Fire

Chapter 1: The Storm

Welcome to the beginning of the adventure, get ready to learn about the world hidden under our very noises.

**

The storm had come out of nowhere, turning the rich blue sky gray. Our small fishing boat would be no match for what nature was brewing. Racing to the deck I stare out at the grayish world trying to spot the shore but it was nowhere in sight.

This was supposed to be a night of peace. All the weather reports indicated clear skies tonight, yet the menacing howl promised otherwise.

The first wave hit the side without warning, jolting the S.S. Montgomery. Catching the railing to prevent myself from falling, I look around the deck for Sam. He was A.W.O.L as usual, presumably below deck. What a wonderful fisherman he claims to be.

The rain started next, pelting the wooden deck lightly at first but quickly gaining momentum. With the rain, the wind came, fast and strong rocking the boat more in the choppy water.

If Sam wasn't going to try and get us to shore I would. Racing up the short flight of steps I grab the wheel. I had no idea how to drive a boat. All the buttons and petals looked the same to me.

Another wave racked the boat tipping us dangerously to the side. I fall out of the cushioned seat sprawling across the deck. It was worst then I thought it be.

"Sam?" I shout, pulling myself off the floor as the boat rolled back up right. Opening the hatch under the seat I fish around for a life jacket. I can swim but i'm no Michael Phelps, especially against an angry ocean.

Fishing around my hand closes around a thick peice of parchment paper. Irritated  I yank out the old time script and unfurl it. Sprawled across the page read,

"I.O.U two life jackets ~Captain Samuel" 

Crumpling up the paper in irritation I throw It across the deck letting the rain smear his sloppy handwriting.

"Samuel-Price Montgomery!" I shout, forcing my way to the door where the bottom deck lied. Struggling against the wind I whip it open and slip inside. In the dim light inside I spot Sam playing Solitaire with homemade cards on the wooden table. Actual cards laid spewed across the ground along with several toppled boxes. Pa was going to kill me if the storm doesn't

The boat jolts again sending me flying against the wall. Sams swears ring out as his cards slide off the table mixing with the other decks. Good maybe that will catch his attention.

"Captain Samuel Where the hell are our life jackets? We're going to drown in the ocean in this storm and I don't know how the hell to drive." I mock his stupid letter.

"Captain...? Oh, shit. I took them out to modify them." Sam curses again, dropping to his hands and knees to try and sort out his treasure from the mess.

"You did what?" I gap at his idiotness, I would have thought after two years in rehab he would have at least gained some common sense such as not going on a boat without flotation devices. "Can you at least guild this death trap back to shore?" I decide to ask again in the hope that maybe he would take our current situation seriously.

Rolling his eyes he stuffs the cards into his jacket and walked past me out of the tomb below the water. I trail after him in exasperation, he was hopeless.

"Why didn't you tell me it was storming?" He demands finding pace in his step as he races over to the steering wheel. I just look at him dumbfounded, did he miss the jostling of our ship down there or is he literally dumber than I thought?

Turning the key the engine stalls. He tries and fails again. "We're screwed." Tossing his arms in the air he just sat there looking at the waves. If he was scared he sure did a hell of a good job covering it up.

"What do we do?" I ask covering my face to try and keep the rain out of my eyes.

"All we can do is wait out the storm." He responds casually, walking over to the deck to get a better look of the raising waves. I stare at him like he'd grown a second head. What type of plan was that?

"We have to do..." The wave rose above our cab flooding the haul. Spitting out salt water Sam lunged at me catching my arm before the pressure could push me overboard.

"We just have to hold on Marcy, thats all we can do." There was the fear he was missing. 

Together we cling to the railing, soak and wet, fighting the waves as they crash more frequently over the boat.

We watch helplessly as the swell gained momentum, growing taller, faster. It rose above our ship before crashing down mercilessly. One moment we are on the deck breathing in the salty air and the next we're in the water, completely at the mercy of the elements.