Chapter 8

"NO!" Max yelled turning and fleeing back to the tiller. "We've got to go about NOW!"

Tyson and Ray were back on the ropes in and instant. "We've got to what!" Tyson asked him in confusion. But the blond had already pushed the tiller round. The boat was turning. "Ray! Let go of your rope! Tyson, pull yours in so the sail goes taunt!"
Unable to do anything else, minds numb with panic, the duo obeyed. "Get down!" Max yelled as the boom tore across the deck. Tyson gritted his teeth as the moment brought up the memory again. Staying in a hunched position even after everything had settled down, he hoped the other two wouldn't see him cry.

"Tyson?" It was hopeless, Ray noticed instantly. "Leave me alone" he managed to choke, shifting his gaze out to sea. Ray was staring at his friend in shock. He hadn't even realized Tyson had been so upset by all this. 'Use a little empathy Ray!' his mind shouted at him. Of course Tyson was bound to be horrified by what he had done. Ray had just been too wrapped up in his own anger to even realise. Taking a deep breath he swivelled his bum round to sit down next to Tyson. "Tyson…I'm sorry" The boy continued to stare out to sea. "I shouldn't have got so mad. Look…" He put an arm round his friend "We'll find Kai, just don't beat yourself up about it. Ok buddy?"

Tyson turned to face him at last, eyes still bright with tears. Nodding mutely he sniffed. "Thanks Ray" It was the white tigers turn to nod and he returned to his position on the other side of the boat.

"I wouldn't get comfy guys" Max warned "We're still too close to these rocks"

Staring down into the water Ray felt his stomach somersault. Max wasn't kidding. He heard Tyson gasp in horror from the other bench. They were still sailing over the dark water, parallel to the reef. "Max! We could hit a rock any second!" he yelped in terror.

"I know! that's why I'm trying to get us closer to that" He pointed over the bow. Tyson and Ray followed his gaze. A few hundred metres ahead of them was a relatively small island, complete with tropical undergrowth and a wide river mouth. "We're going up there?" Tyson asked in amazement.

"Are you trying to ground us Max?" Ray questioned sharply.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do" the blond declared. The other two stared at him nonplussed. "He's lost it…"

"Max! STOP!" Ray stood up, preparing to wrestle Max from the tiller. "Hear me out" his friend replied keeping his gaze steadily on the water around them. "The tide is going out now. I want to park this thing some where so we can try and get some supplies or something. We can get back out on the rising tide, don't worry. I just don't think we'll get another chance like this, and it could be days before we reach land if we plan to look for Kai." Max fixed his blue gaze on Ray "Unless you want to abandon him in the sea."

The Chinese teen struggled to find an argument. Eventually, after opening and closing his mouth a few times, he sat back down. Provided they actually found some food and water on the island, then it couldn't go too wrong.

Just then a hideous cracking sound reached his ears. Jinxed.

"What the hell was THAT?" Tyson's fearful question was answered by a splash of water against his feet. "NO!" Ray pelted over to see the damage. Max swore loudly, urging the ship to go faster.

A long gnash of splintered wood with water forcing through it had opened up just below Tyson's feet. "Bail out!" Max ordered. Tyson climbed up onto the side of the boat "No not that bail you idiot!" Max yelled at him "Get buckets, cups, anything! Just get the water out and plug up the hole NOW!" Rushing to obey, a panicked search around the ship resulted in Tyson with a cup; the kitchen was his first place to look. And Ray with a bucket. Scooping the water out furiously Ray eventually managed to plug the hole with a tea towel, which Tyson promptly stood on. "It's not going to hold long Max" Ray warned, eyes fixed on the approaching island.

Would they make it in time?

(A/n well… I was gonna leave it there but even I have my limits with cliffys ;)

"Come on!" Max urged the boat, keeping the rudder as straight as he could; pulling the sailing taunt in a vain attempt to catch more wind. It wasn't working. "Keep going Max" Tyson cheered him on, careful not to move his feet.

"Yeah come on you can do it!" Ray likewise cheered, keeping his keen gaze on the water.

Seconds later- "Max! LOOK OUT!" Too late. The ship hit a rock head on. Almost being thrown from their seats the three teens managed to hold on. The jarring scrape of rock splitting wood, again assaulted their ears.

"Where is it!" Tyson yelled in bewilderment. No crack or splinter to be seen. The floor of the deck was clear. Suddenly a waterfall rose up from the cabin. Scrambling backwards, horrified, the trio watched in an almost hypnotised fashion as the liquid swiftly began to flood the floor of their boat. "O jeez, whose idea was THIS!" Tyson asked, anger and fear raising his voice.

Max stood silently by the tiller, sea water reflecting in his horrified eyes as it gushed forward. Paralyzed by shock he could do nothing but stand there as the water rose to his ankles.

Fear shot through Ray like lightning as realisation hit him "No! HILARY! She's still in there!"
Wadding forwards as fast as he could the Neko-jin ordered his friends to jump ship. "No Ray! I'm staying to help!" Tyson started to make his way through the sea water. Ray turned round, golden eyes shrunk to mere slits. He didn't need this now. "Leave Tyson" he spat, fury clear in his voice "You will only slow me down!"

Half from fear at the furious primal Ray and half from Max's yell for him to follow, made the stubborn blader back away and leave.

Whipping round as fast as he could, Ray summoned all his strength to wade through the liquid as fast as he could.

Striving to get down the galley way, it was almost impossible. The water came at him white.
Grabbing onto anything he could Ray sometimes found himself hanging on by the strength of his arms alone, the water whipping away his feet from under him. Managing to haul himself round the cabin door, into the bunk area. Ray leapt with one last ditched show of might, onto the bed with the prone form of Hilary.

His weight caused the bed to sink, letting water soak into the mattress. Suddenly Hilary was awake and spluttering, disorientated, beside him.

"What's happening Ray!" she had to yell to be heard above the roar of the ocean. "We're sinking!" He shouted back. Hilary's gaze met his without a word. The fear in her eyes said it all.

Simultaneously the two leapt from the bed and began to force their way out. The water was half way up Ray's chest and lapping hungrily round Hilary's shoulders.

"Ray!" At the door way to the cabin the girl slipped, unaware of the thresh hold and the speed of the water beyond. Swept into him instantly; both fell beneath the surface.

Ok now I'm gonna leave it! ;) Mwahahhah! The cliffy RETURNS!

Read n review people, and any ideas would be very helpful!  Cheers!

See ya!