8. Sharkie
Date: 4-30-2024
Time: 0712
What should’ve taken close to seven days has taken only six, five of which were oddly satisfying, despite the intense training I put every member through.
Each night I performed the same routine of standing on the deck watching the waves roll until sleep pulled at my lids and a deep baritone voice inside my head called my name and told me I needed to rest. I look at the swinging metal door. I pushed him away, I fought against something beautiful because of my ugly lifestyle.
Most soldiers took to this morning like they hit a second wind. Double checking supplies, going over roles and potential threats. I brush my hand through my shorter than usual hair, the color darker than I prefer since it makes me look washed out.
Half would infiltrate while the other half stayed back. Those tasked with the first had to memorize their aliases to a tee. Karma was just as much a liar as I was in this situation. My alias? Delilah Ballinheart. I was the Sergeant of a small task force in Australia called Greenport and was transferred for dishonorable discharge. I, Delilah, had slept with the Captain, who was married into a wealthy family. The background genuinely confused me until it was explained that Depth only started taking on criminals and lowlifes. And on paper, I now was one. With the new identity and somewhat decent change of appearance it should give me enough time.
Nonetheless, it gave plenty of cover for why most of us were arriving in a boat if we were spotted, and comparing a rank with a shitty background made me a simple acceptance. I'll just have to be quick before my cover is blown, if he sees me, it’s game over. I hope I’ll get to him first. But seriously… Delilah ? Why a goddamn flower? At least Cordelia means ‘daughter of the sea’. I wonder when that water-loving familial trait disappeared for me.
A bitter taste coats my tongue, making my cheeks pinch like I just ate a whole lemon. The thought of throwing up again is enough to sap my energy. It’s hard to think about my parents, especially as I stand at the nose of a boat.
They’d be so proud of you facing your fears.
They would. Their love of being out on the ocean was as strong as their love for me. Their only child.
I step closer to the edge and look at the water. We’re getting closer to land faster than we expected, and that in itself excites me. We’re so close that I’m able to make out a few bodies that line the shore, surely taking in the beauty of the scene.
A thin fog shimmers above the steady roll of waves, glowing ethereally against the small bit of sunlight peeking through the clouds. Birds swoop and create tiny ripples against the water in hopes of their meal. It’s mesmerizing and daunting.
Maybe I should be going over the mission and giving some over-dramatic pep talk to my team, but we’re adults and in all honesty, I’ve prepared this team to the best of my ability—I can only do so much with the hand I was dealt. My stomach turns at the thought, making me clutch at my abdomen. If they fail, it’s my fault. If I fail…
I shake my head and turn away from the water, looking at the door again, chewing at the inside of my cheek. Maybe I was harsh. My feet follow a path of their own accord. Carrying me through the metal barrier, memorizing each step from that night until I’m starting down the flight of stairs.
Daymen hasn’t acted any different. He still smiles and still lingers close, but I know I’m different. The small bit of hope remains that maybe what he said is plausible. I can complete my mission with him, maybe we can try to make something together. I swallow against the stench of lying water. My phone vibrates, distracting me from my spiral. Pulling it from my pocket I place it to my ear whilst I knock on Daymen's door. No answer.
“ Sharkie ?”
Turning the knob I find the room barren. No luggage or movies, a neatly made cot. He’s already preparing. Stepping into the room as I replay my moments with Daymen.
“I’m not doing anything vile.” I answer Karma, I’m still pissed at our last interaction, but I’ll be able to get that out on someone else soon enough.
“Yeah, but you will be soon… enough.” She says cheerfully. Static starts to mingle with her voice making my brows furrow. I go still, pulling my phone from my ear. Everything is quiet. No humming from the engines or chattering from rooms over. We shouldn’t have docked yet.
“Are… still– there?”
My heart pounds in my chest. I don’t like being down here when it’s quiet.
“Yeah. What do you need?” I ask as I walk back into the hall looking to the dark end, dragging my gaze back to the steps.
“I figured… out.”
“What?” My nose scrunches from the pulling of my brows inward.
“Ca… you–me?”
“No, I can't hear you.” I roll my eyes. “Hold on. I'm going up to the deck.”
A loud bang has the steel floor shifting below my feet right when I lift one to move. I freeze, staring at the blank wall not even a few feet from my face. What was that? It’s fine. It's just the incredulous thoughts creeping in that has me on edge. My shoulders shake with my breath as I look to my feet, calming my rising anxiety.
Stepping towards the stairs, splashing sounds echo the corridor. I pause, looking behind me with furrowed brows. It's too dark to make out much besides a single red light on the ceiling. Glancing to my feet, water slowly encircles the souls of my boots.
The walls feel like they’re closing in, the steel panels wrapping around my skin. I turn, bracing my hand against the wall as I rush up the steps. My parents were near the bottom. My foot catches the step making me gasp.
