Work Text:
Jake's done for. There's no going back, yet there's no use regretting it either way. That's all he knew as he awaited the final moments of his life, both hands tied with a tight grip. The sea creature that surfaced in front of him was all but merciful, and the cruel man was seemingly glad to be rid of the boy. The weather isn't any good either, with the storm threatening to unleash its anger - maybe it symbolises something deeper than that?
Yet the boy is hopeful still, he still believes that his friend will come to save him no matter the cost. He still preserves his iron will, despite the acidic despair creeping in. There's a clarity in his eyes, and a hint of optimism still. Jake's belief in himself is what keeps him safe from dying all this time, and he's not going to falter to despair anytime soon. He puts on a brave facade, fake it till you make it - they say.
Or that's what he thinks. Despite such clarity, there are still doubts in his heart. Well, he's still a child no matter how you look at it. There's fear, despair, and so much more that even Jake didn't know of its existence - still residing in himself.
What if Jake fell prey to the unknown, to the very thing that pulls his father away from him?
Sweats decorate his temple as he observes the violent riptide of the ocean. The overcast atmosphere didn't help at all - it just made it all appear too frightening for the little scout boy. Jake reminded himself - it's not the first time he's been in such a dire situation. His friends will surely come to his rescue like it always has been.
Just on cue, Louis and the others arrived wearing skyhooks on his waist. Upon Loui's immediate calling and launching of the skyhooks, Jake felt an immediate relief. A smirk painted on the scout's face as he saw the opportunity to escape. Whilst the cruel man still questioned Louis's action, Jake immediately ran over the edge of the ship deck and jumped towards the rope, much to the cruel man's surprise. To Jake's immediate calculation, it should only be three steps he needed to do to be saved.
First, a jump, and a grab.
Despite the large momentum of the free fall, Jake managed to grab the rope just in time. Due to the fact that for Jake's action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, Louis is involuntarily pulled forward and manages to stop himself just in time before he falls to the sea.
Whilst Louis and the cruel man are busy bickering back and forth, Jake is still hanging on for dear life. After Jake shouted at Louis for being distracted, Jake's expression and stomach dropped upon witnessing the sheer horror he was about to cascade in. He shouted out of fear, afraid of dying. Countless terrific and terrifying octopuses are surfacing on the raging sea, just waiting for their meal.
Secondly, gripping the rope.
As fear, anxiety and despair claw at Jake's hopes resolve, he is hit by the cruel man's cane. His hand immediately trembled as his fingers desperately tried to hold onto the ropes, praying to survive, just for one more second to live. It's either this or nothing. Live, or die.
Unknown to Jake, a new giant fish appeared taking on the countless octopuses as its new enemies.
Thirdly, pulled by the ropes. He should be safe by now.
But oh, does fate have other plans? As they say, all stories must have a good twist and turn to build up for the final satisfaction. Yet before Jake's resolve fully slipped, Louis shouted in fervour, reminding Jake of the stake involved at hand.
"If you let go of the rope, you'll be done for!"
As if awoken from meaningless reverie, he immediately gripped the rope back, his hopes instilled at the very last moment. He grabbed the rope tight as Louis pulled the skyhook, successfully retrieving Jake from the other ship.
Jake landed on the other ship, hands still tied and clapped one hand of Louis, a signal to their bonds and familiarity. Out of the blue, the cruel man chuckled to himself casually. Both of them turned their head spontaneously, weirded out by the cruel man's behaviour.
Yet.. it's alright, Jake reassures himself. No matter what will happen and has happened, he will always have his friend's back and himself. No matter what plans fate had for them, they will always strive, always fighting against the cruelty of nature and the hatred of mankind - hand in hand with his fellow brother, Louis and his loyal friends.
In the end, Jake had learnt not to be so curious, or else he might just fall into another predicament as terrifying as this one. He knows he's still a child, and that simply means he has a lot of room for growth and change towards becoming a better person.