章 8: Chapter 08: Escape from the Island

The cold wind pressed against Kaden's skin as their small boat cut through the choppy waters, the jagged cliffs of the island shrinking into the distance. The eerie silence on the sea didn't match the storm of thoughts swirling in Kaden's mind. The island had left them with more questions than answers, especially about the black frost pulsing inside him—stronger now, hungrier.

Geralt stood at the bow, eyes locked on the horizon ahead, but Kaden knew he was keeping an eye on him, too. There was a shift in the air between them since the island, an unspoken tension neither had acknowledged yet. Kaden felt it in every glance Geralt cast his way, in every moment of silence that followed them across the water.

The boat rocked gently beneath them, the sound of the waves the only thing breaking the quiet. Kaden gripped the wheel tighter, staring ahead at the open sea, but the black frost stirred under his skin, curling at the edges of his thoughts.

"They're not going to stop coming, are they?" Kaden asked, his voice quiet.

Geralt didn't look back. "No. Someone wants you, and they're not going to stop until they get what they're after."

Kaden nodded, though the weight of it settled heavy in his chest. Whoever had sent those men to the island knew something about his powers—something Kaden didn't fully understand himself. And now, he was a target. He had seen the looks of fear in the eyes of the frozen men, the way they had turned to ice at his touch. The cold inside him was growing stronger, more uncontrollable.

His fingers twitched, and for a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of frost creeping up his skin. Kaden clenched his fists, forcing the power back down, but the fear of losing control again gnawed at him.

The hours passed slowly as they sailed further from the island. The sky above was a dull gray, and the sea around them was eerily calm. It should have been a relief after the storm that had battered them, but something about the quiet felt wrong. The wind was too cold, the air too still, and Kaden couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Geralt remained near the front of the boat, his sword resting against his side, his eyes never leaving the horizon. Kaden knew that Geralt trusted him—trusted his strength, his leadership—but after what had happened on the island, that trust had been shaken. And Kaden didn't blame him. He wasn't sure if he trusted himself anymore.

The cold inside him pulsed again, stronger this time, and Kaden exhaled slowly, watching his breath mist in the frigid air. The black frost was growing harder to control with each passing hour. He could feel it coiling beneath his skin, ready to surge forth if he let his guard down for even a second.

"You feel that?" Geralt asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Kaden frowned, turning to look at him. "Feel what?"

Geralt's eyes narrowed as he scanned the sea around them. "We're not alone."

Kaden's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't noticed it at first, but now that Geralt had mentioned it, the air felt heavier, colder. A sense of dread settled over him like a shadow, and he instinctively tightened his grip on the wheel.

"What do you mean?" Kaden asked, though part of him already knew the answer.

Geralt pointed toward the horizon. "Look."

Kaden followed his gaze, his stomach twisting as he saw it—a dark shape in the distance, moving steadily toward them. At first, it was just a shadow on the water, but as it drew closer, the outline of a ship became clear. Larger than their own vessel, and clearly heading straight for them.

"Pirates," Geralt muttered, his voice tense.

Kaden's chest tightened. "Or worse."

The ship was closing in fast, its black sails billowing in the wind. From this distance, Kaden could make out figures moving on the deck—men armed with swords and rifles, ready for a fight. Whoever they were, they weren't here by accident.

"They're after me," Kaden said quietly, the realization settling in like ice in his veins. "They know about the frost."

Geralt's expression hardened. "Doesn't matter what they know. What matters is how we stop them."

Kaden nodded, though his mind was racing. The cold pulsed again, stronger this time, and he could feel the black frost coiling at the edges of his thoughts, begging to be unleashed. But after what had happened on the island, he wasn't sure if he could trust himself to control it.

The enemy ship was nearly upon them now, and Kaden could see the crew preparing to board. Swords glinted in the pale light, and the sharp crack of rifles echoed across the water.

"Get ready," Geralt growled, drawing his sword.

Kaden's heart pounded in his chest, the cold surging beneath his skin, threatening to take control. He clenched his fists, trying to keep it in check, but the power was growing harder to suppress with every second.

