“Where the hell have you been!” My dad’s face was contorted into rage. He was gripping his Beretta and that is when I officially new the danger of the situation was real. Somehow I knew it was kill or be killed. Ben pushed past my father and set me on the bed.
“Dad…we just fell asleep and…” my words were about to have a head on collision. I didn’t know how to explain to him that I wasn’t having sex.
“That’s not important, we’re just glad you’re okay.” My mother interrupted. Ben went over to Warren asking for a change of shirt.
“Ben, do you know how to use a gun?” My dad said, forcing a knife into my palm. “When dem attack, cut dem throat.” I dropped the knife and closed my eyes to breathe, to shake the old woman’s voice out of my head. Just a coincidence I thought.
“We need to get off this ship.” I whispered.
“What?” My mom asked.
“We need. To.” I took a hard breath. “Get off this ship!” I couldn’t control myself. People were going to die, and I didn’t want any of them to be my people. I looked up at GG she looked just as spooked as me. She was gripping an object, similar to a bat. My dad’s flashlight. Black and heavy, it was the same brand flash light cops used.
“Shhh…” Warren stared out the window, “Did you hear that?”
There was a loud and slow whine coming from the ship—almost like the sound of a whale. And then a cracking noise and then the ship shifted and tilted, we were all slightly thrown off balance.
“Let’s go.” Dad said.
“Life jacket.” Ben went over to the closet and pulled out two jackets, throwing one onto the bed and the other one he shoved me into. My dad and mom went into their room through the adjoining door and returned with four more jackets. We were all wearing bright orange vests when we left the room.
Ben took the gun my father handed him—I didn’t know how he managed to bring guns on-board, though it didn’t surprise me. My dad was an ex Navy Seal, he went no where without his gun. He’s probably seen a pirate or two in his life…
Chapter 12
“Women and children first!” A man with a bull horn announced over the frantic crowd. Flood lights—bright—blinded me for seconds while I anxiously scanned the crowd. Somehow water had made it on deck, I didn’t want to know how, but I felt it seeping through my sneakers. I inhaled. GG reached for my hand and squeezed the life out of it. I glanced at her, and saw streams of black slowly rolling down her tan cheeks as she eyed me from the corner of her eye. She was probably about as afraid as me.
“We’ll be alright.” I lied. Not that she would believe me with my tear stained face.
My chest rose hard and fell even harder, we were on a sinking ship—being attacked by God knows who…I turned and keeled over into the wall. My legs were not cooperating. I pumped my inhaler into my mouth, resting my head against the cool surface.
“I can’t do this…” I whispered slowly, sinking to the wet floor. This wasn’t happening. This doesn’t happen. Why is this happening? Fear rushed over me like a wave set out for certain death. My death. I would never graduate, never marry, never have kids…I felt a hard grip on my shoulders and I was being yanked up and spun around.
“Eva Maia Washington, get your ass up! We don’t have time for this stand up!” My dad shook me, my chest heaved out a lung full of air. “Get it together! You know better…survive. Get your ass up and survive!” He shook me again and I nodded my head. He was right… “Get. It. Together. Now!” He barked, pointing a long thick finger in my face, his hard eyes and pinched lips finished his message. “Do. You. Understand?”
I nodded, quickly coming out of my coma. “Okay, okay, okay…” I breathed and shoved my inhaler in my waist purse and gripped the knife, tucked at my back, in my shorts, “okay Daddy.” I grabbed GG’s hand again.
Vivian ran her hands over my face and whispered, “We’ll be okay.” Starring into her troubled eyes, I nodded, tears continued to erupt from mine. I gave her my knife so that I could take a hit from my inhaler, as my emotions rose and fell unstably. My inhaler was my crutch in crisis. I sucked in the medicine as if it would get me safely off this boat, as if it filled my body with vapors of courage. It was all I knew to do to remain calm. I closed my eyes for awhile, and then opened them to search for Ben, and Warren, who were sent on a mission by my dad while he stayed with us, and kept guard. He was back in position, looking from left to right, his hand clutched around his 9, hidden behind his back. I just prayed he didn’t have to use it.