“Daymen!” I yell. Where is he? Why haven’t I seen him?
“ I'm trying–talk to you!” Karma yells.
Another sound rattles the walls beneath my hand making my throat constrict. I can't think or listen to a word she's trying to say as I look back through my stumble and see the dooming liquid slowly chase me up the stairs. I haven’t even inhaled water and yet it feels like it.
“I-I’m listening.”
I didn’t get to tell him. My parents probably held each other. Said their goodbyes. My body collides into another at the top. Hands grasp at my face bringing my focus onto dark irises.
“There you are darlin’.”
“There was an—" I pause drawing in a breath "I think there's a fault in the lower decks.” I flick my gaze over his form, pressing my hand to his chest. The steady beat of his heart increases. He’s safe. Think. “Are the quarters clear?”
He doesn't get to nod fully before the fear of the situation takes hold.
“Lock the doors.” I demand.
“Damn it Cordelia, this is important.”
I shake my head trying to focus on Karma's voice, but I'm too focused on Daymen as he pushes us through a heavy sway of the boat, slamming doors along our way towards the second flight of stairs.
“We need to get on the deck. Don’t worry, I’m okay, you’re okay.”
Are we okay though? Soldiers and deck mates alike scramble through the small hall towards the stairs. I need to get to the top. The logical thing to do is survey the situation and address it but I can't do that when my skin starts to slick with sweat and bodies tumble into my own from another sound quaking the boat. I stumble forward, regaining my footing to realize I no longer feel Daymens touch. The sound of watertight doors locking causes me to look back, but I don't see him over the throws of people.
“Go on! I'll meet you up there."
A stampede floods from the door branching into different areas along the deck. It smells like something’s burning but not like the scent that comes from the funnel. Tell him just tell him. I rip my attention away from the crew hoisting up lifeboats and count my team members in twos trying to ensure everyone is safe. Damn it Karma, hurry up.
“Breach in the hull!”
“We need to abort!”
"Captain, you need to get on a boat!"
I rush towards the nose shaking my head free from the jumbled yelling and pulling away from the hands that try to force me back towards the keel.
“What's happening?”
I can't find any logical explanation besides my worst fear.
“I-I don't know.”
“I found– information…”
“Damn it Karma, I can't hear you right now!” It's too much, I can't focus. The once slightly illuminated sky turns darker. I'm used to having voices in my head, but I'm not used to them echoing off metal planes, vibrating against my eardrums loud enough I think I’ll go deaf.
“Evacuate!”
“Compromised!
When I look around the area, I can't get a proper head count. Everyone is moving too fast in different directions, I’m sure I've counted the same person at least five times. I hold onto the rail attempting to stand on my toes long enough that I can see black hair bouncing over chaos in my direction. Just as I see him, I catch sight of flames forming around the middle of the boat, stretching around the steel.
“Look at me!” Daymen grasps onto my shoulders, shaking my body trying to pull my attention. My gaze drops, lips agape. He tilts his head trying to block the view but it’s useless, I can see each soldier I’d come to know sprinting across the deck. The commander panics trying to reel back up a lifeboat that had fallen from its spot. Crew members have started jumping over the sides. A burst of orange and red throws the swinging metal door off the hinges over our heads.
This is it.
A loud blast follows the large flames expanding from the middle of the boat like a monster crawling to the surface from a dark hole.
My body is launched from the deck, my skin instantly tightening from the unanticipated temperature change, eyes burning from the sting of water that suddenly coats them. I fight against the rush that pulls me under, flailing my legs until I reach the top sucking in a breath of air only to drop back under again.
My mom and dad never stood a chance. At least we made it out of the lower units, but they were trapped with no way out. With the scratch in my throat and my fingers pruning I can only imagine what it felt like knowing they couldn't escape it. What if I end with the same fate?
I break the surface again sucking in a harsh breath, my lungs burn against the salt and smoke that coats them. The voices in my head turn into screams and groaning metal echoing off the water.
“Daymen!” I try to yell only to swallow some water as I flail my arms in an attempt to tread, realizing his hand is still wrapped tightly around my arm. I fight to breathe but it burns. My lip's part but nothing comes out. Just let me apologize. I can fix this. Everything can be okay. I hold onto Daymen's wrist letting the push and pull of his arms against the water guide mine.
Water surges through my nose as his body is abruptly pushed under, pulling me with him. Something large and hard pressed against my abdomen replacing the rippling feeling I had just felt from him. Something pries my hand off. I force my eyes open against the burn to see Daymen holding my hand tight with one hand pushing away at my other as a large panel squeezes its way between us.
Our eyes lock. It’s too dark. My muscles scream in protest as I try to hold onto him, only for him to continue and try and push me off.
Let me help.
I can’t hold my breath much longer, I let go and kick as hard as I can up to the surface as I glance down to him slowly descending trying to wriggle free from the pull.
Don’t leave me too.