EPOV
It was at least an hour and a half later that the three dots converged on one point and remained stationary. I guess they were docking. This would be our only chance of getting out of here. I had no idea how long our air supply would last, I was certain it wouldn't be indefinite. Not to mention we couldn't just hang around here forever. I sat looking over the chart on the Nav station and marked out a basic course, Bella remained asleep on the bunk. She needed the rest after what she'd been through.
I figured we could hug the coast all the way down to Porto Kheli, then shadow a ferry over to Spetses, it would help us disguise our blip on any radar. Up until then, we'd just have to take our chances. I moved over to the cockpit and settled myself into the pilot seat. Flicking switches, starting motors and turning on lights. I grasped the joysticks and pushed us forwards, joining the tidal flow out of the canyon and heading south eastwards. Its 51km as the crow flies to Spetses, so I settled in for a long haul. The first hour was quiet, nothing to worry about on the radar and Bella hadn't stirred. The further we moved down the coast, the more open the water, I had to make allowances for silt, chop and salinity the deeper the water became. Our depth went from a steady 300 ft, to 600ft, before heading up to 200ft. The terrain was rocky, and bursting with life. Like Jacques Cousteau's wet dream.
Half way through our second hour Bella awoke and moved over to the Nav Station, she looked a million times better than she had before. I was pleased to note that the three ships remained docked on the radar, that of course didn't mean no one was looking for us, but it sure as hell made me feel better. Bella came alongside me after a while with a bottle of water; she sat to my left enthralled by the view outside the cockpit bubble.
"Incredible." she said in amazement, looking at the jungle of kelp ahead of us.
"Makes you wish we were on vacation instead of escaping bad guys huh?" I responded.
"Yeah," she replied wistfully.
"You'll get to see something like this again Bella, only under better circumstances next time."
"Maybe." She said with a shrug.
"Trust me you will."
The kelp forest opened up ahead of us to a flat sandy plain, tiny fish bobbed and weaved ahead of us, crabs scuttled across the bottom, starfish lay bathing in the tidal breezes as sunlight poked through the dense water. A large shark glided over the cockpit bubble, and across the hull of the sub. Bella sat entranced by the view.
"What kind of shark is that?" she muttered.
"Thresher, see the tail, it uses it like a whip, hence the really long bit." I replied
"Do they kill people?"
"Everything has the ability to kill someone Bella, do they do it intentionally? I couldn't say, but I wouldn't piss one off to find out." I chuckled.
She squeezed my shoulder lightly, pointing at a pair of pilot fish trailing the shark. It feels like we're on National Geographic, not running for our lives.
Hours pass in this fashion and we appear to be making good progress. Bella had moved back to the Nav station and is entranced with watching the Radar. Its night time by the time we reached Porto Kheli, the lack of colour in the water and the decreasing visual distance leads me to guess that it's late evening. I bring us to stop just outside the harbour; we're under cover of a natural ocean ridge and darkness. This is a good time for us to refuel our reserves in preparation for the next step. I set the Sub to drift along the ridge and join Bella at the Nav station. She looked up from the radar with questioning eyes. I gently touch her shoulder, stroking the back of her neck.
"Time to freshen up, grab something to eat and take a break before we find a ferry to shadow." I said, still massaging the back of her neck unconsciously.
"Sure thing Edward, we have Granola, or Granola, what would you prefer?" she asked with a grin.
"Oh ugh, surprise me." I said
"Granola it is then." she said moving to the rations she's assembled on one of the bunks.
We take turns to use the potty, and take up positions on the two remaining bunks where we settled into companionable silence while we ate. I enjoy that she's not one of those annoying vapid women that talk for the sake of talking. The silence between us is comfortable. It gives us time to recharge, take stock of what's going on, so that we're ready for whatever comes our way. Bella shivered a little on her bunk, I'm concerned that she's cold.
"You feeling cold Bella?"
"A little, but I guess being underwater, it's to be expected."