“Mr. Washington! This way,” Ben’s hand was under my arm, pulling me to the right.
“Where is Warren?” I asked.
“Over here.” He continued pulling me. I glanced behind me to see my parents following, my dad protectively at my mom’s and GG’s side like a mobile barricade.
We had just broken free of the crowd when the ship shifted again, but not enough to throw our balance. My heart rattled, pounding against my ribs, and I began panting when I heard the whine of the distressed ship echo into the dark sky, along with the ring of shots that were being fired on the opposite side of the ship. I kept moving till we found my brother staring over the edge of the banister, down into the water.
Ben and Warren found a boat, only problem, it was already in the water.
“We can jump.” Ben said. I looked at him in disbelief.
“Do you see how far down that is?” I nodded my head fervently, “I can’t…” stepping away from the group, there was no way, I’d never survive.
“You will.” My dad reached for me forcing me back into the circle. He was using his militant voice. He walked over to the banister and stared down into the water. “Any activity?”
“No, we lowered it. I don’t think anyone saw us, should be safe.” Warren said. He reached for GG, wrapping her in his arms she was trembling uncontrollably.
“Why would you lower it?” My stomach sank. All I could do was think of the drop down…the impact of the water. The water.
“We needed a boat. If it were still tied up here, we would be stuck fighting for one with everyone else.” Ben said.
“Good thinking.” My dad laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. I disagreed, whole heartedly. “Your mother and I will go first. Eva and Ben, next and then Warren and GG. Eva, I’ll be down there, I will not let you drown. Okay? Crossed arms over chest,” he made the gesture over his own chest, “legs locked, eyes closed.” I shook my head thinking about the impact of the water. I snatched my arm from Ben’s grip—tears purged from my eyes, everything was blurry, I couldn’t stop them. My mother and father climbed over the banister—I couldn’t watch so I turned my head.
“We’re next.” Ben said, gripping my hand but I didn’t move.
“I can’t. I can’t do it.” He climbed over and held his hand out to me.
“Just like cliff diving.” I shook my head, I would never go near a cliff just to jump into water. I began to back away, but Warren kept me from moving. “We are wearing vests, nobody is gonna drown. We will be okay.”
“Eva. We don’t have…”
“Hey! Hey!” I looked up, and someone was running toward us, arms raised in protest. “They found a boat!” The woman shouted. Then suddenly a bunch of people were running toward us. GG and Warren climbed over the banister and suddenly it was a race to get to the boat.
Ben gripped my hand and I stumbled clumsily over the banister, trying to breathe. “I won’t let you go, okay? We will be fine, this is in my control.” I stared into his dark blues—still a shadow of dement over his eyes—and nodded.
“I trust you.” I croaked. The wells of my eyes were spilling over.
“Ready? Jump!” Warren shouted.
Have you ever been on a really high drop on a roller coaster? It wasn’t like that. It was a thousand times scarier, no security bar ensuring your safety, just air, whipping up and around you, stomach in a whirl of upheaval, and then the pain of water breaking your fall. It was like being slammed into a wall, there was st
inging and a jolt that shot through my bones. You would think water supplied a gentle landing—no—it was harsh and hurt like hell! It was like I was slapped with a giant iron hand.
Water pushed up my nose—more like a punch in the nose—at least the water was somewhat warm. I viciously kicked my feet until I felt a tug upwards. I kept my eyes squeezed shut till I felt the break of air across my face. I gasped like a fish out of water and choked. I was being lifted into the boat, pulled by my father, pushed by Ben who followed after. Warren and GG were already inside and had shed their safety vest, Ben and I did the same.
My dad and Warren didn’t waste any time, it was raining bodies—people who wanted in our boat. They began paddling. The people who had jumped in after us began swimming toward us.
“Viv, take the gun and aim. Eva you keep your vest on.”
“Robert, I’m not killing anyone!” She yelled in a manic tone. Sprinkles of water pelted my face while she shook her head in protest.
