Authors Note: I thought I'd update even if no one is reading this, if you are review please!
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
3 Days Later
The storm growled over head as the group slept in the living quarters below deck. Amber turned slightly as she lay next to Jay and Bray Junior. Jay glanced at her to check she was ok before getting up. He had been trying to sleep, unsuccessfully, all night. Jay stood and looked around the plain room the four mattresses were being used by he amber and bray junior, Jack and Ellie, Slade and ebony and finally Lottie and mouse. The others, except Darryl and trader who were sleeping on blankets, were resting in sleeping bags.
Jay sighed exhaustedly and left the room. He walked up on deck and to the navigation room where he found Lex staring out to sea. "Hey" he greeted, Lex jumped startled and glared at Jay for a second
"Come to check up on me?" he snarled.
"Couldn't sleep" Jay admitted simply, used to Lex's attitude. The ex.-techno sat on a small crate and rubbed his face with his hands. Lex sat opposite him and asked curiously
"Any particular reason?" Jay shook his head "Not really: unless you count malnutrition and seasickness."
He glanced at the sky outside as there was a peal of thunder and a flash of lightening a few seconds later. "One, one thou…" Lex counted but stopped as the next crack sounded "its right above us" he said matter of factly. "Jay mate we all know what your problem is but there is nothing you can do." He said changing topic suddenly. Jay looked at Lex with fake confusion
"What problem?" Lex smirked
"Denial, denial. Mind if I guess anyway?" Jay shook his head
"Guess away." He invited.
"You're worried we'll find Bray on one of these islands that you Technos shipped the captives to. Then you don't know who Amber will choose. How's that?" Lex surmised. Jay considered lying to Lex who had hit the nail in the head but decided it wasn't worth the hassle.
"Ok, you're right but how did you know where…?"
"Fish told me 'bout a month ago," Lex confessed.
As Lex finished speaking there was a deafening peal of thunder and the rain that had been holding back let go with full force, the wind that had been growing all day buffeted the boat and its occupants were thrown mercilessly as it bounced on the waves. Lex struggled to keep the boat steady as the force of the gales increased. After a few minutes there was a loud crunch and a great sucking noise could be heard. Trader ran up on deck, followed by the rest of the tribe in different states of panic, he ran to the side and in a flash of lightening saw a large hole in the side of the boat and a rock jetty on which they had been pushed.
"we're sinking!" Lottie screamed, noticing the rising level of water around the boat. Amber put her hand on the girl's shoulder to sooth her and forcing herself to be calm as Jay and Lex ran from the navigation room.
Salene ushered Sammy and Mouse to the life raft Ram and Darryl were preparing and the children climbed in.
"Guys, the lifeboat "she called as Trudy and Brady followed her and the children, and the rest of the mallrats followed. Lex and Ram were yelling at Trader to get into the raft when the boat turned and he slipped down the deck into the water on the other side of the boat. The remaining mallrats rowed away from the boat and Jack muttered to himself,
"Rats fleeing the sinking ship, how ironic!" Ram, Lex, Slade and Darryl fought to row the life raft away from the rapidly disappearing ship, fighting the powerful wind and waves.
"If we can get to the shore of this island we'll be ok!" Lex yelled above the downpour. Amber and Trudy were attempting to calm their children to no avail.
The next thing the Mallrats knew they were plunged into icy cold water and were struggling to stay afloat. Trudy was trying to hold Brady above the water, considering her child before her own safety. Lex swam through the turmoil to a large rock which he held onto tightly regaining his breath as he searched the sea for his friends. He saw Slade and Ebony swimming strongly towards the shore together and turned back for the rest of his tribe.
When he saw nothing he knew he had to help them and took a deep breath before diving under the churning water, he swam until his breath gave out but found no one. He swam to the surface, took a large gulp of air and dived again. After a few seconds of searching he found Trudy struggling against the current just under the surface, and it was obvious her strength was giving out. Lex grabbed her around the waist and swam strongly upwards, however his progress was slower now he was pulling Trudy and Brady as well.
