Chapter 67 – Escape or Die Part 2

Bastian's eyes flashed with determination. He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy surging inside him. The air around them hummed, the water beneath the boat swirling into a vortex. The demons, snarling in confusion, struggled to stay afloat as the waves intensified.

Bastian's eyes snapped open, blazing with power. "Hold on!" he shouted.

The yacht surged forward, cutting through the water with renewed speed. The demons scrambled to keep up, but the churning waves held them back. For a moment, hope flickered.

The sea calmed down for a moment, as if catching its breath, but everyone knew better. There was no real break. Bastian's grip tightened on the yacht's wheel, the tension in his muscles palpable as he glanced back at Matt and Anastasia. They stood shoulder to shoulder on deck, their weapons held tight in their hands, scanning the horizon for more threats. The crew, hidden below deck, remained silent, waiting for the signal that it was safe—or the battle was over.

The air felt charged, humming with the aftermath of adrenaline. The last demon had been ripped off the side of the boat by the surging waves, but Matt and Anastasia were still on high alert. Too much had happened, and the demons were relentless.

"Bastian?" Anastasia's voice cut through the tense silence, her eyes still sweeping the waters. "What's the plan? Are we just waiting for backup or—?"

"Or do we take them on again if they come back?" Matt interrupted, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. His eyes burned with determination, but there was a flicker of doubt there too. They had survived this long, but it wasn't over.

Bastian's jaw clenched. "Wyatt's headed to the main harbor, but we've got to keep moving. They'll keep coming as long as we're out in the open." He didn't sound winded, but there was a weariness in his tone that wasn't there before. His gaze met Anastasia's for a second, a silent exchange passing between them. He wasn't going to stop, not now.

Anastasia nodded, her fingers tightening around her weapon. Her body felt heavy, bruised from the repeated hits against the railing and deck, but the fight in her burned just as strong. If anything, she felt more alive now than she had in years. "So, what's the next step? If they catch us before we get to the harbor..."

"They won't catch us," Bastian said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. But then he added, softer this time, "Not if we stay ahead."

Matt laughed dryly, though it was more out of disbelief than amusement. "Ahead? We're practically limping toward safety, man. The engine's a mess, and we're running on fumes."

Bastian shot him a look. "We'll make it."

Anastasia couldn't help but smile at the exchange. The guys had a way of diffusing tension, even in moments like these. It was one of the things she loved about Bastian—no matter how dire things seemed, he never lost that spark of confidence.

Matt wasn't as sure. "I hope to hell you're right. But just in case—" He pointed to the water. "—I saw a few more shadows creeping around out there. More demons. They might be getting ready for round two."

Anastasia felt her stomach twist. "They're not giving up, are they?" she muttered, her voice half to herself. She checked her weapon, making sure it was ready, her hands steady but her nerves firing.

"No," Bastian said grimly. "They never do."

The horizon, bathed in an ominous glow from the setting sun, seemed too quiet. It wasn't comforting. It was the kind of quiet that came before a storm, the kind that made every second feel like a countdown. Anastasia swallowed hard, trying to push down the fear bubbling in her chest. She had to stay focused. For all of them.

"Let's not wait for the next strike," Matt said, loading another round into his weapon. "We should be ready."

Bastian nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the water. "We have one chance. Once Wyatt reaches the harbor, we can follow in, but we'll be exposed during that final stretch. That's when they'll hit the hardest."

"And if they catch us?" Anastasia asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it aloud.

Bastian's face darkened. "We don't let them."

"Easy enough," Matt muttered sarcastically, but there was steel behind his words. "Alright. Let's make sure we're ready when they come."

The team went into action. Below deck, the guys prepared their weapons, setting up around the portholes, ready to fire at any movement in the water. The girls remained hidden, just as Matt had instructed, but they listened to the frantic movements above, waiting.

Anastasia and Matt stood at the rear of the boat, their eyes peeled on the darkening horizon. The water seemed to ripple unnaturally, the waves too calm for what had just unfolded. Something was coming. They all knew it.

Suddenly, the radio crackled again. Wyatt's voice broke through the static, tense and rushed. "Bastian, we've got company. They're closing in fast. We're five minutes from the harbor, but they're not going to let us reach it."

Bastian's fingers flexed on the throttle, frustration brewing beneath his calm exterior. "We'll handle it. You just focus on getting the dock authorities to have that gate open."

Wyatt's response was clipped, his voice strained. "Just make it. We'll cover as best we can when we dock."

The radio cut out, and the silence that followed was more oppressive than before. Matt shifted beside Anastasia, his fingers twitching on the trigger of his gun. "This is it, huh?"

She gave him a quick glance, her mouth set in a firm line. "Yeah. It is."

And then it happened. Like the calm before the storm had been nothing but a cruel joke, the water exploded with movement. Speedboats, smaller than the ones they'd fought before, darted toward them, slicing through the waves with deadly precision. On board, demons with glowing red eyes and snarling faces aimed their weapons at the yacht, ready to take them out.

"They're back!" Matt shouted, raising his weapon.

Bastian didn't hesitate. He yanked the throttle hard, sending the yacht surging forward, but it was clear they wouldn't outrun the demons this time. The boat's engine sputtered, groaning in protest as it pushed to its limits.

Shots rang out. The crew fired from the portholes, hitting some of the demons and knocking their boats off course. But more kept coming, relentless in their pursuit. Anastasia felt the yacht shudder under the impact of incoming fire, but she didn't let it faze her. Not now.

"Hold steady!" Bastian yelled over the chaos, his voice a beacon of control amidst the storm.

Anastasia fired her weapon, the recoil jolting through her arms as she took out one of the smaller speedboats. It careened off course, crashing into another, sending both spiraling into the water in a fiery mess. But there was no time to celebrate. Another boat was already on their tail, and the demons were closing in fast.

"Here they come!" Matt shouted, taking out another boat with a well-aimed shot. The air around them was thick with the sound of gunfire and the roar of engines, but they held their ground.

Suddenly, a massive wave slammed into the side of the yacht, sending it rocking violently. Anastasia stumbled but caught herself, her heart racing. She glanced at Bastian, who was still fighting to keep the boat steady, his face set in fierce concentration.

"We're almost there!" Bastian yelled, his eyes locked on the distant lights of the harbor. "Just a little longer!"

The demons, however, weren't backing off. One of the speedboats pulled up alongside the yacht, and Anastasia's blood ran cold as she saw the twisted, snarling face of a demon preparing to leap onto their deck.

"Matt!" she screamed, pointing to the demon. "We've got company!"

Matt turned, his weapon ready, and fired just as the demon jumped. The shot hit its mark, sending the demon crashing back into the water with a furious roar.

But even as the demon fell, more were coming.

"We can't keep this up much longer!" Matt shouted, his voice strained. "We're out of time!"

Bastian didn't respond. His focus was entirely on the harbor ahead, the safe haven just within reach. But Anastasia knew he felt the same urgency. They were close—so close—but they weren't safe yet.

The yacht shuddered again, a final jolt that sent a shockwave through the deck. Anastasia tightened her grip on her weapon, her heart hammering in her chest. The demons were relentless, their speedboats circling like vultures.

But the harbor lights were getting closer. They just had to hold on a little longer.

And then—finally—the radio crackled to life again. Wyatt's voice came through, breathless but victorious.

"We've got the gates open. Come in hot, but be ready—they're right behind you."

Bastian's jaw tightened as he pushed the throttle one last time, the yacht surging forward toward the open harbor gate. The demons were still on their tail, but the harbor was within reach.

Almost there.