The first wave of attackers leaped from their ship onto the deck of Kaden's boat, their swords flashing as they moved. Geralt was on them in an instant, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. Kaden barely had time to react before another pirate lunged at him, sword aimed at his chest.

Instinct took over. Kaden raised his hand, and the black frost surged forth, freezing the air in front of him. The pirate's sword met the ice with a sharp crack, and in an instant, the man was encased in a solid block of frost.

Kaden stumbled back, his heart racing. He had barely touched the power, but it had responded so quickly, so easily. Too easily.

More attackers swarmed the deck, and Kaden could see Geralt fighting off three men at once, his sword flashing in the pale light. Kaden knew he needed to help, but the black frost was already slipping out of his control. He could feel it pulling at him, demanding to be released.

Don't, Kaden thought to himself, but the cold was relentless, surging through his body like a wave. He closed his eyes, trying to focus, trying to keep it in check, but it was no use.

The frost surged again, and this time Kaden couldn't stop it.

The black frost exploded from Kaden's body, a wave of icy energy that swept across the deck, freezing everything in its path. The enemy crew barely had time to react before they were caught in the frost's grip, their bodies encased in ice as the cold overtook them.

The ship groaned under the weight of the frost, the wood creaking and cracking as the temperature plummeted. Kaden could feel the power coursing through him, uncontrollable and wild, but for the first time, he didn't fight it.

He let the cold consume him.

The battle was over in seconds. The enemy crew lay frozen in place, their ship locked in a solid block of ice. Geralt stood nearby, his sword lowered, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the scene before him.

"Kaden..." Geralt's voice was barely a whisper. "What did you do?"

Kaden staggered forward, the frost still clinging to his skin, his breath visible in the freezing air. He had won the fight, but the cost had been too high. The cold inside him had taken over, and now it wouldn't let go.

"I... I lost control," Kaden said, his voice shaking. "I didn't want to, but—"

Before he could finish, a loud crack echoed across the water. Kaden turned just in time to see the enemy ship begin to splinter under the weight of the ice. The wood groaned and snapped as the frozen structure collapsed in on itself.

The boat tipped dangerously, and Kaden barely managed to steady himself as the ship broke apart, sinking into the icy water below. The bodies of the enemy crew, still frozen solid, disappeared beneath the surface, lost to the depths of the sea.

The battle was over, but the damage had been done.

Kaden collapsed to his knees, his body trembling from the strain. The black frost still pulsed inside him, quieter now, but its presence was undeniable. He had lost control—again. And this time, he wasn't sure if he could pull back.

Geralt approached cautiously, his sword sheathed, though his eyes were filled with concern. "Kaden... you need to get a handle on this. You can't keep going like this."

Kaden looked up, his eyes filled with fear and exhaustion. "I know. But I don't know how. It's getting worse, Geralt. Every time I use it, it gets harder to stop."

Geralt nodded grimly. "Then we need help. Fast. Someone who knows how to deal with powers like yours."

Kaden shook his head. "I don't know anyone who could help with this."

Geralt's expression softened slightly. "We'll find someone. But first, we need to put as much distance as we can between us and whoever's left."

Kaden rose shakily to his feet, his body still trembling from the aftermath of the fight. The black frost remained, lurking at the edges of his mind, but he forced it down, at least for now. The immediate danger had passed, but the storm inside him was far from over.

"Right," Kaden muttered, brushing the frost off his hands. "We need to move."

Geralt gave him a nod, though his eyes lingered on Kaden for a moment longer, as if silently assessing whether he could truly keep the black frost in check. Without another word, Geralt turned back to the bow of the ship, scanning the horizon as they sailed away from the wreckage.

Kaden took the helm, steering them back into the open sea, the cold wind biting at his skin as they left the frozen remains of the battle behind. His mind raced with thoughts, each one darker than the last. He could still feel the frost, the way it had surged through him, overwhelming his senses. There had been a moment, just before the frost exploded from him, when he had felt something close to satisfaction. The power had felt good—too good.

He shivered, though it wasn't from the cold.