Just when he thought his lungs would explode from lack of oxygen he broke the surface gasping. Lex pulled Trudy's head above the water and held onto Brady who was screaming as the waves swirled violently around them. Pushing Brady in front of him and pulling Trudy behind him made swimming awkward and the muscles in his legs screamed in protest at the strain placed upon them. Lex urged himself on towards the shore knowing he had to get them to safety.
As Jay felt the boat capsize he was submerged and quickly forced him self to reach the surface and saw Amber struggling. He swam to her and released bray JR's carrier from her back, Jay gave amber her baby and she swam with bray in front of her held above the ocean. Jay swam beside them protectively and watched over them as they swam, he glanced back at the area the boat had capsized but could see no one and so continued towards the beach.
Mouse struggled helplessly against the waves she did not know how to swim and screamed "help!" before she was dragged under again but her cry was lost in the storm winds.
Salene looked around gasping for air trying to find Sammy and the girls or another tribe member; she kicked herself away from the capsized boat and propelled herself a distance away. Salene felt something tug at her shirt and tried to disentangle herself as she was pulled under the water. Salene realised it was a person and pulled them up with her. Mouse struggled for breath and Salene was glad to see the child, as she pried mouse's hand from her shirt. Taking mouse's arm Salene pulled her to the sand hoping the others would be ok but knowing she was no use to Mouse drowned and the girl would not survive alone.
Salene found Lex, Trudy and Brady on the beach as she trudged wearily up the sand with Mouse.
"Thank Goodness!" She said to herself glad to see her friends alive.
"Are you ok?" Salene asked Mouse as she saw she was stood shivering in the downpour. Mouse nodded silently still shocked.
Slade and ebony found them shortly followed by Darryl, Sammy and Gel who was distraught about her briny hair.
"Thanks Lex, you saved my life and Brady's" Trudy said gratefully to him struggling to be heard. Lex smiled at her and lay back on the sand relieved and exhausted. Slade put his arm around Ebony and said
"I'll get some drift wood so we can try to build a fire." He squeezed her shoulder and although unwilling to let her go he headed down the beach in the still violent storm to find something to burn. Slade soon found Amber Jay and Bray JR, he told them where the others were and headed down the beach.
Ebony knew why Slade had left but it didn't stop her wanting him back especially after the nights events. She stood back uselessly as Lex and the others regained their breath and looked after their children. Suddenly she heard people walking down the beach. She wondered if it was other mallrats or strangers until a flash of lightening illuminated Jay, Amber and her baby. Ebony smiled at them, although she had never particularly liked Amber she was glad her and Jay were alive.
Jack walked exhaustedly down the beach trying to find someone else, he was carrying Ellie who had injured her thigh on the rocks and couldn't walk. He heard voices ahead over the storm and not thinking it could be anyone but his tribesmen ploughed onwards.
Mouse screamed and pointed out a strange shape coming towards them through the darkness. Salene jumped up and stood in front of her as a shield, while Ebony walked towards the creature fists raised in case of attack.
Jack saw a figure in front of him and called out "Can you help us?" his strength was disappearing rapidly and Ellie had fainted with pain in his arms.
Salene laughed when she heard Jacks voice over the gale, "Jack it's us!" She called back relaxing slightly. Jack was relieved to hear Salene and set Ellie gently on the ground close to the group; she awoke and moaned at the pain in her leg which Jack had tied up with his shirt.
"Where are we?" She asked a little confused. Jack responded kneeling at her side
"We're on a beach with some of the other Mallrats, honey." "Oh" she said shivering but cheering up slightly at hearing they had found their friends. Jack noticed her shaking and took of his jacket to put round her shoulders, this left him with nothing but his undershirt however he ignored the cold in worry about Ellie.
"Thanks" she murmured pulling it to her as Jack sat beside her and she leaned into him.
Slade wandered up the beach a bit further but found no more of his friends. The storm clouds had eventually passed bathing the beach in a soft clear moonlight making it possible for him to find some fairly dry driftwood under some hedgerow slightly inland.
Slade returned to the group arms full of slightly damp driftwood, he noticed Jack and Ellie but not wishing to disturb them said nothing. To the others he said "I've brought some driftwood for a fire "He placed it on the ground in a pile and started striking stones to create a spark. Ebony knelt next to him supportively feeling better now he had returned safely.