Evening, everyone. Thank you once again to my constant reviewers BubblyShell22 and CelestialSonata7. :D Hope everyone enjoys this new chapter. I'm not crazy about it, but I think it's at least decent.
Disclaimer: Chips Ahoy=Real chocolate chip cookies, Eminem=The Real Slim Shady, Holly's Follies≠Real owner of TMNT
Escaping from my captors was easy. Escaping from the island? Not so much. I'd fought my way free. After the first group of goons had grabbed me, I managed to beat them off and make a dash through some of the thicker vegetation on the island. Branches had whipped at me, I'd stepped in something sticky that I never wanted to think about again, and had tripped head over heels upon coming to the slight hill that led down to the beach.
I'd struggled up, nursing a bump on my head and a nice bruise on my bicep, but continued on. The emergency packs on this side of the island were stashed in a small cove just around the bend. I'd planned to grab a pack, swim around the point, and meet up with my brothers at the dock. It didn't work out like that.
Steps one and two went off without a hitch. It was step three that ruined my whole plan. When I got around to the dock, it was already occupied. I treaded water, keeping my head down, craning for a look at the people on the dock. Were any of my brothers with them? After spending a few minutes watching, I felt my heart sink. More commandos had approached the original group, and they had what appeared to be two bodies slung over their shoulders.
Panic briefly spread from my chest to my fingertips. They couldn't be…There's no way. I would have felt it, if they were… The next breath I let out felt like it came up from the bottoms' of my feet, traveling the whole length of my body. They weren't dead. The guys carrying them were inordinately careful with the way they laid the bodies down on the dock. I could see how much care they were taking from here. No one treated dead bodies like that. I knew that from painful personal experience.
I smiled temporarily, relief making me a touch giddy after my initial wave of dread. They weren't dead, captured maybe, but not dead. As long as they were alive, I could rescue them. I could get them back. I wouldn't let anything stand between me and my brothers. It just wasn't going to happen.
After a few more minutes of treading water, I frowned in aggravation. The whole island was under siege. Obviously they were taking captives, and if I didn't want to end up as one of them, I was going to have to do something and fast.
I retreated back to the cove and hauled myself out of the water and into its shallow shelter. It didn't provide a lot of cover, but unless someone was approaching by boat or they started searching the coast line, chances were they wouldn't find me. From there, I contemplated my next move.
The invaders obviously came here for us. There was no one else on the island, nor was the next nearest island even visible from here. I didn't even want to think of the implications this had for TMNT. After all, one of their safe houses had been breached. Someone must have given away our location. That or the system had been hacked. Either way, it meant there was a serious problem somewhere within the organization. I couldn't dwell on that now, though. I had to help myself before I could help anyone else.
My best bet would be to find a boat. It would be quick and a shelluva lot easier than swimming. Getting to one however… I was stealthy, but stealthy enough to sneak across an entire island swarming with enemy troops? I shifted in the tight space I was wedged in. I always thought better when I paced, but there was no way I could do that now.
I would have to try it; there was no other way. Just as I poked my head around to make sure the coast was clear, I heard the shouting. Commandos were converging on me from both sides, cutting off any hope of escaping on foot. Instead I waded out into the water and dove into an oncoming wave. I swam underwater for as long as I could before resurfacing with a gasp.
The commandos had stopped on the beach, apparently unwilling to follow me into the water. I kept stroking, swimming farther and farther out. There was no way I was getting a boat now. I would have to swim to the next island. I knew it was to the east of ours, but it was going to be next to impossible to find in the dark.
Instead of swimming aimlessly, I decided to conserve my strength. I swam until I could no longer see our island, then unzipped my duffle. I dug out the life vest I knew was stashed in there and unfolded it. I strapped it on and pulled the cord. It inflated instantly. Next, I pulled the rope from its water proof casing and tied it around the duffle's straps. I dropped the duffle, but held onto the rope, marking the duffle bag's descent. It settled on the ocean floor approximately one hundred feet below me. I tied the other end of the rope around my waist. With my crude anchor in place, I allowed myself to relax slightly. Tomorrow morning I would continue my swim to the nearest island, for tonight: I was the human buoy.
Like I said, not my best chapter, but it works...I guess... Anyway, review!