“Just scare them. Shoot one into the air. That ought to keep them away.”
“Dad, shouldn’t we help?” I asked, tightening my vest, thinking of how much help I wouldn’t be.
“No time to help. Look at that ship, it’s going down.” I glanced up at the big ocean liner, he was right; the ship was turning into a “V.” It was somehow cracked down the middle or something, I couldn’t figure it out. People were jumping over the edge of the ship. The white emergency boats were finally hitting the water, filled with people…It was terrible—screams, crying, frantic yells—children. I felt guilty and relieved all the same, my family was safe, so far. But what about them? I hugged my knees and prayed for rescue, for safety of everyone, though I knew that was unrealistic. Some had to die.
My mother fired one off into the air, and shouted in a shaky voice, “get back!” A sob spewed from her lips. She knew a lot of people would die tonight. Guilt filled me again. But what could we do? “I’m sorry.” She whispered, “so sorry.” She fell into a sitting position. I crawled forward, squeezing past my dad and rubbed her back.
“It’s okay. Mom, there’s nothing we can do.” I shivered. My wet clothes were chilled and the cold was seeping through my flesh, touching my bones. I peered out into the dark water. It was completely black, like ink, like death. I looked away and continued to rub Viv’s back.
“I know, Baby. I don’t understand why this is happening. This trip…it wasn’t supposed to be like this.” She shook her head. I licked my salty lips where the water from her shaking head landed.
Robert instructed Ben into position in the small boat. Ben guarded the back while Warren continued to row and my dad sat at the front. I glanced out at those who were trying to escape in their little white boats. Angels slowly drifting through hell.
Only five minutes into our escape, only five minutes…
“Where ya goin?” I looked over to the left side of the edge of the boat, where a man’s head was sticking out of the water. His hair glistened under the moon light. His skin was obviously dark, because he was only just visible. I had to strain my eyes to see his face. He may have had a goatee or a beard or something. His lips parted slowly flashing a glimpse of white.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no room on this boat, we can’t let you on, so let go of the paddle man.” Warren tugged on the paddle, “looks like they may have room there.” He pointed. “Get away, man.” He made a shooing motion with his hand toward the ship, where cries and screams still echoed into the humid air. Like father like son, his mission was his own personal safety. Survival.
“Surface Creature,” surface creature? His accent was thick—filled with island tongue, so creature was “creacha.” “It is you that I want.”
“Huh?”
“Warren, let go of the paddle! Mom, Ben, someone shoot him!” Too late, I lunged for my brother, but the man yanked on the paddle, Warren was jerked forward and the strange man yanked on his arms and he was gone. My brother was gone.
Chapter 13
“Warren!” GG, shot up, we all stood up, rocking the boat—almost stumbling into the water ourselves. I clutched at my chest, mouth hanging open. I tried to move to do something anything, breathe, I thought, breathe. GG yelled again, “Warren!” and her voice blinked me back into awareness.
Without warning my dad ripped his vest off and dove in, barely making a splash. We yelled, shouted, screamed for them as if that would magically make them appear. Ben was the only calm one, he aimed the gun at the water, waiting like a sniper for his target.
“Don’t shoot, you can’t see.”
“I know what I’m doing, Eva.” Just then a boat, with a bright light rounded the sinking ship. A man on a bull horn yelled for us to remain calm. Right, calm.
We waited, it may have been one minute, but that minute felt like forever when my father surfaced with my brother in tow. They both climbed into the boat.
“Dad…”
“I don’t know.” Dad stood in the middle of the boat—superman stance—hands on hips, chest out, rising and falling heavily. His brow pressed down over his eyes. “Something isn’t right here.” Peering out into the water. “They were too fast.”
“What do you mean?” I asked along with everyone else.
“I don’t know, I couldn’t exactly see. Viv, give me the gun.” He took the gun, “Everyone back into position, ladies you huddle in the middle…GG?” He said her name as if he’d just had an epiphany. “The flashlight.”
“Flashlight?” GG was in a sort of daze so I snatched it from her hand and pushed the smooth rubber button.
