Chapter 6: Who Are You
Chapter 6: Who Are You
~~[928 Words]~~
"Anyone hurt?" That was the first thing out of his mouth. People who actually were hurt didn't answer. They wanted details — who did this? How? Why?
The old man jumped in before anyone could respond. "And who are you, exactly?"
Lisa blurted out, unable to hold back, "And who's this red-haired guy showing up out of nowhere?"
He didn't reply. Just stared back at her, cold.
He gave a quiet sigh, tilted his head, shut his eyes, and looked down. "Guess nobody's hurt, then," he said.
Caroline wasn't having that. She grabbed his arm. "Wait — don't leave. Where would you even go? We're stuck in the ocean, and you just show up out here, miles from shore. How?"
He didn't answer. Just stared at her, sizing her up.
Saedan spoke up, calm, a hint of a smile on his lips. He leant near the bottom edge of the boat, one foot propped up. "Having fun fighting those Megondagua alone, huh, Redd?"
Lisa whipped around, eyes wide. "You two know each other?"
The old man grinned, wrinkles deepening. "Where'd you come from, son? That ability — genuinely impressive."
The red-haired man finally spoke. "The east. Other side of that big island —" he nodded toward it "— you'll find Wooden Gate Bridge. That's where I'm from."
Lisa couldn't believe it. "What? Beyond that fog-covered island?" Her face screamed doubt. "Stop messing with us. Okay — where's your boat, then?" She scanned the water. Nothing but sea and distant islands.
The man, staring off into the distance, asked, "Why didn't you kill it?" He squinted as two giant sharks vanished to the west.
Saedan shrugged. "Honestly, I'm kind of allergic to sharks, so I didn't bother finishing it off," he said, grinning.
Saedan turned to Arcee. "And you — what did you do to them?"
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Arcee crouched and touched the water, voice calm. "If I'd killed them, we'd lose evidence of what they are. The world thinks these creatures are extinct — then we spot one, alive." He shut his eyes but kept talking. "What we learn about the Megondagua matters. Especially that it's alive. The government, everyone, needs to hear about this."
Calvin stepped forward, voice steady. "He's right." He meant it.
The others struggled to keep up. The shock showed on their faces.
"Thanks, by the way," Calvin said, his smile genuine and warm. "If not for you, that shark would've eaten me. Actually — how did you do it?" He still couldn't process how this man had pulled it off.
Lisa muttered, "I seriously can't figure any of you out."
"Sorry," the man said, flat. "I can't explain."
Calvin let it go and nodded. "Fair enough."
"The two sharks are heading north-west," the man said.
The old man stiffened. "Really? How do you know?"
He didn't hesitate. "We need to warn the coast. No telling how many there are — we have to be careful. They're probably moving at about seventeen kilometers an hour."
Lisa's head snapped up. "But we're heading west!"
Saedan looked at the man. "Think those Megondagua could've come up from the Southern Sea?"
"Possible."
Saedan nodded slowly. "So I was right — it surfaced from the Ciffico side." He climbed up the hull. "We'll find out soon enough what made it appear."
Caroline tucked damp hair behind her ear. "So… Redd. Nice to meet you. I'm Caroline. We were just fishing, then a giant shark, then you." She raised her hand, half exhausted, half honest — but she had to say it. The man turned to her. "No offence, but can you help us get back? If that's okay with you?"
"What are we waiting for? We need to move — now." Anxiety filled her voice. She wasn't worried for herself, but for her people back home.
"How do we even get back?" Lisa finally looked down at what she was standing on. The capsized hull. "Our boat—" Her face dropped. Panic started swallowing her, tears at the edge. "I want to live. I want to go home to my family."
She rounded on Saedan.
"This is your fault," she snapped, jabbing a finger. "Our boat's upside down because of you. Everything you did—"
Saedan shot back, "Wasn't it the shark's fault? Why bring me into this?"
"Oh my God!" Lisa glared at him, spotted a drifting Redhorse bottle, and snatched it. Drained half of it fast.
"I'll help you," the man said. "And as for the boat — only one ski is damaged. I can probably fix it."
Lisa marched up to him, voice at full volume. "Are you serious, or just losing your mind? The boat is upside down — you see that? We can't get home. We can't get back to our families." She was yelling now. "And you're talking about 'one damaged ski.' Even if the engine works, there's no way this thing flips back." Her voice cracked, dropped. She looked small under all the rage. "Do you even have a family?"
She jabbed a finger at him.
Saedan reached out — she swatted his hand away. "Let go of me."
She slipped. Saedan caught her, but the momentum sent them both sliding down together.
Quiet fell over the hull.
Caroline let out a slow breath. The old man muttered, "This girl, I swear."
Calvin stepped in with a polite but awkward smile. "Sorry about her. She burns out fast. Want a drink? We actually have a case that survived—"
"No. I won't stick around."
"Right… okay, then."
Silence.
Caroline watched Lisa slumped against the hull, a wave of secondhand embarrassment rolling over her. She sighed.
A moment later, Lisa was completely out.