I moved to her side, wrapping the foil blanket around her and hug her close, rubbing her arms to get some warmth from friction into her. She didn't tense or push away, just leant into me and hummed. I've never really been affected by the cold, so up until now have thought nothing of the chill inside the sub.
"You should've said something earlier; I don't really feel the cold." I said.
"Its fine Edward, it's just a little chilly, nothing to worry about. We have bigger fish to fry than me having a little shiver." She replied.
"Even so, I promised myself I'd take care of you till we get home, so let me do that okay."
"Fine." she huffed, snuggling into the nook of my arm.
We sit that way unmoving for a while, me rubbing her arm softly, her snuggled into me, her breathes deep and even. I know she's not asleep, she talks in her sleep, and it’s something I've learnt over the past day or so. It's endearingly cute. Well I think it is. I watch the steady blip of ferries moving across from the harbour to Spetses on the radar, even at night the water traffic is busy. There's a ferry turning in the harbour, preparing to reload with passengers and head out. I nudged Bella lightly and nodded at the screen. She looked at it, registering what I saw and looked at me, a beautiful smile spread across her face.
"Time to move, you ready?" I asked.
"You betcha." She responded with a mock salute.
I shook my head and chuckled in response.
"Bella, you crack me up." I said as I resituated myself in the cockpit, "Tell me when the ferry moves to the harbour entrance, we need to follow in its wake for this to work."
"No problem," she responded, and I believe her.
I flip the switches and grab the joysticks in readiness, moving us toward the mouth of the harbour, but not so close that we'll have problems.
"Okay Edward, one ferry heading our way." She called over her shoulder, eyes not leaving the radar screen.
"Let’s do this."
I joined the course the ferry is on, riding in its wake, barely 100ft below. We're closer to the surface than I'd like, but I figure that if we need to make a hasty exit, 100ft is way better than 600ft. The trip across to Spetses is short and uneventful, we drift away from the ferry as we approach Lingoneri, the cove is a short distance away. As we move into the cove I slow to a stop, Bella looks at me questioning.
"I think we need to head to land via the wet entry, I can't chance the sub being seen and giving away our location."
"Okay, wet entry it is, at least then if it's needed we can always come back to the sub?"
"It's an option. Although once we've been to the cache, we can hopefully use what's there to help us get lost in civilisation until we're picked up. I'm sure you'd like to sleep in a real bed." I asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.
"Master Chief, you're trying to spoil me." She answered with mock seriousness.
I smirked at her and headed to the wet entry to check over the assembled equipment. We're far enough out to use it and close enough in not to be hit by a ferry. Bella joined me once I was sure we had everything we need. I handed her a mask and a scuba tank. I'm worried that she'll hurt her back with the tank, but she won't have it on for long. I clip the emergency bag to my belt; it'll be easy enough to drag. I turn and close the door to the main cabin, securing us inside the small drum like room. Turning the wheel on the wall I pressurise the cabin, before bending to open the wet hatch. I grasp Bella's hand as the room fills with water, she looks me dead in the eyes and nods, spitting in her mask and fitting it over her face. We both flip the flash lights attached to our wrists on and directed the beams through the hatch out into the open water, I drop through first, looking around us. Seeing nothing I signalled for Bella to follow. Using the diving computer on the divers watch I orientated us towards land and we make a steady pace.
The water is dark and cold; we see occasional crab and lobsters scuttle across the seabed below us. Bella matches me stroke for stroke in the water, showing me she really wasn't exaggerating when she said she could do this.
After a while we reach land, clawing our way up onto the beach. I quickly remove my tank and moved to Bella to remove hers; she must be in agony from the weight but says nothing. I grabbed the tanks and moved them into some underbrush, hiding them from sight. Just in case.
Checking the compass on the dive computer I looked up into the bank of trees that surround the small beach. It's barely a mile to the cache. I looked over to Bella, she's still flat out on the beach, I guess the swim took a lot out of her. I moved to her side lightly touching her arm.
"You okay Bella?"
"Just need to catch a breath, how far to the cache?"
"About a mile."
She nodded in response.
"How about we find somewhere to hole up for an hour, catch our breath and make sure no one is following?" I suggested.