I saw the mistake my mother made instantly, she leaned onto the edge of the boat with her hand for support—an arm reached out of the water and fastened to her wrist, yanking her halfway into the water. Her legs kicked up into the air and the weight of her body slammed down onto the edge of the boat. I knew she’d have a mean bruise on the side of her body just under her arm.
“Robert!” Her left hand was clenched to the boat, she struggled to hold on. I flashed the light into the water where Mom was being pulled in. “Robert!” She yelled frantically.
It was the same man, sleek black wavy hair, dark skin and as I guessed he had a goatee. His eyes were big and black and wild. I couldn’t look away. I just sat there unmoved, staring.
A shot rang out. I snapped out of my stupor and looked back. Ben.
He hit the wild man. I turned around, the man’s head fell back and he made some sort of call, like a dolphin call? And he went under.
Ben slowly sank down into a sitting position, shaking his head. Running his free hand through his hair.
“Stand up.” My father instructed Ben. “This isn’t over…” While Warren paddled, I used the light to scan the water for my Dad and Ben who stood guard.
“Over there.” I pointed, I saw something emerge from the water and immediately back under. “There. Right there!” I ran the light over the water and realized that we were being surrounded. Bodies rolled through the water, weaving in and out of it like dolphins. “Daddy…Daddy. They’re surrounding us.” I whispered.
“Everyone, stay calm…” My dad said. I clutched at my chest to control my breathing. Warren continued paddling. I reached for the knife; it was laid next to my mom and tucked it at my back into my shorts. Please God…
A premonition of silence fell. Something was ready to go terribly wrong. No movement in the water…the Coast Guard still coming toward us. The low purr of the engine was the only sound I heard with faint yells in the background near the ship. My heavy heart thumped. My breathing shallow. I waited. We waited…
A single tear rolled down my cheek as…
A grunt and a heavy clatter against the floor of the boat caught my attention. I glanced back and saw a gun on the floor. Ben stumble forward, his hands at his chest—blood, blood, stained his white shirt. “Ben?” I dropped the flashlight and crawled toward him, he leaned backward—something was sticking out of his chest…”Ben!” I stretched to reach for anything on
him I could grasp. “Please…” I caught his shoe as it slid of his foot—I grasped at invisible air as he went falling back, over the edge of the boat and into the water. The splash…”Ben,” I mumbled, my heart ended, my shoulders slumped and then a drop of water hit me square in the eye. I blinked and it was as if a light bulb turned on in my head. In an instant I jumped up…
“Eva, what are you doing?” I ignored the voices, screaming my name. “Eva!” I ignored the fear that pleaded me stop. “Robert! Robert stop her!” My wrist slipped through his grasp. Everything seemed in slow motion. Me ripping free from hands, my heart thudding in my chest, bouncing off my ears, pulsing in my head. Tears dribbling down my cheeks. I couldn’t leave him.
“Ben!” The rip, slowly parted my heart. I had to save him. I tore the vest from my body. I pulled out the knife tucked in my shorts and when I reached the end of the boat, I jumped—diving in head first.
Chapter 14
The water was warm—I was close to frozen sitting on the boat in soaked clothes. It was dark, and I couldn’t see anything. I kicked my feet, parting the water with my hands holding tight to the knife in my right. I had about a minute and 30 seconds to find him. He fortunately was wearing a white shirt, and I thanked God in my head, that I vomited on his dark blue shirt earlier, because I spotted him immediately.
I kicked, and kicked, and kicked.
When I reached him, one of the wild men, was dragging him down. I reached and caught Ben’s hand and yanked, trying to swim upwards. The wild man turned and his eyes were glowing, violet. I don’t know how but they were visible in the dark water. I swallowed my heart.
I cocked my right hand up and didn’t think about what I did next. I swam down toward the man, he grabbed my neck with icy fingers, and I lodged the knife into his throat. He released me and I caught Ben, wrapping my arm around his neck and arm pit in a rescue position. I kicked my feet, and kicked, and kicked.
Time was running out, and I needed air. Ben needed air.
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