“Four hours,” Darin Hollander said to me, “she will be with us in four hours.”

           I looked at him incredulously, “that’s all?” 

           He smiled at me.  His face was hard and his eyes were shining with a happy glow. He was in his element, planning and guiding the execution of the rescue efforts of our leader.  “Yes,” he beamed proudly, “the operation has already begun. We have kidnapped sixty-two Offlander’s, most of them soldiers loyal to Alexander Nicholai.  He will not be able to resist our final assault that will commence in twenty minutes.”  He read the concern on my face, “don’t worry, she won’t be harmed.”

           “I know,” I said.  But did I?  I was not sure what Alexander Nicholai was capable of.  Would he kill Collette to prevent her return to us? Collette was not that kind of leader, but was Alexander? I was afraid to find out the answer. “Thank you, Darin,” I said, my voice a nervous squeak.

           Darin opened his mouth to speak, to offer words that would calm my nerves. He looked at me as I paced along the ocean floor and realized his words would fall upon deaf ears; only Collette’s return would calm me. “Sir,” was all he said as he turned away.

           Please be okay, I thought with my eyes shut tight. I was being silly, I knew, but that did not stop the feelings of impotence that was coursing through my veins. I was pacing in our home, awaiting the final results of the confrontation that had already started. Please, I prayed, please be okay. 

           The fish overhead circled faster, sensing my agitation.  My body cast dizzying shadows on the ocean floor as I paced. I was anxious for her return and fearful of her life. 

           Please.

* * * * *

Charles Linton shook his head.  He was right, it was foolish to keep her hear. His search for Marty had revealed to him more than he wanted to know. Yes, Marty was missing and so was Theresa Talbot, Anthony Casinni, Hector, Louise, William, Rodney, Mary, and countless others. No, he realized, missing was not the term. Abducted, stolen from the island and spirited away into the realm of the Offlander’s.  They knew that their leader was captive and that her death was nothing more than a ruse.  How they knew he was not certain, but they did know.   

He had tried to convince Alexander that keeping her was a mistake but his headstrong arrogance prevented him from hearing anything other than he wanted to hear.  He had been that way all of his life; each time an idea was offered to him that differed than his own he took the suggestion and did all he could to destroy it.  It was a game to him; it seemed to Charles, destroy the opposition at all cost.

It was how he became the leader of the Onlander’s. His arrogance and combative nature propelling him to heights of power.  He was capable of leading armies but was lacking when it came to leading individuals.  He was not a leader, he was a general without an army and only his position granted him the respect that he had not earned. And now, his arrogance and lack of forethought had brought the Onlander’s and Offlander’s to the brink of war.

And it is a war, isn’t it, Chuck? He asked himself. Make no mistake about it, there will be bloodshed and loss of life. The Offlander’s will not rest until their leader is returned to them and Alexander’s foolish pride and arrogance will not allow him to surrender her.  We are definitely on the brink of war.

Unless.

And an idea began to form.

* * * * *

The rescue has begun.  Be ready.

I will be.

Darin returned his mind to his labors, satisfied that Collette knew the rescue had begun. 

* * * * *

Charles Linton left his office and walked through the town. The streets were empty.  The people that had not been abducted knew something was about to happen and had spirited themselves away.  He was thankful for that.  He walked quickly, nearly jogging through the empty town. The town felt deserted. 

History had talked about how ghost towns were formed when the floods had come. People moved to higher and higher ground, leaving behind all traces of their former existence.  The cities of the world slowly died and when New York had become a desolate, empty maze of steel and concrete the world had known it would die.  Now, only a few bastions of humanity remained on land and evolution had brought forth the Offlanders.  Now, the Offlanders were the dominant species and Charles knew he was witnessing the final demise of the old world’s final descendants. 

The Onlanders extinction had begun.

Brought forth by the arrogance of one man and his foolish need to control.

And exhaling heavily, feeling the weight of his own extinction on his shoulders, Charles Linton made his way to the sea.

* * * * *

“Yes,” Charles said.  “I am sure.”

“I can not make you any promises.  But I will guarantee and audience with our Queen. Satisfactory?”

Weakly, “yes.”

A nod, “go do as you promised.”

And Charles left the beach.

* * * * *

           “I will be rescued,” Collette said smugly.

           Alexander Nicholai glared at her. Her face was swollen, her left eye swollen shut. Dark purple and black skin looked out of place on her normally beautiful face and her lip was swollen and bleeding.  Alex knew her words were true and that is what infuriated him. He could feel how empty his home was, his guards absent and nobody answered his raged-filled shouts.  Where was everybody?  In angry he spat, “where are my guards?”

           Collette stood proudly, not letting his rage interfere with her regal bearing, “safe.”

           His eyes flashed with hatred. “How do you know?” He screamed in rage. He crossed to her and grabbed her shoulders. He shook her and she looked like a limp doll in his powerful arms. “How do you know?  How?  Tell me, dammit!  Tell me!” He pushed her and she fell backwards landing with a thump on her ass.  He stood above her and kicked her thigh sending her rolling to her side.

           “Tell me!”

           He took a step towards her and as he went to kick her again a voice called out behind him, “don’t.”

           Alex paused and turned to face the door. Charles stood there, his face ashen, his fists clenched in rage. “Who the fuck do you think you are? You dare tell me what to do?”

           Charles stepped towards Alexander, “I am the new leader of our people.  You are relieved of your duties and responsibilities and you will be turned over to the Offlanders to answer for your crimes against their people for the last decade.”

           As he shook his head, he chuckled, “no. I don’t think so.” 

           Charles could detect the contempt in Alexander’s tone. “You will surrender.”  He looked over his shoulder and shouted, “guards!”

           Immediately the room filled up with eight Offlander and twelve Onlander guards.  The Offlanders were wielding sharp, pointed spears with a thick metal barb eight inches back from the point.  The Onlander guards, his guards, were wielding clubs, knobby and thick. Their faces were blank masks that did little to reveal their thoughts of feelings. 

           Rage flashed over Alexander’s face, “Who the fuck do you think you are! I gave you everything and you betray me? You betray me.”  Spittle flew from his mouth and he looked like an impetuous child as he stomped his feet in disgust, anger, and impotence. 

           Charles exhaled and looked for the world like a parent scolding an errant adolescent, “no, Alex.  You betrayed us.  You brought us to the brink of extinction.  I am just trying to delay the inevitable.” Charles looked at the Onlander guards and commanded, “bind his wrists and take him to the beach.  He is to be turned over to the Offlander’s.” He turned to the Offlander guards, “take your Queen home.”

           Collette looked at Charles and thought how the role of benevolent leader suited him.  He seemed at ease as he commanded the guards and Collette was confident that the problems that she had had with the McKinley Onlander’s had drawn to a close. 

           Collette climbed to her feet.  She was in obvious pain as she limped towards the door. She stopped before Charles and extended her hand, “my name is Collette,” she said.

           “Charles Linton,” he said, shaking her preferred hand. “He bowed his head slightly, “I’m sorry.”

           Collette smiled weakly, “don’t be. Only good can come of this.”

           He nodded.

* * * * *

           Alexander screamed in rage.  He was in a cage that floated on the cold ocean. The bars were bound together with thick vines and would not yield to his efforts to pull free.  He tried to escape from the cage and found himself to be trapped without any means of escape.  He was an animal in a cage without means of freedom. 

           And he was alone. 

           And nobody heard him scream.