"Sounds dreamy." She says breathily.
I laugh and lift her pulling her round to my back. She laughs in surprise and I grab the emergency bag and step into the trees. We moved quietly about 200ft from the beach, until I found a nice covered spot, with a view of the cove and the headland. There's not much chance of us being taken by surprise here. I used some of the natural foliage to make a soft nest for Bella to rest in, I'm tired but not so tired that I am willing to shut down and let anyone sneak up on us. An hour later, Bella was still out, I shook her lightly, she feels hot to touch. I gently rest my hand on her forehead, she's hot with fever.
"Bella, I'm going to make a run for the cache, the sooner the beacon is set off, the sooner we get home. I'm going to cover you with more foliage, don't move until I come back. If I'm not back in an hour, I want you to follow the coast eastwards to Lingoneri and get help."
I gently cupped her face in my hands, looking into her eyes, I tried to convey everything I've said and everything I wish I could say to her with a look. She blinks at me and a smile spreads across her face. I smiled back at her, before dropping a small kiss to her forehead and running from our hiding spot. I run through the woodland, up towards the clearing that I know the cache is hidden.
It took me all of 6 minutes to get there. In the middle of the clearing sits a peach tree, using my flashlight I looked for the insignia that tells me all I need to know. There amongst the heartfelt carvings of young lovers is the tiny Seal emblem. I stepped back from the tree and paced north westerly to a series of rocks, where I found another emblem, I bend and moved the rock that it’s carved into and there it was. I pulled the handle on the hatch buried into the bedrock and a small keypad appeared. I typed in the 6 digit code, the date for the inauguration of Seal teams and hit enter. The hatch opened and I grasped the supplies within, before covering the hatch with the rock once more.
With the large duffle in hand I headed back down to Bella. We need to stay close, because they will come here to find us. When I get back to the small hidey hole I'm confronted by Bella and her spear gun, she soon lowered it when she saw that it's me. I dropped the duffle at my feet and pulled her into a hug. She melted into me as sobs over took her.
"Hey, its okay, I'm here." I said, gently stroking her hair.
"I-I-I was worried, I woke up and my head feels terrible and I couldn't work out where you were, dammit all to hell I'm a mess."
"It's okay Bella; let it out, you've been through hell, you've earned the right to cry." I continued, sitting down and pulling her into my lap.
"S-s-so it's done, you've activated the beacon?"
"Yeah, let’s see if there's some tylenol in the bag, you've got a fever Bella, I wish we had some antibiotics, but we'll work with what we have eh."
I pulled the bag to me and unzipped it, inside there was all manner of useful things, rations, money, dry clothes, camouflage netting, 9mm and a few clips. I dug around a bit more, found a few grenades, three smoke canisters, fishing wire and an emergency medical kit. The field kits were normally better than most. I pulled it out and opened it up, a blister pack of tylenol sat in one of the pockets. I grabbed a bottle of water and popped two tylenol into Bella's hand.
"Here, take these, then let’s see about getting you warmed up."
Bella popped the pills and swallowed down some water, then leaned back into my chest, closing here eyes. I encircled my arms around her, using my body heat to warm her up. She sagged in my embrace and before long her breathing settled into the sound of sleep. I pulled a survival bag from the duffle bag and laid it on the foliage nest I had made earlier, gentle laying Bella on top and wrapped it around her. Even with a raging fever, she's still beautiful. While she slept I went through our supplies, paired with what I managed to bring from the sub, we're not too badly off. I looked out into the night; I'm guessing it's little after midnight. I hope help gets here soon.
For now we were safe, no one knows we're here and I plan on keeping it that way. I pulled out the 9mm and tucked it into my belt, the clips I placed nearby on a blanket that's easy to grasp. I set up a perimeter around our hideout, setting branches and rock that would easily make a noise if anyone approached. I settled in to keep watch on the headland. I'm sure those three ships will move this way eventually, I can only hope that help gets here first. I draped the camouflage netting over us, as long as we're quiet and still, we'll not be obvious to anyone that passes nearby. It's going to be a long night.
