ryn's words are pronounced and direct.

"We will," Ben reaches for her hand. As they join he adds. "I love you. No matter what you ask of me, I will do it." He lifts them up toward his face and places a soft kiss on her pale skin.

"I love you Ryn." His statement draws no reply.

"We will give Maddie these stem cells." She tells Ben. "No one will interfere with the growth of my family. Tia and this Joe will die if they do." Her facial muscles tighten. "Maddie will bare another child for me."

"Ryn, you know it may take many tries before she can get pregnant." He snorts a humorous gust of air.
"No! You will impregnate her after the cells have started to take effect. Her body will be as ours." She looks at Ben with a stern expression. "One night of sex is enough."

"Whatever you say." He changes lanes preparing to enter the Peninsular.

"I love you Ryn."

"Maddie will live with us under the surface. Then, we can live both on land and under the sea."
She turns her gaze to the passenger side windshield.

"I am the Queen. I so choose this."

As he follows Torello's directions, Ben also stares to the front. His expression is one familiar to the world. It has been worn by many a soul that has told someone, 'I love you,' and heard a change of subject in their reply. His mind is a surge of questions.

My family? Another child for me? I choose this? My…me…I.

Fearful words run through his thoughts.

And what if Maddie needs more time to conceive?

As he continues to a spot off Puget Sound as directed by Torello, Ben remains silent. His fear of the future now outweighs the thought of Tia or Agent Torello's treachery.

Note to the reader:

An immovable object will meet an unstoppable force in the next chapter.

Feel free to give your opinion on what will happen to the five characters that are involved.

Also, would you enjoy I feel his heartbeat continuing?
I already have new conflicts and of course the pesky Russians waiting in the wings.

It is up to you.

GJ

PS:

To the Guest that would enjoy further chapters of this tale, thank you for expressing your view.

I do appreciate it.