SFSD-X Smackdown Challenge ✔️

1.3 The Endless Summer Of Love (Prisoner)

3 - Prisoner

The inside of the ship was still almost covered in complete darkness when Eureko regained consciousness. Only a red neon light from an exit sign flickered over a doorway, adding a dim surreal glow with an eerie touch. His head was pounding and something sticky was on his lips which proved to be blood when he ran his tongue over it. As soon as he moved, pain stabbed at this chest. He balled his fingers to fists and wiggled his toes, these parts of his body were functioning without any issues.

There was absolute silence. He laid still, trying to catch a sound of another live form - a breath, moan, anything - but nothing broke through the stillness. Only a cold breeze drifted through the ship, giving Eureko goosebumps. His breath turned to a fine mist and obscured temporarily his vision every time he exhaled.

"Captain, are you there?" His throat was raw and hurt when he called out. "Anyone? Can you hear me?"

His questions were not answered. Other than the low howling of the Antarctic winds, there was no sound. Eureko had never been a scared man but this was even too much for him. He didn't sign up for being stranded on an unknown island in the middle of the ocean far below the 60th parallel south. This was supposed to be a research expedition with soldiers assigned for his protection and not some lone ranger mission. For all he knew, the inhabitants of this island could be cannibals. They had been isolated for hundreds of years, totally oblivious to the global warfare that had left the planet in a total mess, and they could be capable of anything.

Somehow, he had to get himself to safety before he was detected. With much effort, he rolled onto his stomach, ignoring the sharp stabs to his chest. Slowly, he began crawling toward the flickering neon sign. The pain seared through his body, temporarily taking his breath away, and he halted in between to wipe the sweat from his forehead. A constant metallic taste was in his mouth and when he looked down, he realized a smeared trail of blood droplets were following him.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally reached the door and managed to push it open. Bright light blinded him and he squinted until his eyes adjusted. Sucking in a deep breath, he scanned his surroundings. Flat plains, totally covered by impeccable white snow stretched all the way to his left until being cut off by far away mountains, towering in the distant. To this right, there is nothing but the deep blue sea. In front of him, a dark pebbled beach with lava rocks cut between the plains and the water and ran on as far as he could see.

The screech of a large albatross startled him and he edged back until the pain whipped his last strength away. A small shout escaped his lips when his torso hit the ground. Fortunately, it was covered with a thick lawyer of snow, catching him like a soft blanket but it still hurt like hell. He allowed the cooling feeling to take over, temporarily easing the throbbing ache.

A cackling sound caused his head to snap sideways and he stared right into the piercing black eyes of a penguin. On a nest of rocks, he stretched upwards, his head pointed to the sky, and he waved his wings back and forth. The black upper side alternated with the lower white side of his flippers and Eureko closed his eyes, the flickering effect making him dizzy.

"Shu," he shouted. "Get away from me."

His firm command didn't rattle the penguin and he continued his display. Eureko buried his cheek into the snow, ready to give up. He had no strength left and would freeze to death in a matter of hours.

Suddenly, the penguin stopped and after a second of hesitation, waddled towards the water. Eureko soon realized that he felt threatened when the humming of several engines broke through the silence. The noise was getting closer and for a moment, he wanted to retreat into the ship but didn't even have enough strength left to get back on his hands and knees. Totally helpless, he waited for either friend or enemy to arrive. At that moment, he didn't have a preference, all he wanted was to go home which seemed an improbable possibility.