Chapter 18

A Chapter by matpat

Chapter 18

They quickly pushed me through the tunnel. Even though they were loaded up with pounds apon pound of gold they moved fast. Soon the hard packed dirt floor became loose and turned to sand. The sound of the ocean echoed through the tunnel. Sprays of mist came from ahead. The morning light sprang into the opening. Heavy waves rushed into the cave almost sweeping me off my feet. We stopped ankle deep while the sunlight bursted through.

“There they are.” Davri said.

I looked out at the glistening water, a boat was headed full speed towards the opening of the cave. It stopped about 50 yards away to avoid the sharp rocks.

“Guess now, we swim.” Davri said

“I can’t swim with all this extra weight.”

“Deal with it.” he told him

“What about the kid?”

“He’ll come with us.”

“He’d run.”

Davri held up the gun at me, cocked it and shot.

Searing pain accompanied the blast. I fell to the sandy floor and clutched my leg. Around me, the light blue water turned red while the salt water stung my leg. I cried out in agony, my leg had gone numb and I could barely move it as the pain crept down my leg.

Davri bent over me and picked me up by my shirt collar, “Listen kid.” He growled, “There’s no one around for mile, the only medical attention you can get is on that boat.”

“You’re going to make me swim after you just shot me in the leg?” I coughed out. Davri shoved me back to the water letting go of my shirt.

“That’s the plan.”

“What are you thinking!?” the man shouted, “If he dies it’ll be the third!”

“The human body can do remarkable things under pressure.”

Third? Who was the first?

“Start swimming.” Davri said, he pushed me further into the water.

I got up and limped out of the cave losing more and more blood. We came out of the opening of the cave that was when we really started swimming. The waves were strong, for every inch we swam we would get pulled back a foot. We had to avoid the sharp rocks, and at the same time I had to swim harder depending mostly on my arms. I was falling behind purposely. Water splashed me salty waves into my face. On both sides of me were empty beaches with forests right at the water’s edge. The huge cliff that had the tunnel in it hovered behind me. Waves that were twice my size bombarded me and thrashed me about.

When a hill of water came crashing towards us I ducked under and swam to the left. As the wave rolled over me I rolled with it, anything to get away from Davri. I washed up onto the sandy shore and crawled away from the water leaving a trail of blood.

I looked back at the boat. Davri and his men had just made it to the boat, He pointed his gun at me I didn’t move, wiped out from swimming, and I wasn’t going to run any more. Besides, his gun was wet.

He threw his gun down into the blue depts. of the water and the boat veered right and road away. I exhaled and fell on my back, exhaustion had overcome me. I might have fallen asleep then and there in the warm sand, but a sharp pain came from my leg. I sat up and clutched it trying to cut off the circulation. I took off my shirt and tied a knot tightly over the wound, I winced.

I looked around. There were no footprints or cans or anything that indicated any sign of people. I got up and limped into the woods. I broke off a tree branch and used it as a crutch. Dirt and sand crawled into my wound which made it hurt all the more. As I walked through the forest the roots of the trees seemed to reach up and try to grab my feet while low branches scratched up my face as I walked.

I heard music, faint distant music coming from somewhere. Where there’s music there’s people, I stumbled forward, the becoming more familiar with me. Never had I been more relieved to hear Elvis Presley’s Hound Dog blasting on some radio. As I came closer and closer to the music I heard sounds of laughter. I limped closer and came to a clearing. A small group of teenagers sat around their truck listening to their radio blasting all through the woods.

“Who are you?” One of them asked. He sat on a towel with two girls at his sides.

“Can you help me?” I asked as I stumbled forward.

Another girl stepped forward. She had brown hair that ended at her shoulders and a pair of jeans on, “What happened? Do you need a ride?”

I nodded, “Y-yeah.” I stepped forward.

“Okay, common.” She said to me, she led to the pick-up truck and left me by the door.

“Woah, Camry you can’t just leave with him.” Another boy said.

“Watch me.” she said over the blare of the music. Camry opened the door and got it, as did I. she stepped on the ignition leaving the other 7 or so of her friends in the dust, “There’s a hospital about 40 miles from here.” She said.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, I was looking for an excuse to get away and turn this down.” Camry slowly lowered the volume and kept speeding up dodging the annoyed cars that honked at her. Soon the cops saw her and stared after her, she payed no attention to them, “It’s okay, once they see you they’ll be helpin’”.

The hospital came into sight and Camry slowed down coming to an abrupt stop in front of the doors with the cops right behind us. I remember getting out of the truck, but nothing else. I blacked out.

I was asleep but yet awake, I felt as if I floated but yet I still soared. It was as if I were free, but still anchored to one thought. Scott was dead.

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