Episode Five - Helpless (Part 2)

"What happened?" Florian demanded.

"It just happened so suddenly!" the sailor explained hoarsely. "Grigory and I were moving the crates when something snatched him into the water. It was a tentacle! Grigory caught the rails and I tried to save him but, that thing ripped him out of my hands!" His face turned obscenely pale, like he was about to throw up. "I-I came running and left his...body back there."

"Show us."

Eira was no stranger to gore and guts but, the sight of desecrated corpses still disturbed her. Grigory's half-ripped torso, with his dead eyes and innards spilling over the deck was one of the many worse she had seen. No man deserved to die so painfully and pitifully.

Suddenly, another disturbing scream shifted their attention back to the poop deck. It happened in a blink of an eye, she nearly missed it. Swift as lightning, the tentacle curled around the unfortunate sailor — "No! Save me!" — his words drowned in the ocean along with him.

Eira immediately snapped out of it. "Florian! We have to do something!"

"Whatever this creature is, it has been tailing us for hours. I can't lose anymore crewman and we can't afford any more hits, or we'll sink," the Captain said gravely, panic twisting his features. His white, bushy brows slanted pensively. "Can you take care of it?"

Eira gingerly peered over the railing. This predator could easily move a ship and its tentacle could capture a man. No doubt, it was a giant beast. She swallowed nervously. She had battled predators larger than this ship but that was on land! Right now, she was more afraid of falling into the ocean and drowning because she couldn't swim. In her defense, there wasn't any use for swimming in the desert.

"Yes, but we need to get everyone below deck where it's safe. And we need more lights. It's too dark." Florian surveyed the ship's structure and appliances. Pointing at the in-built spotlights lining the ship, he asked. "Are those functional?"

"Yes." The Captain turned to his crewmen. "Switch on the emergency lights!"

"Focus them on the water!" Florian barked, moving to help the crew.

With her eyes and the huntress trained on the moving waters, Eira waited for a glimpse of the predator. Over there! A sliver of red flashed and she shot at it. Her pulse raced. Did she hit it?

Immediately, a slam shook the ship and Eira snagged the taffrail to keep from falling overboard. Gritting her teeth, she exclaimed, "It took a hit!"

"Did you see it?" Florian shouted from across the deck.

"Vi! No! But I'm sure it was red in colour. What do we do?"

Florian cursed under his breath. Red? No doubt, he knew what they were up against. Unfortunately, their long-range reapers weren't advantageous against a water predator, not to mention the possible size of it. If they waited, they'd be sitting ducks. Shit. "Captain! We need more speed!"

Eira jogged over, breathing harshly. "What's the plan?"

"Our reapers aren't suitable to handle this predator. We'll try to lose it."

Doubt shrouded Eira's mind. Whatever was below them, didn't seemed like a simple predator.

"For now, seize every opportunity to wound it," Florian instructed. "Use your mobility to defend the ship. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" she shouted in frustration when he dashed off.

"I have an idea!"

While Eira manned the ship, Florian rounded a few sailors with him to the storeroom below deck. "Let's hurry, men. Carry all these barrels up on deck. We're going to light up the ocean."

"Are you sure this will work? This is the ship's only fuel supply," a sceptical crew member grunted, not particularly happy about this.

"It's the only option we have left," Florian answered, knowing the man was possessed by fear and anxiety. Doubtless, the risk outweighed the good but, if they wanted to survive, this was the best solution. "Trust me."

Eira spotted a fleshy tentacle breaking the ocean's surface. Her eyes widened at the alarming sight. She'd only read about these creatures in books but, never had she confronted one. The old era classified these animals as Cephalopoda, or in this predator's case, an octopus. Brushing aside her hesitation, she aimed and fired two shots, adding a third for good measure. Satisfaction bloomed when blood clouded the waters.

From behind, she heard the men bustling and turned to catch a glimpse. "What's going on over there?"

"We're going to create an explosion." Florian held up a bucket of chum that made her want to gag; the smell was beyond offensive. "We'll use the oldest trick in the book. Bait trapping."

Eira watched as they hurled the fuel barrels overboard and drenched a concentrated area with chum to lure in the predator. Florian readied his reaper over the taffrail. Watching him in action for the first time, sent chills down her spine.

"Everybody stand back!" he ordered curtly, his eyes never leaving the bobbing barrels. "Eira, tell the Captain to activate full speed thrusters. Do not go easy on the engines."

"Alright, I'm on it."

No sooner after she retreated, Florian zeroed in on a stray tentacle and fired at the barrels. In less than a second, the entire ship was rocked by a vicious explosion. The intense blast sent Florian flying backwards but already, the ship's thrusters roared to life and soon, they were cutting through turbulent waves making a grand escape.

Inside the navigational bridge, Eira looked out the windows, reeling from the force of the explosion. Crew members were sprawled on deck, otherwise everyone was unharmed, and they were miles away from the scene. "I'll be right back," she told the captain. "Keep the ship at full knot until we're at a safe distance." After that, she ran to the poop deck. "Florian! Are you alright?"

He coughed, pushing himself into an upright position. "I'm fine. Did it work?"

"Yes, I think we're out of the woods." She helped him up.

"If we are, then that was a lucky shot," Florian croaked, dusting the dirt off his clothes. "We wouldn't have stood a chance against that predator."

Her gaze sharpened. "Do you know what it was?"

"I only saw its tentacle. Ocean predators are still a great mystery to scientists and only a few have been discovered. I'm not sure what it was but, if I had to take a guess, I'm assuming it was an Octopod."

"An Octopod?" She wrinkled her nose. "The name doesn't ring a bell."

"It's a common predator in Craolean waters." He grimaced as he flexed his shoulder. "That means we're close by."

"Could it be the reason for the Fishery Council's problem?"

"We won't know until we investigate. At least we're safe now." He glanced at the sailors. "I'm sure everyone is thankful to be alive."

"It's because of your quick-thinking," she silently praised.

"I remembered that all ships are required to keep an extra supply of crude oil below deck in case of emergencies. I figured it was worth a shot."

"And it saved our lives," she insisted strongly, wry humour lacing her voice. "I've never felt so helpless in my years of service. Tonight, I realize my weakness as long-range hunter. I'm not adept at sea."

He merely made a noncommittal sound.

"Come on." She hooked his arm over her shoulder. "Let's get you back to your cabin."

Florian couldn't resist the grin curving his lips, though he appreciated her concern. "I'm not hurt, Eira. The blast just took me by surprise."

"Oh." Colour suffused her cheeks and she released him abruptly.

A chuckle rumbled from deep within. "But you did great tonight. I know it's your first time at sea but, you handled the situation well. Just so you know, I never doubted you like Anaelle does."

His honesty warmed her heart. Returning his smile, they made their way down below. "Wait, didn't we have to report to Lars?" she suddenly recalled.

Scratching the back of his head, Florian groaned. "Oh shit. It totally slipped my mind."