The life of Nusi

Chapter 22 The Storm

Two months have already passed in the blink of an eye. Warm sunny days and cool starry nights are the normal out here. The bell tolls four times, but Uncle and Heejin don't even look up. Time for them out here means nothing. They only know sunrises and sunsets. The only time they snap back into modern life is when it's time to check in on Nusi.The crew is busy sailing the ship.The captain walked over to Uncle and said, "We have a slight problem,  it seems we have lost all power to the ship. Uncle smiled and said, "That's fine. This is a sailing ship, now isn't it. Yes, Sir, the captain said with a smile. With that, the captain started barking out orders to the crew as they snapped into shape. Sail went up, ropes were being pulled, as the crew began to sing a sea shanty. The crew looked like they were born for this. Heejin walked up on deck and asked Uncle, "What's going on? There seems to be a problem with the engine, so we have to sail the old-fashioned way, Uncle said. Heejin smiled and kissed Uncle as she felt the cool wind rush pass her face. From the crows nest, a crew mate was yelling and pointing at something. What's he pointing at? Heejin asked Uncle. I'm not sure, Uncle said back, but I will find out. Uncle walked over to the captain and asked what the man was pointing at. It's just an old superstition, the captain said. There's nothing to worry about, he said again, but Uncle noticed the worried look in his eyes. Uncle went back to Heejin and told her the captain said there was nothing to worry about . Then Uncle added, "I'm not so sure about that. Why?Heejin asked. Just the look in his eyes. Uncle said as he kissed her forehead. As the evening came,  Uncle noticed that the captain had changed the course. They were now heading northeast. Why did you change the course?Uncle asked the captain. Since we have lost powers, none of our equipment is working, so we don't know which way the storm is moving, and we can't seem to get any signal on our phones.He said.We are sailing just like they did back in the day, he said with a smile. By the look of the clouds and the direction of the wind, I think our best course is northeast, to outrun the storm. He said again. I haven't seen a storm front like that since I was a young deck hand, and we lost ten men that night, he said in a low voice. We should be able to outpace it if we stay true to our new course, he said. Hey, don't you worry, this ship has a great crew, and she is a great ship, so go enjoy yourself with your new wife and let me do the sailing. He said again, then pushed Uncle towards his state room . As the night passed,Uncle and Heejin could feel the pitch of the ship. The ship seemed to go up, then crash back down, over and over. The sound of the wind screamed outside their cabin windows. One minute, you could see storm clouds, and the next minute, the windows were under water. The creaking of the ship rang in their ears.Im going up to see what's going on, Uncle said to Heejin. At that moment, Uncle and Heejin were thrown across the room.If not for the bed, they both would have smashed into the wall. After a long few seconds, the ship righted itself. Uncle went to the closet and grabbed the life jackets.Here put this on he said to Heejin as he put his on. Do you think it's that bad? Heejin said, looking scared. I'm not sure, but it doesn't hurt to be safe, Uncle said. I'm heading up on deck to see what's up. You stay here, Uncle said to Heejin. Oh fuck that, Heejin said as she followed Uncle up the steps. They climbed the steps, bracing themselves as they went, until they reached the door. Uncle pulled the door open and stepped out. Heejin was right behind him. What they saw was terrifying, to say the least. The sky was an angry black and grey, lighten was striking the fifty to sixty foot wave crashing all around them. The wind made it impossible to stand, let alone hear anything. The ship pitched up and down into the waves, but it wasn't heading into the wind. The ship wasn't heading in any direction. It seemed to be at the mercy of the wind. Who's at the helm? Uncle yelled to Heejin. Heejin looked up and back towards the helm and couldn't believe what she saw. NO ONE! She yelled to Uncle. They both looked around and realized there was no crew. The life boats were still there. Just then, a huge,at least seventy foot wave hit the ship on its port side. Uncle and Heejin were thrown to the deck rail. If not for Heejin grabbing a line that was hanging from a sail, they both would have gone overboard. That's what happened to the crew, "Heejin yelled to Uncle. A wave, she yelled again. I think you are right, Uncle said as another wave smashed into the starboard side of the ship this time, sending Heejin and Uncle flying across the deck to the other deck rail. With a snap, the top of the mast came swinging down towards them. Uncle covered Heejin with his body as it crashed through the deck rail next to them. That was too close. Heejin yelled to Uncle. Uncle was picked up, and his back was slammed against the deck rail where the mast went through. Heejin crawled over to him. WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT! She screamed at him. Uncle, with a peaceful look on his face, took off his wedding ring and put it on Heejin's finger. He then took off his necklace and placed it around her neck. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING! Heejin screamed. I love you he said, as he kissed her. Heejin frantically looked over Uncle, and there it was, BLOOD, lots of blood. She moved his hands, that were covering his stomach to reveal a huge piece of the mast. It had gone right through him. The other end of the mast was in the water, with ropes still intrangled on them. OH MY GOD! She screamed. Each time the ship rose up from a wave, it ripped Uncle a little more. WHAT DO I DO? Heejin screamed. Uncle reached his arms out to her and said, "Hug me. Heejin threw her arms around Uncle as she cried uncontrollably. Sshhh, he said to her, it will be ok." OK! She screamed. HOW WILL IT BE OK? Uncle closed his eyes, and Heejin screamed at him, HEY! DON'T YOU DIE ON ME! Uncle opened his eyes and looked at her with a sad look, then he said, "I really wanted to see our baby grow up. WHAT! Heejin screamed. STOP TALKING NONSENSE! WE CAN'T HAVE BABBIES, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIE! Heejin screamed again. I WON'T LET YOU DIE! I WON'T! Heejin hugged him even harder as she pressed her head to his. From behind her, she saw a wave so tall that it towered over the entire ship. This is it my love, "she said in his ear." we will die together as she closed her eyes. Uncle, in a low voice, said to her, "Don't be afraid of her when she comes. Heejin said, "WHAT! WHO! OPEN YOUR EYES! His eyes opened as he looked into her eyes and said, "You protect Nusi, and she will protect you and Soo Yeon. WHAT? WHO THE FUCK IS SOO YEON? She screamed. Uncle never said another word after that to her. He just looked deeply into her eyes. Just as the giant wave was about to break over the ship, everything stopped. A brilliant golden light appeared from the front of the ship. Heejin thought, I must be dead. Then the sound of wood cracking and creaking filled the now silent night. The figurehead of the ship broke loose and was floating towards her. It stopped once it reached Heejin and Uncle. Looking up,Heejin couldn't help but notice its clear blue eyes staring down at her and Uncle. A yellowish golden light surrounded it as it hovered over them. You have done well, Timothy, my child. Soon, your suffering will be forgotten, and you will walk with me for eternity. The figurehead reached down and gently  touched Uncles head. Come Timothy , your job is finished, and your pain is gone. With that Uncles body went limp, he was gone. TIMOTHY? WHO IS TIMOTHY? AND WHO OR WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU? Heejin screamed. take my hand child, my time here is short, it said to Heejin. NO!Heejin screamed, "I WON'T LEAVE HIM! She screamed again. Timothy told you not to fear me, NOW TAKE MY HAND! It said, and this time in a voice that made the clouds shake. Heejin reached out and took its hand. Immediately, they were above the ship, watching the huge wave crash down on it, breaking the ship in half. Heejin watched with tears in her eyes as the ship and Uncle slipped under the waves. The figurehead touched Heejins forehead, and she saw and knew all that Uncle had ever seen and knew, then she faded into darkness. When she awoke, she was lying on a beach with small waves washing over her toes. The sun hurt her eyes as she looked around. She was alone. Then, the whole night came back to her in a rush. Was it a dream, she thought. Am I still dreaming? She thought again. She stumbled up the beach, screaming for someone to help her. Then she fell. Sand in her face, knees  cut and hurting, and a sharp pain in her hand. She looked down at her hand and  saw she had a piece of wood stuck in it. She picked herself up but fell back on something. She sat up to see what it was. It was Uncles lifeless body, still tangled in the ropes with the hole in his stomach. Crabs were crawling all over him. NNNNOOOOO! Heejin screamed as she flicked the crabs away. Just then, from behind her, a man picked her up and said, "Search and  Rescue  madam, are you injured? What? Heejin said in a surprised voice. Are you injured? The man said again. No,I don't think so. With that, two other men covered her in a blanket and took her to a helicopter.Before she could say another word, they were flying away from the island. Heejin looked down one last time before she blacked out.