The ocean was loud enough to swallow thought.
Rain slammed sideways, wind tearing the words off Koby's lips before they formed. He clung to the edge of the lifeboat like it was a prayer, knuckles white and shaking. The sea surged and bucked, lifting the tiny craft until sky and water swapped places.
Ponyo didn't flinch. He crouched low, chains looped around his forearms, gaze steady as lightning flashed across black waves. His shirt clung to his skin, cut shoulder bleeding freely, but his breathing was calm. Four in. Four out.
"Ponyo!" Koby screamed over the wind. "We're going to die!"
"Not tonight," Ponyo said flatly.
The next wave hit like a hammer. Water poured over them. Koby coughed, sputtering. Ponyo wrapped a chain around the mast of the lifeboat and lashed himself to it with practiced precision.
"Hold on," Ponyo barked.
The boat slid down the back of the wave like a sled, boards groaning, nails shrieking in protest. Lightning split the sky, briefly revealing the monstrous outline of the Sea Brittle far behind them—its sails ripped, lights flickering like dying stars.
They'd escaped. For now.
Koby's sobbing breaths filled the space between thunderclaps. "She—she's going to kill us. You saw her face. Bredma's not gonna stop."
"She will when we're ghosts," Ponyo said, scanning the waves.
Lightning cracked again. This time, Koby saw it too.
A shadow moved under the water, large enough to block the glow of their lantern. The black surface bulged, ripples spreading.
"Tell me that's a wave," Koby whispered.
Ponyo's eyes narrowed. "That's not a wave."
Another flash lit up a ridge of spines, slick and sharp, slicing the water like knives. The shape moved fast, circling them.
Koby's grip tightened. "What is it?"
"Hungry." Ponyo unhooked one chain from his arm and let it trail into the water, the links hissing like a serpent.
The boat jolted as something massive bumped it from beneath.
"P-Ponyo…"
"Quiet," Ponyo murmured. His eyes scanned the waves, calm but sharp, chain ready to strike.
The sea went still.
Then a single, glowing yellow eye broke the surface.
Lightning cracked. The beast slipped under again.
The boat rocked. The wind howled.
Ponyo smirked. "Keep breathing."
To be continued in Chapter 4 – Ashport's Teeth…