Beneath the Surface

Chapter 5

"Get off!" Jake cried, scrambling back, his eyes wide with fear.

The two men wrestled with each other, their movements cloaked by darkness as they struggled for dominance.

With terror hanging in the air tonight, the sounds of struggle became that much more frightening as Jeremy fought to hang onto the second attacker. Strong, his muscles ripple beneath the dark clothing Jeremy wore, as they wrestled he could feel the surge of adrenaline through him. The old wooden pier creaked ominously under their combined weight, threatening at any moment to give way to the unforgiving waters below.

Get back, Jake!" Jeremy yelled, his teeth gritted as he attempted to pin the man's arms to the ground. The attacker bucked violently; his fists swung wildly, and Jeremy barely managed to miss a punch that would have sent him out cold on the spot.

"You think you're tough?" the man spat, twisting with all his might in an attempt to break free. "You have no idea who you're messing with!

Jeremy grunted-putting every ounce of military training into his body-trying to hold the man down. "I know exactly who I am dealing with-a coward hiding behind a mask!"

The attacker snarled, but before he had a chance to respond, Jeremy was right on him, managing to land a solid punch against his jaw that staggered him backward. The back of his head jerked backward, and Jeremy was quick to seize the moment, scrambling up off the ground once more. He could see Jake struggling with the first attacker; he was down but refused to yield.

"Jake, get the knife!" Jeremy shouted with a racing heartbeat.

Still clutching the knife, Jake lost some resolve in the presence of fear. "I-I couldn't!" he stammered with darting eyes all over the place, as if searching for an avenue of escape.

"Concentrate! You got to fight!" Jeremy implored him with rising intensity. "We can't let them take us down.

Jake sprang at him in a burst of resolve. The knife glinted in the moonlight. He was aiming for the attacker's side, but the man rolled clear just in time. Jeremy watched, his heart racing in the struggle, and was overwhelmed with fear for his friend, kindling that elementary instinct to protect.

"Come on, Jake!" Jeremy yelled, running toward them. He had to end this before they were overrun. He had to get Jake to safety.

The attacker on the ground scrambled to his feet, anger flashing in his eyes as he headed for Jeremy with fists raised. "You think you can win this? You're outnumbered!"

"Not for long!" Jeremy growled, his body taut and ready for action.

Jeremy launched himself at him in a blur of movement, his shoulder leading as he aimed directly for the man's midsection. They hit hard, Jeremy's force carrying them forward, and both went crashing into the wooden railings of the pier. The man grunted; the air was knocked from his lungs, yet almost immediately he regained his footing, swinging a fist at Jeremy.

Jeremy ducked, and the wind of the punch brushed him; he returned with a quick jab against his stomach, sending him back. Stumbling backward, Jeremy didn't hold back but pounded upward with a powerful uppercut that sent the attacker sprawling against the edge of the pier.

But as he turned back to help Jake, he saw the first attacker had regained the upper hand. Jake struggled to keep the knife out of the man's reach, his eyes flashing with panic as he fought for control. Larger and more aggressive, the attacker's fists rained down upon Jake's defenses.

"Get off him!" Jeremy roared running toward them, determination fueling every step.

It was this desperate surge of energy that now sent Jeremy leaping at the man who was about to land a punch on Jake's face. The two clashed, and Jeremy felt the surge of adrenalin as he sent the attacker backward-just to find that the man indeed was stronger than what he had prepared for.

With a sudden burst, the attacker violently pushed Jeremy backwards, and he fell several feet backward. In that second, he had Jeremy's complete attention turned to Jake. "You're a dead man!" he yelled in a low, threatening voice.

"No!" Jeremy yelled, panic starting to set in as he struggled to get his feet under him once again. "Jake, get out of there!

But Jake was beyond reason, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his eyes desperate. He swung the knife in a wild arc, barely missing the man's arm by centimeters as the latter raised it to fend him off. A powerful kick sent Jake onto the wooden planks with a thud.

"Jake!" Jeremy shouted, as his heart fell when he saw his friend go down.

Acting purely out of instinct, Jeremy charged forward, fists clenched, resolution set aflame. He tackled the attacker with brute determination and sent them both crashing to the ground. They rolled together, their limbs entangled in each trying to get on top.

"Get up, Jake! Fight!" Jeremy shouted, working his way to the better position.

But Jake lay there gasping for air, the knife slipping from his fingers as he tried to recover. By now, the first attacker was recovering fully and lunged at Jeremy from behind, grabbing him by his collar and pulling him backward.

"Enough of this!" the man snarled, his grip going vice-like around Jeremy's throat.

Jeremy fought the pressure, his instincts shrieking at him to flee. He could feel the world around him narrowing, the edges of his vision graying. But he wasn't going to cave. He'd seen worse in combat.

Desperate for that rush of adrenaline, Jeremy hauled up a knee hard into the man's groin. The attacker gasped and released just long enough for Jeremy to slip free. He pivoted, landing a powerful right hook that sent the man staggering back against the railing.

But the first attacker wasn't through. He swung under, fists flying, but Jeremy crouched below the blow and pivoted on his heel. Coming around, he launched a roundhouse kick that took the man in the side, sending him off balance, crashing him to the ground.

"Jake! Get the knife!" Jeremy yelled without turning away from the man now lying dazed on the ground.

Jake struggled to his feet, his eyes wide with fear and pain. He reached for the knife, finally managing to snag it off the floor of the pier. Standing tall, a flicker of determination flared in his eyes.

"Let's finish this!" Jeremy called, the action coursing adrenaline through him as he prepared for the next wave of attack.

But the second attacker regained his composure and stepped forward. A sly smile overspread his face as he sneered, "You two think you're so tough? You don't know who you're messing with."

"Then show us!" Jeremy challenged, fists up in readiness for another fight.

They exchanged a look, and in that brief instant, it became apparent they didn't come for a fair fight. With a sudden surge of adrenaline, they dove at Jeremy and Jake in concert-a conspired attack filled with malice and desperation.