Author's note:
School sucks. That's all I'll say on that. Let's get back to it.
"Have a seat." Duncan shoved McLean into a chair as the remaining teens crowded around. Some were still in shock at what had just happened. And Trent couldn't blame them. If he hadn't already known that the shark was real, he probably would've been freaking out too.
But he couldn't focus on that. Right now, all that mattered was getting some answers. And there was only one man on the ship that could give them those answers.
"Start talking," Duncan ordered McLean. "Tell us everything about that shark."
McLean glared. "Why should I?"
In response, Eva approached, cracking her knuckles before punching McLean's shoulder. "Talk!" she ordered.
"I can't!" McLean yelled. "If they knew I talked—"
"Your employers at the Drama Corporation aren't here, pretty boy," Chef interrupted. "Now, tell us what that thing is, how you're involved, what the Drama Corporation wants with all this—everything."
"Or what?"
Chef grinned savagely. "Or we throw you overboard to your pet."
McLean winced. "You wouldn't dare."
Chef nodded at Eva and Duncan. "Throw him overboard."
McLean's eyes widened in fear as Duncan and Eva hoisted him up and started dragging him to the railing. "Okay! Okay! I'll talk!"
Chef nodded. "That's more like it. Now, talk."
McLean took a moment to collect himself. "That thing is part of an experiment conducted at the Drama Corporation," he began.
"I thought the Drama Corporation shipped reality tv equipment," Courtney said.
"That's just a front," McLean explained. "In reality, they do all sorts of experiments to get a leg up on advancements in science and technology."
"And you help them with it," Chef guessed.
McLean shrugged. "All they have me do is run face for them and fund their base near Boney Island."
"Including that monster of a shark?" Cody asked.
"That monster, as you call it, is Project Fang," McLean explained. "Part of our ongoing experiments with various subjects and toxic waste."
"Various experiments?" DJ squeaked in fear. "You mean—there are more of those things out there?"
"Don't be ridiculous," McLean responded. "The rest of those experiments are on our private island far from here. Fang, on the other hand…he escaped the lab before we could get him out of there."
"And the corporation's private army couldn't kill it?" Trent asked.
"It's not that simple," McLean told him. "When Fang mutated from the toxic waste exposure, not only did the radiation enhance his body, but it also enhanced his mind as well. He's much smarter than us now. He knows how to evade attacks and when and where to attack to get the best meal."
"The ultimate weapon," Chef muttered. "And you let it free without a leash."
"Not me. The Drama Corporation. Like I said, all I did was make sure their operations on Boney Island were kept funded."
"If that thing escaped the lab, how come it's trying to kill us?" Gwen asked.
"It wants revenge," Chef realized. "The Wawanakwa is funded by the Drama Corporation. This…Fang, as it's called…it sees the Drama Corporation as responsible for hurting it and turning it into a monster. So it's going after everything in sight related to it."
"So why go after the mayor?" Courtney asked.
"He funded the lab," Bridgette replied. "Maybe it sees him as responsible for everything."
"Great," Noah muttered. "Our fearless mayor's the main course for this thing, and that makes us the appetizer."
"I want to eat appetizers, not be one," Lindsay cried.
"Mmmm." Owen licked his lips. "Appetizers."
"Focus, Owen." Heather snapped her fingers in front of Owen's face. "We've got a serious problem here. That psycho shark is probably still lurking around somewhere."
"I say we just throw this guy to the shark and call it a day," Eva growled, smashing a fist into her palm.
"And what, hope Fang leaves us alone?" Trent shook his head. "I don't think that's going to work."
"It's a wild animal," Noah agreed. "If it wants to eat us, it'll eat us."
"Not on my watch." Chef started walking for the staircase to their living quarters.
"Where are you going?" Courtney asked.
"Getting the rest of my weapons," Chef answered. "It's time to get you kids armed."
"But I already have arms," Lindsay pointed out. No one paid her comment any mind.
"You're going to give these kids guns?" McLean asked, horrified. "That's a terrible, terrible idea."
"I can't defend everyone by myself," Chef told him sternly. "It makes strategic sense that we get more guns in play."
As Chef descended down the stairs to his room, the kids began to talk in hushed voices.
"That shark—he's going to kill us all," Lindsay sobbed, clutching Tyler's arm in fear.
"How could they have hidden this from us?" Geoff asked. "That's totally wrong, man."
