Tidal Wave

By

Reptilian-Angel

ME: Life can be as unpredictable as the sea, with storms and typhoons waiting around each tide, rocks and reefs coming as brittle as needles or as harmless as the stranger next to you; never knowing whether or not you'll be able to just sail with the current or sink under the next tidal wave . . . AU fic; TuffXCassie, RileyXAlice

Chapter 1.

The

Clashing

Of

Waves;

Prologue

Normal P.O.V.

"B-B-B-Be careful making wishes in the dark, dark

Can't be sure when they've hit their mark

And besides in the mean, mean time

I'm just dreaming of tearing you apart

I'm in the de-details with the devil

So now the world can never get me on my level

I just gotta get you off the cage

I'm a young lover's rage

Gonna need a spark to ignite

My songs know what you did in the dark

So light 'em up, up, up

Light 'em up, up, up

Light 'em up, up, up

I'm on fire!

So light 'em up, up, up

Light 'em up, up, up

Light 'em up, up, up

I'm on fire!

Oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa

In the dark, dark;

Oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, oh, oh, whoa

In the dark, dark . . ."

"My Songs Know What You did In the Dark (Light 'em Up)" – Fall Out Boy

~X~

Her feet stung from the force of her steps as she rushed to get away. Her legs were begging for her to stop, but she couldn't; not with her life on the line.

Her heart beat from inside of her ribcage with a fury of fear, her breath coming out in harsh pants and gasps of terror with sweat trekking down her forehead and neck. She forced the ragged feelings of over-exertion that threatened to take over her back. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, a fatal mistake that caused her to trip over a loose tree root, fall hard on her stomach and chest, effectively knocking the air right out of her but not before she let out a grunt of surprise and pain.

The footfalls of her pursuers started to grow louder and quicker, no doubt they had heard her fall and were coming in for the kill. Her heart leapt dangerously in her throat as her pulse went wild with terror.

Adrenaline fueling her, she scrambled madly to her feet, somehow just barely missing stepping on her own tail and launched herself deeper into the dark, crowded woods that surrounded her.

How was this happening?

How did this nightmare even come to pass?

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She should've just had come on land for a while, scouted for some food for her and her friend and returned to the rendezvous point.

So, how in the Maker's name was this happening?

A sudden snarl sounded behind her. She turned just in time to dodge out of the way as a two rows of large, yellow teeth jumped at her and ended up meeting with a low branch just inches over her head. She let out a shriek at the sound of powerful teeth ripping out wood but didn't let up in her pace; her body was growing weaker with each slapping footstep, regardless, she continued to push herself forward.

She had to keep going. She had to get out. She had to get back to the ocean. She had to –

The distant sound of waves crashing onto shore and the faint smell of sea salt and water then graced her hearing and smell. For the first time since this horrific chase started, her heart leapt in hope.

The beach. She was getting close to the beach. If she could make it into the waves she would be safe.

Confidence then switched her body to overdrive, she felt herself be filled with newfound energy; the pain in her legs and feet lessened greatly and the sounds of teeth snapping at her heels and loud, hungry barks stabbing into her back began to die down. She felt newfound strength empowering her, allowing her to race across all loose tree knots, random foxholes and leap over any small creeks and rivers like a marathon champion.

She was close. She could see open space leaking sunlight from the edge of the forest. Once she broke through, she would be safe.

She let out a gasp of joy as she practically flew through the brush of trees and into the open air.

She made it through. Everything was going to be okay –

Her happiness came to a screeching halt. Her mind barely registered her body to stop in time before she did so a split second later. Her heart dropped and her blood ran cold at the sight before her.

The sea was definitely before her. To be more specific, it was below her. Way below. At least thirty feet below the small cliff that stood out ominously before her. She could hear the waves and smell the salty air much more clearly now, but it did nothing to comfort her.

If anything, it only amplified her fear.

Her mind drew a blank. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to look over the edge because there was no telling what awaited her below. Provided if she did jump and survive. A horrid shudder ripped through her.

She didn't know what to do, she was trapped.

A horribly familiar growl greeted her from behind. Her heart skipped at least ten beats and it became harder for her to breath.

She whirled around to face her hunter –

RRGUAGH!

RIPPP!

"AAUUGGHH!"

Her side erupted in a freakish blossom of pain and cold; something big, rough and sharp dug deeply into it and refused to let go. She batted at the creature that caused this pain desperately but it refused to budge.

When she felt a course of electricity rush through her body and into her tail, allowing it to explode and strike at the creature, the creature then did let go with something between a snarl and yelp.

Something hot and sticky spurted out her; she instantly pressed her hands to it in a pathetic attempt to stop it. She didn't need to be a super genius to figure out what it was. Blood. The very life source of her being was leaking out of her in heavy spurts. No matter how hard she pressed, she couldn't stop it. She already felt her body growing tired and weak and cold . . . Her vision was starting to grow dotty . . .

She barely even registered the scream of horror as her own when her foot stepped back and met nothing but air.

The grunts and growls of the creature faded into nothing as she began to fall. The wind whistled and howled around her ears and whipped her short hair around her head almost painfully; not that she noticed it.

So this was how it was going to end.

She was going to fall to her death with a bleeding side and sink deep in the ocean. Her own world was going to be her grave.

She barely registered the three things that flew out of her mind before everything went black.

Vince . . .

Somebody . . .

Help . . .

ME: OMG, OH NO! GIRL I THINK WE ALL KNOW, PLEASE! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GO INTO THE LIGHT! DX

Okay, drama aside, I'm so happy I finally got this AU story started; this story has been itchin' at a rather good portion of my mind for months ever since I've seen fan art of Tuff and Cassie done by the fabulous :icondoodlebotbop: over on deviantart. Her work is amazing and beautiful and you will love it and the story that falls behind it! I guarantee it!

This chapter literally took me all of yesterday to write and I'm really happy with how it turned out! I will pray for swift updates and good reviews!

And for the record, I owe none of the characters mentioned, and when certain characters are mentioned, I'll trust that you'll know who they are! Also, I'm gonna make a habit of mentioning song lyrics in this fic but I, and I'm only saying this once; I DO NOT OWE ANY OF THEM!

Anyways, that's enough of my rambling, so please read and enjoy!