Fire in the Firehouse 16

Fight or flight instincts took over on Marie as well as the four men she sought to destroy. The man piloting the speed boat got control and abandoned the area. He saw the danger and took off. He figured she was their problem now and they had the bigger boat. 

Mitch and Colby grabbed things, trying to create a distraction. Colby beat the water with his pole, but it was too small to make any difference. Mitch found an extra life vest, but there was no weight to it. Cory and Nick were pleading with Marie to remain calm. They all had reason to dislike this woman, but no on really deserved death like this. 

Time seemed to stand still. None of the men could find a way to help the woman. It seemed so ironic to be helping the very person that was out to destroy them, even as recently as a few moments ago. Funny how things work out some times.

Cory was calling out, "Stay calm Mom. They can sense you. Your movements will alert them. You're already sitting in a pool of blood and oils and entrails." The words went in one ear and out the other. She continued doing exactly what she'd been told not to do. The tension and emotion of the moment they were all in hung heavily over the air. Another boat kind of far off saw what was going on and attempted to make it over.

Colby was too wrapped up in the emotions of the moment to realize he'd just called Marie Mom for the first time in quite a while. No one else paid much attention to it either. They all knew they had to try their best to save Marie. 

Nick threw a line in the water with a life ring attached, but it failed to get close enough. The medium sized shark of the three grew interested and chose to investigate. As Nick reached in, the creature made its way to the surface. Nick pulled his hand in with only micro seconds to spare. "Shit, that was damn close. What're we gunna do?" No answers were coming and Marie was on borrowed time. "We've got to keep trying men. Let's think." Still nothing.

Not thinking clearly, Marie floated on her chest, she was going to swim to the yacht. She had to have several yards ahead of her. She was determined to make it. Unfortunately this position looked to the sharks like a sea lion, one of their favorite meals. The bigger shark scared off the smaller ones. It dove down deep. Marie noticed as did the others that the fins were gone. They figured something spooked them away. Marie swam that much faster with the men urging her to give all she had. There was nothing any of them could do and none of the had the nerve to tempt fate by diving in for Marie-they felt it would do no good anyhow. 

The exhausted woman, who'd worn a long, black dress to symbolize her mourning the death of the men was now regretting her choice of attire. It bogged her down. The only thing to her credit she had on her life preserver. She was swimming for all she was worth.

The biggest shark in the area had gone rather deep, over 100 feet for sure. It began barreling towards the surface, its natural homing device locked into its intended prey. The smells from both Marie, and the oily blood had sent it into hunger overdrive. The leviathan of the deep was positive it knew what it was hunting. Its caudal fin smacking back in forth in the deep, murky waters propelling it to the being's maximum speed. The maniacal woman having no clue what awaited her now as she had her sights set on the boat before her.

The ancient ancestor of a being that lived in these very water millions of years prior was only reacting to its instincts. It had the intended target locked in its senses. Closer and closer it came as the woman thrashed violently to get to the yacht, the other boat still too far away. The enormous beast changing its direction slightly to accommodate for the escaping prey. Mere feet now separated them. Marie felt water from below changing around her, too fearful to look into the water-which was probably for the best. 

There was no escape now, the men even saw a change in the water. All four tried to scream to warn her, but no words would come this time. The giant beast had cracked the surface of the azure water and managed to get itself totally out of the water-a sight once thought only possible by dolphins and partially by some whales. The fact was, this creature had Marie's body it its grasp. She screamed an unnerving shriek, the kind filled with excruciating pain. Blood was pouring out of her pain-ravaged body as well as her mouth. Marie was tasting the very thing that helped sustained her life. Down, down she went into the depths of the ocean, still alive and in great pain. The nasty woman awaited her end. The shark didn't exactly care for its catch and released it once it determined it wasn't its normal prey. Other sharks came in for the investigation, taking a few sample bites here and there. Marie was dead. There was no doubt about it. Ironic, the woman that caused so many so much pain received a plethora of pain before she took her last breaths. Karma at work no doubt.

The four men stood on the yacht. Tears flowed down their faces. Not so much for the loss of Marie, but for the loss of a life in such a violent way. They felt for Marie on a human level. No one, not even she should experience their life ending in such a grizzly, violent end. Colby rushed to embrace his Dad and Cory moved to Mitch for comfort. The latter two nowhere near as shaken as the former two having not known her as well and not having their chance to share part of her life.

Nick felt a flood of emotions. Relief in so many ways, but empty. Colby thought back to some of the few happy times. It pained him. He wanted Marie gone, but never in such a disturbing way. Colby went into shock somewhat. He laid down on the yacht shaking somewhat. Nick fell to his knees offering a silent prayer for the soul of the woman he once loved and asked God for His forgiveness for her sins. Cory went over to his twin, crouched down and embraced him. Colby was trying to cope. But he more than appreciated his brother's presence. Mitch knew a little about driving a boat and took to the helm. He'd seen people operate boats many times in his life and he figured he'd wing it. If need be, Nick would come to his aid.

The other boat approached and saw it was too late. The two men on board offered their regrets and followed behind. They figured the four men might need witnesses so as to not face any criminal charges. Nick stared at the scene where Marie died. There was still traces of blood, some from the chum, and sadly some of her own mixed in. It was a sad site to behold. Nick cried some, but his heart had hardened so much, it was hard for him to feel too much for the woman. She had, after all tried to virtually destroy his family.

The sun shone on the sea now, just here and there. Seagulls were quick to get in on the action the surface. It was gross, but was all part of the circle of life. Nick tried to remove his thoughts from what he saw. He detested Marie, but seeing a woman he once loved die in such a fashion was going to take some time to cope with. It would come in time. It wasn't like there was love between them in the last several years, more specifically the last several months.

Colby was shaken the most. As they traveled back to shore he started coming around. He started thinking logically about Marie's quest to kill them, which caused him to come around. Cory asked his mirror reflection, "You all right bro? You seem to be..." He left his words drift off. Colby was trying to come to terms with his thoughts and feelings. He'd just seen something he'd never imagined. He'd seen a special on The Discovery Channel entitled 'Air Jaws' and its sequel 'Air Jaws 2' and they revealed that this phenomenon did indeed occur in this area, but to sealions, not humans. Had he and his family not seen it with their own eyes, they'd not believe it. It was unreal, yet it was real.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Its hard to accept, but hell, Marie was in the midst of going to wipe us out-again. I feel for her on a human level, but I can't hurt too much. Its difficult to accept seeing that like I did, but like they say, karma's a bitch. About all I can do is pray for her soul now. And may God have mercy on her. I just hope Mom is as forgiving..." He let his words hang over the still morning air. The men headed back, unsure what to do with the day. It was so early, but it was far too tragic and disrespectful to remain at sea like nothing happened. They were just grateful they had witnesses to validate their story.

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the double dose of the series. I made it up getting two chapters done in the same week. I hope you don't feel it was rushed. I wanted to kill Marie in the fire, but that was too expected and opted for this route and I'm very proud of the outcome of the chapter. Yes, life will go on for all without Marie. There will be a few more chapters before the finale. I'm not sure how it will end, I'm working on a soapy ending and unsure what might come. Please, keep the feed back coming! I love it ALL-good, bad or indifferent! 

***To be continued***

Mikey.