Chapter 2: The Boat
Amber, Jay, Lex, Slade, Ebony, May, Ellie, and Jack stood at the edge of the boat as it came close to the pier. The crowd of people gathering at the ocean's edge worried them, especially those dressed all in black. "There has to be over two hundred people waiting there!" Slade remarked, his eyes wide with speculation. "Yes and half of them are dressed in black, and they look like they mean business," Amber said with a worried frown. "They look like soldiers," Ebony said sullenly, staring out at the crowd. "Well that's a first," Lex commented dryly, crossing his arms across his chest. "I actually agree with Ebony on something." Ebony shot him a caustic look but said nothing.
"I think the best thing to do is for only a few of us to get out at one time," Jay said slowly. "I'll go." "I'll go too," Amber said immediately. Jay took her shoulders in his hands. "No. You should stay here with Bray. If they try anything, you can get away." Amber opened her mouth to argue but Ebony beat her to it. "That's no good, Jay," she said, turning to her former lover. "We can't get off the boat until it's docked, and once it's docked, we're stuck." "See?" Amber said with a small smile. "And did you actually think I would leave you?" Jay smiled back and kissed her on the forehead lightly. Ebony's lip curled a little and she turned back to face the crowd.
"I think only a few should get off at first," Slade said. "It would be safer for the others, if we talk to the leaders here and explain the situation." Amber nodded. "Yes, I agree. Who wants to go?" "I'm definitely going," Ebony said immediately. Amber was stuck between relief and annoyance. Although she disliked Ebony, she had to admit, Ebony was great in a fight. Amber nodded at her. "So I take it you're coming too, Slade?" Slade nodded his agreement. "And me," Lex interjected. "You'll need me if there's a fight." Amber smiled at her fellow Mallrat. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Lex," she said. "You've proven yourself more than once." Lex looked a little taken aback at the praise and gave her a smirk in reply.
"Anyone else?" Amber asked. "I'll go," came a voice from behind her. She turned to see Ram staring out at the crowd. Darryl was standing beside him. "You'll need someone with brains in case something goes wrong," Ram continued. Amber rolled her eyes, but nodded. "I'm going too," Darryl said with a sheepish grin. "All right, so that's me, Jay, Lex, Slade, Ebony, Darryl and Ram. I think that's enough." She turned to Jack, May, and Ellie. "You three don't mind, do you?" They shook their heads. "I'll go tell Salene and Trudy, and see how Ruby's doing," Ellie said as she walked away. "She's not doing well at all," Ram said quietly. Out of the corner of her eye, Amber saw Ebony's face turn pale. It was a look she had seen before . . . Ebony's guilty look. And surprisingly, Amber thought, she could see sorrow as well.
"That really sucks for Ruby," Lex sighed. "She's a great girl." "Yeah, she is," Slade said, looking upset. Ram looked over at Slade, then at Ebony. "I don't think she's going to make it," he said, keeping his eyes on the woman he hated. "There's bruising on her torso that suggests broken ribs, which means she might have internal bleeding." "Then maybe we can find someone here who can help," said the ever optimistic Jay. Gel interrupted by pushing herself into the middle of the crowd with Sammy in tow. "If you're going ashore I want to go!" she cried. "I smell like fish! And that Lottie is getting on my nerves!" "She really does stink!" Sammy interjected, making Gel shriek with dismay. Amber rolled her eyes. "You are going to stay here, Gel, and for God's sake, shut up! We all smell!"
Gel pouted and stormed off in a fury. Amber sighed, stifling the urge to throw the girl off the ship. She turned back to the others. "We're almost there," she said. "Are you ready?" Lex, Jay, Ebony, Darryl and Slade nodded. Ram merely flicked his eyes at her. "We're as ready as we'll ever be," Slade said with a grin.