Stranded

The Wreck

A/N
So as this is my first story written in this fashion, please excuse any mistakes I make. I'm hoping I'll get better as I go along, lol :)
So sit back and enjoy my first chapter, for I plan to put special effort in this book to try and make it interesting!
Don't that water up there look inviting? 😅

I sit in my cabin writing in my diary. The ship shifts gently from side to side, sliding a lantern back and forth across the wooden table next to my bunk. The bed is not extremely comfortable, and definitely does not compare to the comfort I am used to at home. With a thin feather mattress as the only thing between me and the rough boards, my backside has begun to grow sore.
It is day five of my journey across the sea, and I have thankfully overcome the seasickness I felt on the first day. There's nothing like having an upset stomach to make your day just that much better, right?
The captain of the ship- an elderly gentleman by name of Joe Peterson- has assured me that we will be in the Bahamas in a solid ten days. I for one cannot wait to relax in a beach chair with a good book. You see, I live on an island in practically the middle of nowhere, and the only way to leave it is by boat.
The S. S. Lightning is supposedly one of the finest, first class yachts around, even with a stupid name like that. You'd think for a first class yacht they'd at least give you a comfortable bed to sleep on, but anyway...
The captain has also informed me that they are having trouble with the electricity, so that is the cause for my lantern. But back to what I was speaking of before.
My family comes from a long line of royalty, my dad being a duke and mom a duchess. I suppose I am a duchess as well, and I am certainly treated as such back home. My parents decided I needed a break from palace life, and have shipped me off the the Bahamas for a leisurely vacation, in honor of my eighteenth birthday.
I decide to take a stroll on the deck, and open my bedroom door. It is part of a fancy suite with three rooms, despite the fact that the bed looks like something off of a pirate ship. It is a quiet night, but there is something on the air that makes my spine quiver. I lean against the railing on the large deck, breathing in deeply. The smell of salt makes my nose tingle and a slight breeze ruffles my auburn hair, pulled back into a neat bun.
I am told that there are other passengers, but I've no interest in meeting them as they are most likely all beneath me. You see, I have been bombarded with reporters everywhere I go due to an issue in my country, and I suppose dad wanted me to take the yacht (as opposed to something nicer) in hopes that no one will bother me.
I hear someone whistling and I turn my head to see. A young man about my age steps out onto the deck, his eyes scanning the surroundings before stopping on me. I turn to face the sea, marveling at its beauty. I wonder why it is always moving, what makes it blue, etc, etc.
Before I can think up another thing to puzzle over, I feel a presence beside me and the young man is standing at my shoulder. I step back in apprehension, turning to look him full in the face.
"Was there something you needed?" I ask, more as a way to get him to back up than as if I really cared what he needed.
"West Myers, at your service," he grins, making a little bow and removing his cap for an instant.
Really! We are not in the 1800's, I think to myself disdainfully, before replying,
"That's interesting."
He grins at me again, and somehow it irritates me. I ignore his outstretched hand and move to return to my room before he speaks again.
"You won't shake my hand?"
"No."
"Very well," he replies with a chuckle, leaning against the railing.
I can feel his blue eyes on me as I walk back into the hallway, hurrying to my room. I slow down before I get there, and glance back towards the door.
I shouldn't have been so rude to him, I think to myself hesitantly, before brushing it off and opening the door to my suite. I collapse onto my bed, regretting this move instantly as the mattress barely gives and I feel as though I just dove onto the marble floor of the palace.
My last waking thought is about people. I am not used to talking with strangers, and I realize that I don't even have any friends at home. People have never seemed to like me for some reason, perhaps it is because of my tendency to judge them instantly, and how quick I am to criticize. I often speak before thinking, and sometimes it gets me into trouble...
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Sometime in the night I am awakened by a crash of thunder, shaking me in my bunk. I realize even in my sleep-clouded mind that the yacht is rocking rather violently, and when a flash of lightning illuminates my room I see my stuff strewn about everywhere.
I can hear faint shouting from somewhere above me, and I sit up groggily, pushing my hair out of my face. Pulling on a sweatshirt and some leggings, (yes, we do have comfortable clothes at the palace) I head to the door.
Suddenly boat lurches forward, and I am thrown violently against the door, smacking my head against it. I fall backwards with a shriek, rolling over on the carpet before everything goes black...
                                       *****
Sometime later I open my eyes, unsure of where I am. Nothing seems to make sense except the sharp pains in my temples. I put a hand to my head and feel something sticky. I must have cut it when I hit the door.
As my mind begins to clear, I am suddenly aware of loud crashes of thunder and something rocking the ship violently from side to side...
Water... WATER!
I jerk to a sitting position, ignoring the pain in my head, and realize that I am sitting in about a foot of water. I hurry to get on my feet and clutch at the table for support. This does not go well as the table is sliding to and fro across the floor. Hurriedly I grab a few things from the dresser and shove them into a backpack, slinging it over my shoulders. My mind is racing as I try and calculate my next move.
Suddenly the door bangs open and the young man from the deck is standing there, soaked to the skin. He reaches towards me and grabs my hand, his eyes determined and his jaw set.
"What's happening!?" I cry as we run (or swim, rather) down the hallway.
"She's going down!" He yells back, tightening his grip on my hand as he pulls me along.
I notice the fear in his eyes as he glances back at me, and what he just said suddenly registers.

The ship is sinking!

A/N
And that's the end of the first chapter! Hope someone is reading this and that you enjoyed it! I certainly had fun writing it! Vote and comment on what you think should happen next, and if you like the story so far....
On to the next chapter!