Bandits by L M Preston Read Free Book Online Page A

… next to Nic k el!” she yelled out at Faulk.
    Nickel looked up from where he sat getting more amm u nition out of the bags.
    She aimed her darts to kill the Merpins that were quickly climbing up the back of the cruiser. Daniel pivoted to see the sickening pale and greedy sea cannibal lick its lips at the antic i pation of his capture of Nickel. Jade’s darts hit each Merpin in the eye, and they fell back off the ship with a loud splash .
    Faulk shot at the three Merpins that were holding onto the back of the boat. One jumped over the edge of the boat, and its webbed feet landed easily on the deck. Its clawed fingers and scaled torso bent over and sliced through the flesh on Faulk’s arm in its attempt to take a bite out of him. Faulk roared in pain. He fired consecutively and the creature’s lifeless, bleeding body fell into the murky sea.
    “Nickel? Nickel! Hold on.” Jade called out as she ran t o ward him.
    Daniel’s gut filled with anger and fear. They’d cleared the rocks and were so close to Willows Oasis. The warmer waters should help slow the Merpins down. “ Can’t help you! I gotta get us out of here.”
    As he navigated them to safety, Daniel periodically glanced back to check on the others. “Faulk! Kill it. Jade use your poison darts with his fire.”
    Jade went to her hip and grabbed her poison darts. The Merpin pulled Nickel, who fought and struggled while screa m ing out. Daniel’s hand slipped off the wheel as he went for his gun and the cruiser jerked.
    “No! Daniel, get us out of here. I got this!” Jade yelled.
    Daniel reluctantly grabbed the wheel and maneuvered just in time to evade a large rock. The cruiser lunged to the side, and Daniel held onto the wheel. Jade adjusted her stance and ran toward Nickel with darts aimed high.
    Nickel screamed out as he struggled against the Merpin’s grip. It dragged his lower body over the side of the cruiser. Nickel held onto the side with fierce determination, tears of fear welling up in eyes.
    Jade aimed for the Merpin’s eyes and hands with darts in both of her closed fists. One, then two darts hit their targets. The Merpin cried out when it released Nickel, and fell screaming backwards into the sea. Jade’s remaining darts flew over the edge of the cruiser with it. Nickel pulled himself up and over the side of the boat. He shook his head and stood, tears from fear streaming down his face.
    Faulk fired one last shot, and the last Merpin slid down the side of the ship and into the knives that protruded from the back of the water cruiser. “It’s dragging on the boat!”  He shot the Merpin off the knife’s edge, which held him.
    Daniel warned, “Make sure they’re gone. I don’t want to drag any with us to Willows Oasis. One of those things could eat us whole if it got its claws lodged in us.”  
    They split up and checked the sides of the water cruiser, and spoke their confirmations of their safety.
    Faulk came up to stand next to Daniel. “Man, I’m so tired I could pass out. After that - though, I don’t think I’m going to sleep for at least a week without one eye open.” Faulk shook his hands in disgust. “Those things were freakin ’ ugly. We def i nitely don’t have creatures like those on Earth.”
    “Get used to it. This isn’t Earth,” Daniel answered.
    Jade checked on Nickel.
    Nickel hastily moved her hand from his face and sat down on the deck, turning away from her. “I’m okay,” he mumbled.
    Jade strolled over to Daniel and stood on the opposite side of Faulk. “So, for my first adventure, I’d say I did just fine – you know, being a girl and all. Don’t you think so, Daniel?”  
    Daniel groaned. “Your brother’s going to kill me. When we get to your father’s trove, you’re staying there.”
    Jade put her hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “Not on your life. When are you going to tell me what’s going on Daniel?  I know you didn’t just come over to pick up Gabe. Something bad must’ve