Book I: The Others - Chapter 11 - Time to Leave (Part 4)

Catherine saw that Jesse was tiring as Zannicus gained ground, forcing Jesse to step back, her legs shaking with the strain. Jesse was about to collapse.

“CATHERINE, GET DOWN!”

Knowing the voice, she complied immediately just as the shot rang out.

She quickly turned toward Zannicus and saw ... nothing but a bloody smear on the railing.

Relief washed over her with such intensity that she thought she’d drown in it. Then she rolled over and saw her daughter sitting on the desk like a doll with her eyes closed.

“Baby? Are you all right? Talk to me honey?”

Jesse’s eyes opened slowly and looked directly at her mother. They seemed far older than any ten-year-old’s eyes had a right to be. Catherine shuddered.

Quietly, with almost no energy she spoke, “Swing your legs around.”

Catherine understood and doing so, watched as Jesse peeled off the tape that bound her legs. Then using a trick that her late husband taught her, she curled her back and backed through the loop her arms made. After much twisting and grunting, she finally stood with her handcuffed hands in front of her.

Catherine looked down and saw that Jesse had closed her eyes again and actually seemed to be sleeping.

“That’s ...” The voice was so quiet she could hardly hear it.

“Mac!”

She ran to where he sat leaning against the edge of the doorway that led to the galley. He held her gun in his right hand seemingly forgotten in his lap. But all she noticed was the blood on his chest and neck and face and finally the side of his head ... where the dent was.

“Oh Mac.” She couldn’t keep the emotion from her voice as she gently cupped his face in her hands.

“That’s quite a girl you have there. You must ...” He struggled as he took a breath.

“Mac, don’t talk. You’ll sap what little energy you have.”

Mac shook his head. He had to get this out. “You must encourage her to use her gift. She must be strong if she’s going to survive.” Mac squeezed his eyes closed from the effort of breathing.

She wasn’t ready to process his request right now so she put it in one of those little boxes in her head for later.

She was no doctor, but she knew enough to understand that it was too late for him. It was a miracle that he’d been able to make it this far. See looked up and saw the crimson trail on the carpet where he’d dragged himself from the stateroom, through the galley, to her purse in the corner, and finally to the doorway. Her tears began to flow freely as he groggily opened his eyes and looked at her.

“Don’t cry,” he slurred. “I’ll be okay. I’m just tired that’s all.” He closed his eyes. “I’ll think I’ll sleep a little.”

Catherine could hardly stand it. She took his left hand kissed it. She held it to her tear stained cheek as he drifted into unconsciousness for what she was sure would be the last time.

As she gently released his hand into his lap, a glint from his neck caught her attention. She reached over and pulled a chain from under his shirt that she’d never seen before. But the pendant was familiar ... shockingly so. She reached down her own shirt and withdrew her own necklace. The two silver pendants were mirror images of each other; both halves of tiny tree.

Curiosity overtook her as she awkwardly removed her own necklace and held her pendant together with his, forming a whole tree. There was an audible click, and as she watched, the pendant glowed slightly and warmed as the seam disappeared. It was now one piece with two chains.

A quiet whimper from behind her alerted her to the danger a spit second before it was too late. Dropping the necklace, she grabbed the pistol and jumped forward through the doorway just as projectiles from Zannicus’ weapon blew a hole in the deck where she’d been crouched, almost taking another piece of flesh out of Mac’s battered body. As she came out of her twisting roll, she faced her attacker and fired her weapon with all the skill and training she could muster.

The first shot glanced off of Zannicus’ weapon, taking it and a finger with it. The second punched into his chest with enough force to drive him back to the edge of the deck and though the gangway opening.

Teetering on the edge, he looked at his missing digit in disbelief. As he over balanced and fell backward Catherine heard him speak with a loathing that only hinted at the darkness within him. “I should have made sure you were dead the first time, bitch.” Then there was a splash.

She cautiously went over to the opening and peered over the edge leading with her weapon. She saw where Zannicus had hung on to the ladder attached to the side of the boat the first time he’d gone over. She could also see where he’d bled on the ladder’s steps as he worked his way back up the rungs.

A sudden splash in the water several yards out from the boat caught her attention. All she saw was the tatters of a black coat, blood tinged water, and frenzied sharks circling the whole chum filled mess.

She hit the railing panel with her left hand hardly feeling any pain, and the gangway door slowly slid shut.

She looked at the swirling activity. “Actually, I am dead you evil bastard.”

She turned on her heel and checked on Jesse. She was fast asleep.

She moved to check Mac but hesitated. She knew already.

Catherine made her way to the bridge and after looking at the controls for a couple minutes, started the engine and drove the boat towards Monterey Bay and the closest dock.

In the hour before reaching her destination, she’d formulated a plan. Mac was, surprisingly, still hanging on by a thread, and by the time she pulled up to the dock, she could hear the ambulance that she’d call on her cell phone.

But before it arrived, she’d gathered all their things and with a semi-conscious daughter in tow, left the boat ... and disappeared.

Moments later the paramedics found Mac on the blood soaked deck of the boat, unconscious and barely breathing, clutching a small silver tree with two chains attached.

End Book1: The Others