Chapter 21
Danny POV
"DANNY YOU'RE FUCKING CRAZY!"
"IM WELL AWARE OF THAT BEN, NOW SHUT UP AND HOLD ONTO REX."
As we started to free fall towards the river, Ben and I held onto Rex tighter and tighter as we got closer to the surface to the river.
"-guys"
"What!?"
Ben didn't have a chance to answer back as we had already hit the water surface. As the cold rushing water flowed over us, we struggled to swim back up to the surface to breath. When we broke the surface, we started to gasp for air but ended up swallowing water in the process. As the water carried us down the river, we kept on hitting rocks that were jutting out of the water. We almost lost our grips on Rex but we managed to hold steadfast each and every time. I looked up and saw that there was a huge rock in the middle of the river and we were heading right towards it. At the rate we were going, hitting that rock would do more than break a couple of bones. I tightened my grip around Rex and Ben. we were getting closer to the rock when I felt Ben's arm leave my grip.
"Ben!?"
I kept on yelling for Ben but I couldn't hear myself over the sound of the rushing water. I tried my best to keep my head above the water along with Rex, but it seemed as if the water was trying to make sure that didn't happen. I looked back up to see that we had passed the rock and it was already behind us. I realized that there was someone's arm wrapped around my waist. I looked towards Rex thinking it was him but he was still out cold. I grabbed the arm that was wrapped around me. It was cold and slimy and it seemed to have some type of webbing between the fingers. When we were forced under the water again, I managed to get a good look at what was holding me. What met my eyes was a fishes body with the head of a lantern fish and the arms of a human. I started to scream until I realized that I was still underwater. The fish head turned towards me and opened its mouth. Rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth were revealed and I started to thrash around, even more, to try and get away from it. I managed to hit it in the face but it just grabbed both me and Rex and held us close to its chest.
My lungs started to burn and my head started to pound as the little oxygen I had left in my lungs started to run out. I tried to get out again but due to the lack of oxygen, my movements were slow and sluggish. Through my dimming vision, I saw that the fish thing managed to get us to a stream that branched off from the river. The water slowed down and the fish thing managed to bring us up to the surface and held us up as we started to eagerly gulp in air.
"Danny?"
A rough and deep sounding voice hit my ears. I looked up to the fish creature and then to Rex.
"Don't freak out Danny, it's me Ben."
I stared at the fish creature for a little bit
"What the fuck Ben?"
"Sorry about that, I had to grab you guys before we hit that rock, or we all would have died. But it looks like this is an irrigation ditch, we might run into a town soon."
I looked around at the water we were in, he was right, it was starting to get smaller and the banks of dirt and rock were being replaced with smooth cement.
"How much longer can you stay in that...form?"
"Not much longer, but before anything."
Ben brought one of his hands up and grabbed my neck
"Hey, I'm not into that kinky shit."
"Shut up, I'm taking this off."
With a quick and smooth motion, I felt the collar leaving my neck. Immediately, I felt my wounds starting to heal and my power coming back to me. Ben also took the liberty to take off Rex's collar as well.
"Thanks"
"No problem"
After that we just let the current take ourselves downstream. We stayed like that for another 10 minutes until I heard this weird noise.
"Uh oh"
"Uh oh, what?"
At that moment, Ben turned back into normal and passed out
"Shit, Ben?!"
I had to grab Ben and Rex so they wouldn't go underwater and drown. I guess there was a reason why he couldn't transform earlier. I looked back up and saw that there was a town coming up. I started to swim towards the edge. I mustered all the strength I had and managed to float out of the water to take the three of us to the edge. Once I was on solid ground, I started to walk up the slope with Rex and Ben in my arms. As soon as I got to level ground, I collapsed in exhaustion. The years of malnutrition and experiments finally catching up to me.
"OH MY GOD"
I heard the sound of running feet coming towards us, I tried to lift my head up to see who it was but I didn't have to strength to do so. I felt myself being flipped over as someone picked me up into their arms. I opened my eyes to see a blond man with blue eyes holding me on the ground.
"What happened to you guys?"
Through my pain and exhaustion, I managed to say
"It doesn't matter, just get the 2 of them to help." He put me down and started to call 911. I grabbed his hand and looked him in the eyes.
"No hospitals, no authorities, or you'll send us to our death sentence."
He stopped for a little bit and nodded in response. Relaxing I let my eyes close as I started to relax.
"Hey Caesar, it's me, bring your truck over to where I am...listen, I'll explain when you get here... yes ,I swear that I, Noah Nixon, will owe my life to you, just get your ass over here