"We need to find a place to regroup," Geralt said after a while, his voice cutting through Kaden's thoughts. "Somewhere quiet, out of sight. It won't be long before more of them come looking for you."

Kaden nodded. "But where? We don't know these waters, and we can't afford to stumble into another trap."

"We don't have many options," Geralt replied. "But we need time. You need time—to figure this out before the next fight."

Kaden felt the weight of Geralt's words. Time. It was something they were quickly running out of. The frost was getting stronger, and Kaden didn't know how much longer he could keep it under control. The fear of what would happen if he lost himself completely gnawed at him like a curse.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed across the water, breaking the tense silence between them.

Geralt spun toward the sound, hand on the hilt of his sword. "What now?"

Kaden scanned the sea, his heart pounding. The crack sounded again, this time louder. The air around them seemed to shift, a cold mist rising from the surface of the water. Kaden's breath caught in his throat. Something was coming.

Then he saw it—a massive shadow beneath the water, moving fast, circling their small boat like a predator stalking its prey. The shadow rose, the water churning violently around it, and Kaden's eyes widened as a massive, serpentine shape broke through the surface of the sea.

A sea monster.

The creature's long, black body twisted through the water, its scales glistening in the pale light. Its eyes gleamed with hunger, and its maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth that could tear through wood and flesh with ease.

"Geralt!" Kaden shouted, grabbing the wheel and steering the boat hard to the left.

Geralt didn't need to be told twice. He was already on his feet, sword drawn, his eyes locked on the monster as it surged toward them.

The boat rocked violently as the creature slammed into the side, nearly capsizing them. Kaden fought to keep the vessel steady, his heart racing. The frost pulsed again, stronger this time, but he forced it down. He couldn't lose control now—not when they were facing something this dangerous.

The monster lunged, its jaws snapping at the boat, but Geralt was already in motion. His sword flashed in the air, slicing through the creature's scales with deadly precision. The monster roared, thrashing in the water as it recoiled from the blow.

"Keep it steady!" Geralt shouted, his voice barely audible over the creature's howls.

Kaden gripped the wheel, trying to keep the boat on course, but the force of the creature's attacks was relentless. The sea churned around them, the waves crashing against the hull as the monster circled back for another strike.

The boat tipped dangerously, and Kaden felt the frost stir inside him again, more insistent this time. He gritted his teeth, his hands trembling on the wheel. If he let the frost loose now, he knew it could freeze the creature, stop it in its tracks—but at what cost?

Another violent hit from the creature nearly knocked Kaden off his feet. The decision was made for him. He had no choice.

"Geralt, get clear!" Kaden shouted, stepping back from the wheel.

Geralt's eyes flashed with understanding. He didn't argue. With a quick, fluid movement, he leaped from the deck, landing safely on the far side of the boat just as the black frost surged from Kaden's body.

The frost exploded outward, freezing the air around them. The temperature plummeted as the icy tendrils of frost coiled around the creature's body, encasing it in a solid block of ice. The monster let out a final, guttural roar before it froze completely, its body locked in the frozen sea like a statue.

Kaden stumbled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the frost still clinging to his skin. The boat rocked gently now, the waves calm in the aftermath of the battle. But the damage had been done. The frost had won again.

Geralt stood slowly, his sword still in hand, though his eyes were locked on Kaden.

"You saved us," Geralt said, his voice low. "But at what cost?"

Kaden didn't answer. He didn't need to. The answer was written in the ice that covered the sea around them, in the black frost that still pulsed beneath his skin, eager for the next fight.

They had survived, but Kaden could feel the toll it was taking on him. The cold was growing stronger, and his control over it was slipping. He didn't know how much longer he could keep going like this.

"We need to get out of here," Kaden muttered, his voice hoarse. "Before something worse comes."

Geralt gave him a long, hard look before nodding. "Agreed."

Kaden turned back to the wheel, his hands shaking as he steered them away from the frozen remains of the creature. The sea stretched out before them, vast and empty, but Kaden knew the danger was far from over.

As they sailed into the unknown, the weight of his power pressed down on him like a heavy shroud. He could feel the frost growing stronger with every battle, with every use of the cold.