"Gee, if only someone had seen the shark beforehand and tried to warn everyone about what was coming," Gwen commented sarcastically.
"Okay, we get it. You were right and we were wrong," Heather said dryly. "But I'm not giving any apologies. Not when we could still all die."
"We're not going to die," Duncan insisted. "We're going to kill that shark if he tries anything again."
"Right. Because a handful of teenagers and a crazy cook can easily take down a giant man-eating shark that can chase us on land and sea," Noah remarked.
"My Codykins is not going to get eaten," Sierra growled angrily, squeezing Cody tightly.
"Shut yer yaps!" Chef clambered up the stairs, lugging a duffel bag overflowing with guns. "Who here knows how to fire a gun?"
"Ooo! Me, me, me!" Izzy shot her hand up.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Trent asked.
"Yeah, I got taught how to shoot out in the wilderness," Izzy explained. "But then I accidentally shot my instructor when hunting a deer and that's how the RCMP decided to chase me down!"
"Izzy, for the last time, the RCMP isn't trying to hunt you down," Noah insisted.
"Shut it!" Chef tossed Izzy a rifle. "Just don't try to shoot anyone. Who else?"
"I know how to shoot," Alejandro spoke up. "I'm a very good shot." Chef nodded and tossed him a pistol before giving more guns out to Geoff, Bridgette, Leshawna, Trent, and Heather.
"Why don't I get one of the guns?" Duncan asked.
"You think we're going to let a criminal like you have a gun?" Courtney challenged. "You'd probably shoot us all in the back and leave us to die."
"You really think I'm that shallow, princess?"
"Don't call me princess," she warned.
"Shut it, all of you!" Chef snapped. "Now here's the deal. We've got two days at best to hold this thing off. I won't lie to you kids; some of us probably won't make it out of this one alive."
Lindsay whimpered in fear.
"But if you listen to what I have to say, the more likely you'll survive to be rescued," Chef went on. "So, here's what we're going to do. We're going to hole up in the lounge downstairs. It's the easiest place to defend from that thing. We'll also have someone in the control room to man the comms in case that sheriff calls back. We'll rotate out who's on comms and who's on guard duty every so often so people can get some rest."
"And what do we do when that thing comes back?" Heather asked. "It's not like all of us are crack shots with these things."
"Aim for the snout and the eyes," Chef replied. "Those are the spots where it'll be most vulnerable. The gunfire should get me running to your location if I'm not already there."
The kids were silent as they slowly absorbed what Chef was telling them. "What about him?" Duncan asked, jerking a thumb at McLean, who was still in his chair, being held there by Eva.
"We're keeping him alive too," Chef decided. "Like it or not, he needs to stand trial for what he's done. And he's our only chance of taking down the Drama Corporation and exposing them for their crimes."
McLean started to chuckle. "You think my testimony's going to bring down an entire corporation?" he asked. "They've already planned for scenarios where I talk, I assure you."
Chef narrowed his eyes at the mayor and promptly punched him in the face. The man fell back in his chair and crashed to the ground, out cold.
"Take him below decks," he ordered. "Make sure he's bound tightly so he doesn't get any ideas about trying to run."
"Gladly," Eva growled, picking up McLean's unconscious body and heading for the stairs.
"The rest of you, start barricading the lounge," Chef told the others. "I want the only way in or out of that area to be the stairs. Make it happen."
The teens all glanced at one another.
"I said make it happen!" Chef barked. That broke everyone out of their stunned silence, getting them scrambling towards the stairs. As he followed them, Trent looked back at Chef. He was staring out towards the open water, a worried look on his face.
And if the big man was worried, Trent knew they were all in trouble.
Alive: Alejandro, Bridgette, Chef Hatchet, Chris McLean, Cody, Courtney, DJ, Duncan, Eva, Fang, Geoff, Gwen, Heather, Izzy, Justin, Leshawna, Lindsay, Noah, Owen, Sierra, Trent, Tyler
Dead: Katie, Sadie, Blaineley, Beth
Missing: Harold
Sort of a quick breather chapter, but at least we get Fang's backstory and his name revealed to the remaining teens. Things will start getting bloody again next chapter.
But anyway, don't forget to favorite and follow this story in order to stay informed out updates, and don't forget to leave a review to let me know how I'm doing. Until next time, this is Guest 1138, reminding you to beware of things that go bump in the night. Ciao!