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“You talk to me like that again and I’ll shove you overboard, you maniac.”
“You didn’t say that last night…”
Everyone got quiet – as Will blinked in shock at their mutinous faces staring at each other, only interrupted by Bo’s laughter.
“You didn’t know?” Bo guffawed, slapping his good knee. “Sheesh.”
“You are an idiot,” Marie growled angrily as Jared stood there in the rain, crossing his arms over his chest proudly, not backing down. “I’myouridiot and I thought you told him?”
“Not yet.”
“What in the world is going on?”
“A storm!” Marie snapped hotly as a bolt of lightningcracked loudly in the distance, along with the sound of vomiting was heard in the distance.
“Get Blue out of the brig,” Will ordered, seeing four sets of wide eyes look at him in shock. “We’re not sinking – stop that! He’s due to get out today anyhow and would be much more comfortable puking in his own room than the cell. It’s called ‘being nice’. Get everyone some biscuits or crackers, Shepherd, and break open the Dramamine for anyone that wants it.”
“Let’s get the sails down first…”
“I’m going to need them to outrun that mess…”
“I don’t think we can, and I don’t want to lose the mast…”
“Get the sails down, then the Dramamine, then check on the crew.”
“Marie – get below deck,” Jared snapped as a wave crashed over the railing, drenching them all. It was getting rough quickly.
“Marie – check on Calista for me,” Will barked just as the woman opened her mouth to snap at Jared once more – again drawing four sets of wide eyes in his direction. “Shut up and we’ll talk after this cruise.”
“Will…” Marie began as another wave nearly knocked Bo off his prosthetic limb. The young man grabbed hold of Jared’s arm and was white as a sheet in awareness.
“Bo, get below decks and hop on the radio in my cabin. Radio in that we are going to ride out the storm. Jared and Shepherd, let’s get those sails in quickly. Marie, go see Calista and make sure she knows that she’s safe – please…”
Separating, they set about to work in the treacherous downpour that bandied them about like a top on an uneven surface. Lightning and thunder shook his teeth.
The ocean was a myriad of peaks and valleys,finding each one with the bow of the ship, sending water flying everywhere. Frothy white caps made it look like something out of a movie, yet here there were no stuntmen, no person yelling ‘cut!’. It was a matter of waiting out the storm to pass, or outrunning it.
From his post, Will was struggling to remain standing, and glad he sent everyone below when he did. The roll, pitch, and brutal beating the ship was taking was astonishing. It was as if they slowed in the water, hitting and diving into every wave. The bow of the ship would be pulled upwards like it was weightless, and then slammed down into the next valley hard enough to knock the breath from you. The ship was creaking in an eerie manner, and he knew that every person below deck was probably wearing their life vests without having to be told to – including him.
Will was drenched to the bone, tired, and had never felt so sick to his stomach in his life… which was rare for him. His mind was focused intently on simply getting them through this mess… and he would, because Calista was on board.
He would never let anything happen to her.
Will was positive the crew below decks was going through their own personal version of hell right now, fighting bouts of nausea, fearing for their safety, and probably raining all sorts of curses down upon his head for this. They would be lucky if they didn’t sustain any damage from the abuse the ship was taking. Calista was probably catatonic in her fear right now, but he couldn’t help her.
They had to get to safety first.
12YA’ LANDLUBBERS…
CALISTA
I’m gonna die…she thought in horrified panic as she was flung out of her bunk bodily onto the floor, expecting to land in water.
The entire ship was rolling violently, chucking her hard against the trunk, before sliding her down the wood flooring painfully. There would be splinters to remove from her limbs. Managing to get to her knees, she swayed with the next roll and winced as the water sloshed out of her washbasin – and the pitcher clanged loudly onto the floor.
She struggled to get to her feet, grasping at whatever handholds she could find… only to see a slosh of water come under her door – causing her to seize in place.
They were sinking!
