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All around, the water darkened as they went deeper. Dare still saw some fish, but they slowly started to thin out until he didn’t see any more.
They continued their descent. There was a sense of pressure bearing down on them. Of a dark, unknown vastness surrounding them. He felt like they were very much somewhere they weren’t supposed to be. Funny, he’d never felt like that in space.
He glanced at Dakota in the chair beside him, and realized she was feeling it, too. Tension lines bracketed her mouth.
They continued on, and then ahead, he spotted a flicker of movement. With a frown, he leaned forward. Whatever he’d seen, it had been big.
He kept staring, trying to catch another glimpse through the shadows. Then he saw the creature’s shadow and his chest went tight.
It was a giant shark. Actually, giant didn’t cut it.
“Oh, my stars.” Dakota’s voice rose. “What the hell is that?”
Olok muttered a curse. “It’s a tortuga shark. Let’s hope it’s not hungry.”
As they continued downward, Dare kept his gaze on the water, searching for any other signs of the giant predator.
Beside him, Dakota was fidgeting in her seat. He knew it was probably a mix of nerves and excitement.
“Not too much farther until we reach the level you wanted,” Olok told them. “It isn’t the bottom, but there’s a large platform there.”
Something swam past them, its tail thumping against the glass. It sent the sub rocking.
Dakota instinctively reached out, and Dare grabbed her hand.
They kept staring into the darkness, and then ahead of them, Dare saw a shape swimming straight toward them, its tail swishing from side to side.
Fuck. The tortuga shark came at them, its jaws open, giving them a perfect view of hundreds of razor-sharp teeth.
The creature slammed into the glass.
Dakota jumped and barely managed to swallow her scream.
She saw the shark swim away and then circle around, coming back at them. It was coming in fast.
Her heart beat like a drum, and she decided this was the stuff of nightmares.
Olok was cursing and tapping at his controls. Suddenly, she saw some sort of green chemical shoot out into the water from the exterior of the ship, hanging in the water like fog.
As soon as the shark hit it, the creature started thrashing wildly. It turned fast, and swam away.
“Chemical deterrent. The tortugas hate the stuff.”
Dakota’s shoulders sagged. Dare slid an arm across her shoulders, and she leaned into him. He touched the special Maronian earpiece Olok had given him.
“Ry, come in,” Dare said.
“Saw you had some company,” came Rynan’s reply.
“Yes, of the unwelcome kind. Olok used a chemical deterrent. Keep your finger on the button.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“We’re coming up on the map coordinates. You two circle around and come in from behind. If you see anything of interest, let us know.”
“Acknowledged.”
“And stay in contact.”
