A Kiss In The Wilderness (TaengSic)

Foreword

 

It was the maiden voyage of Grand Majiko, an enormous luxury ship owned by one of the wealthiest and most influential family of the north.

It was made as a coming-of-age present to their one and only daughter who was celebrating her 20th birthday..

..and that day death had loomed and taken the lives of the unfortunate, changing the life of the one soul that survived.

 ***

The ship swayed violently against the waves of the sea. The heavy rain and strong winds pushed the voyager hard, forcibly shifted its course. The currents pulled it towards the center of destruction. Crews scurried around and took action upon the orders of the calm yet terribly shaken to death Captain. The passengers’ cries of help..of fear, competed against the low yet enormous rumble of the thunder against the dark night skies.

The violent storm continued its’ rage upon the unlucky massive ship. The lightning that covered the skies extended its’ stretch to the crows’ nest, burning the proud flag that it carried along with the unfurled sails that fought hard against the harsh winds even amidst the heavy rain that pounded.

Everyone was supposed to be given that much needed lifevest, but never reached the hands of those unfortunate souls. The safety of the rich, the elites in the highest priority. But sheer terror had driven anyone to go borderline sanity, statuses forgotten, luggage thrown aside.. a boat being the most important, a getaway from the burning ship.

Longboats untied, crews waited alongside, helped those of important families. Panic rising, people jumped in, shook that little hope of getting away. Most of it, fell to the sea, broken in half or in pieces along with the souls that were in it.

The ship struggled against the claiming water, barely holding off.

Another strike.

The foremast unable to withstand, burned, broken and fell forward smashing the helm, control of the ship lost.

The Captain finally gave his last order. “Abandon ship! Abandon ship!”

No other choice but to jump, and so they did. The ship eaten by the raging sea, the poor souls drowned and claimed.

A horrible night to everyone who only intended to enjoy a birthday celebration . Even with the best engineers, crews and Captain, never had once they imagined such mishap.

A tragic night.

***

A couple of tangled luggages somehow managed to keep a limp body from drowning, sinking towards the bottom.

The calm swaying of the sea lulled the body, making the person dizzier than she had imagined.

What has happened the night before? The pain in her head growing, feeling almost as if it had been cut open without any aesthetics.

Reaching her forehead, massaging, only to wince and feel a seemingly thick liquid in her fingers. Looking at it for long, staring and trying to know why and how.

Blood. Bleeding? She was bleeding. A lot. Had it not been of her dry throat, she would have called for someone for help. But she can’t speak or move, nor will she.

Slowly feeling her eyes heavy, her consciousness fading away, barely awake.. barely alive. Barely holding off.

 “Taeyeon!”

 “..Taeyeon! Don’t panic! Kick your legs, keep your head on the surface..”

 “Breathe darling.. stay alive..”

 “Hold on tight! Never let this go. Do you understand?”

 “..Taeyeon..”

 “Taeyeon..hold on..”

 “….don’t let go.”

 “Taeyeon..”

 And the voices finally disappeared.

 Her consciousness slowly being eaten away, her eyes barely opening..seeing the bright surroundings, the light stinging the second she tried to look up. Her head heavy, letting it rest against the white sands. Consuming the last bit of energy, she closed her eyes slowly, taking away the last bit of life she once had the moment her tired eyes closed in and finally succumbing to sleep.