The night was quiet, Bella mumbled a lot in her sleep, random things about Angela and some guy called Al, my heart stopped when I hear my own name. I guess it's not surprising that either of us have gotten attached with what we've been through the last 10 days. Is it 10 or 11, hell if I know? Bella stirred around dawn, but didn't wake. I felt her forehead, and looked at her face; her cheeks were still flushed with fever. I woke her to give her more tylenol then urged her to go back to sleep. She asked me if I've slept at all. I mumbled my way through a no. She grumbled at me and insisted I take a turn and she'll keep watch. I denied her saying she's sick and needs the rest. She eventually gave in.
The day dragged, the beach was so secluded that very few people use it. That's a good thing. Fewer prospects to worry over. Bella slept for most of the day. I woke her again around midday for more tylenol and insisted she eat something. Her fever was spiking and I don't think she registered much of what I said. She curled into a foetal position and drifted back to sleep. She didn't talk anymore. That worried me. As the evening drew in I ate a granola while I kept watch on the headland. A large boat had been crisscrossing out in the deep water for the past 30 minutes. It stopped a short way outside the cove and I know it's found the sub. We need to move. NOW.
I woke Bella and she's a bit more lucid this time, no time to explain, we had to get inland. We grabbed the supplies and I pulled her onto my back and began the trek up to the clearing, it's easier to defend. I placed her under the tree and covered her with the net.
"Shoot anyone that doesn't say flash, Bella."
She reached for my hand and pulled me back down to her, placing a kiss on my lips.
"For luck, be careful Edward."
"I'll be back soon, don't forget... Flash."
She nodded in response and I took off into the woodland to set up trip wires to warn us of anyone heading our way. I made it back to the beach in time to see four zodiacs pull the sub ashore. Sixteen men surround the sub, looking it over; obviously they can see we're not onboard. They spread out along the beach and prepared to head inland. I headed back in and set up and ambush, planning on working my way along the line.
I took the first one out barely 200ft inside the tree line. I snapped his neck. I continued along to the next, he put up more of a fight, but I managed to impale him on his own gun. That had to hurt. The rest were pretty easy, a few are taken out by my trip wire warning system and a bit of stealth on my part. I worked my way round to Bella and crossed the clearing behind her. She turned on hearing a crunch of a twig under my foot.
"Flash! It's me Bella." I whisper yelled.
She sighed in relief, but it's short lived as a gunshot whistled across the clearing and she calls out in pain.
I dived for cover as more shots were fired and crawled to Bella's side. She'd been shot in the thigh, through and through. She bit her lip and readjusted her aim at where the gun fire came from. I'm amazed by her.
"I'm okay Edward, it just hurts like a mother fucker."
I moved back around from our position and flanked our attacker; Bella was firing blindly at his companion, so I had his attention when I struck him from behind. I pulled the diving knife from its sheath on my thigh and thrust it up into his stomach twisting and sawing as I go. He bellowed in a mixture of shock and pain. I followed it with a fist to the face. He dropped to the floor. Bella had run out of ammo and the other guy was gaining on her position. I kicked the back of his leg and he dropped to the floor, rolling onto his back, he fired his gun reflexively, I felt the bullet hit me in the chest and I was thrown back. I took a steadying breath and lunged at him, punching and clawing at his face. I managed to knock the gun from his hand, but he kicked me in the stomach and I flew backwards hitting my head as I landed. I felt my arm break under me. My head swam. I felt him jump on top of me, he grabbed at the knife on my bicep and he stabbed at me repeatedly. Suddenly there's another gunshot and he slumped over. Bella appeared above me, her gun smoking in her hand. She helped me up, I was groggy and I don't think I can take anymore. We staggered back to the peach tree and I slumped down against it. Bella pulled the Net back over us, and tentatively felt for my injuries. She gasped at the wetness coming from my stomach and chest.
"We're going to be alright Edward, we've survived so far and I'll kill you myself if you give up now."
I snigger at the angry kitten Bella.
"So tough, so brave, brave Bella, br-br-bra..."
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