Thud!

Jumping down amidst the gentle waves, Devon dragged the limp heavy villain onto shore and bound him securely with thick vines. He wanted answers once Gunz awakened. The authorities would have questions too.

After the adrenaline wore off, Devon assessed his own situation - alone on a remote island miles out to sea with no power left for rushing back. And feasibly no one was aware of his location either.

“Damn, I didn’t bring my phone with me.”

Ideas for getting off the island ran through Devon's mind. Building a raft would take days. No boats travelled out this distance. And swimming himself to mainland with the captive criminal in tow would be suicidal. Devon was well and truly marooned for now.

Resigning himself to the predicament, Devon scavenged provisions - tropical fruits, fresh water. After a meagre lunch, exhaustion finally overtook him. The intense clash had drained Devon totally. He chose a shady patch and quickly slipped into deep slumber, confident that the securely bound Gunz would not trouble him anytime soon.

Hours passed before Devon jerked awake with a startled shout. Dusk was falling over the quiet island. Groggily he wondered what had interrupted his rest. Then a nearby whimper reminded him of the captive.

The unconscious-been criminal had shrunk back down to a withered old man. He was weakly struggling against the vine bonds covering his mouth without much success. Approaching cautiously, Devon peeled the gag away so Gunz could speak.

"Water... please..." Gunz croaked hoarsely, cracking his eyes open. Devon wordlessly brought fresh coconut water and helped the prisoner take small sips until his voice returned. He needed this man lucid.

"What...happened?" Gunz asked between gulps, clearly dazed. "Where is this place?" He seemed oblivious to his monstrous rampage or defeat.

Devon pursed his lips, considering how much to reveal. "Yuh really have no memories when transforming?"

Gunz shook his head. "Only vague nightmares afterwards. Has the beast broken free again?" Dread filled his voice.

"Yeah, yuh cause plenty damage and chaos...even sent two good cops to hospital last time," Devon answered sternly. "But I stop you for now, which made you regressed back to this here." He gestured at Gunz' frail true form.

The prisoner hung his head in shame. "You have my gratitude. And apologies." He met Devon's eyes solemnly. "Whatever wrongs I committed, the blame lies with me alone. The monster has no conscience, just endless rage."

Devon studied the defeated man. "So that’s why you came to this island?”

Gunz smiled bitterly. "You think these cursed powers are a blessing I'd wish to keep?" He held up his bony hands. "This transformation was forced on me by... by evil men seeking to create weapons."

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Seeing Devon's scepticism, he went on. "I was a fool seeking shortcuts to wealth and paid a terrible price. Now there is no place for monsters among upright folk. Isolation and death are my just penance."

The sincerity in Gunz' tone stirred sympathy in Devon's heart. Perhaps this criminal was also a victim of merciless ambition. He knew firsthand how Coco Powers could corrupt the careless or weak-willed. Gunz had clearly lost his way and paid a heavy toll. Could redemption still be possible?

"Well, for now we’re both trapped on this island," Devon said practically. "We should work together and find a way home."

He extended a hand to help Gunz up. After brief hesitation, the skinny prisoner accepted it. They exchanged weary smiles. Trust would have to be earned, but all journeys started with a simple step.

Devon and Gunz fashioned a simple raft from fallen trees and vines. Neither had recovered full strength, so progress was slow. The flimsy vessel looked barely seaworthy, but it would have to suffice. They finished binding the logs together then hauled the crude raft awkwardly towards the shore. It sat low, awash even in the shallows. Devon hoped their combined weight didn't swamp this precarious craft.

"Ready to do this?" he asked Gunz, who stared anxiously out at the open sea they must traverse. Finally the wiry fellow agreed, looking resigned. They had few options.

Together Devon and Gunz pushed off from shore and scrambled atop the bobbing logs. Using broken branches as paddles, they began the long, laborious journey back to the mainland coast.

It was well into the evening by the time the island had shrunk to a dark smudge astern. Beneath the darkening sky, their progress felt painfully slow. Devon's makeshift oar had long since splintered and broken. Now he paddled with cupped hands, fighting to ignore his cramping muscles, cracked lips and rumbling stomach.

Gunz too was clearly exhausted. More than once, Devon had to grab the frail man's shoulder to prevent him toppling into the sea. Their raft sat dangerously low from leaking seawater. But inch by inch, they continued creeping landward. Neither spoke much, conserving their energy and determination. This nightmarish voyage was a test of spirit above all else.

Soon, Devon spotted the hazy outline of Lover’s Beach in the distance. "Nearly...there," he told Gunz hoarsely. The older man just shook his head, not daring to hope until they made landfall.

Currents and momentum were against their crude vessel now. The coastline tantalizingly refused to draw closer despite all their splashing efforts. Glimpsing the shadowy ridgeline of Lover's Beach cliffs ahead, Devon realized with dread they would overshoot it.

Digging deep, he paddled fiercely with Gunz matching his urgent tempo. They had to angle towards those cliffs or risk being swept out to sea. Blood pounded in Devon's ears and leaden arms screamed for rest. Their raft pitched and yawed precariously, eager to toss its passengers into the hungry waves.

But finally, mercifully, a swell caught the waterlogged logs and carried them upwards. Together Devon and Gunz pushed hard as the crest propelled them forward. For a brief moment, the craft hung suspended atop a foaming wavecrest. The craggy cliffs was within reach now.

With a desperate shout, Devon flung himself from the disintegrating raft towards land. He soared recklessly across stones and sand, tumbling head over heels from the momentum. Dazed, Devon forced his jelly-limbed body to crawl further ashore until collapsing face down. He was blinded by grit, blood and tears. But solid ground was the only tonic that mattered now.

When his heart rate and breathing normalized, Devon managed to roll over. The blurry image of Gunz sprawled just above the lapping waves came into focus. The escapee had made the reckless leap too. They were both battered, but miraculously lived to see another dawn.

Euphoria gradually replaced pain and exhaustion. Against all odds, their shared ocean ordeal was survived. Devon gazed up at the emerging night stars in awe. Never had the ordinary sight seemed more beautiful. This gratitude for living was gift enough.

Turning his head, Devon exchanged a weary but relieved smile with Gunz. Words could not convey what they had endured together. Eventually, both lost consciousness due to exhaustion.