Drift

Chapter 4

Long after the day wrapped up, everybody began to head into their rooms. There were altogether 4 bedrooms in the yacht, all of them on the 4th deck. One of them was huge, with several bunk beds for the crew. The two girls, Lia and Ivy, got the room all the way in the back on the right, while the two boys, Ben and Willis, got the one opposite. Rich and Symone got the last one, (which, honestly, was quite a bit nicer.)

The group had just finished discussing where they were in the ocean, how much longer the trip would be, and things like that. They were getting near the Florida Keys, and they wanted to go snorkeling once they were there.

" I can't believe we left like the top of the state a few days ago, and now we're literally about to be passing by Miami," Ben said to Lia as they headed down the corridor to their rooms. "It feels like we've only been out like a day or two."

"You know what they say, Ben. 'Time flies by when you're having fun,'" Ivy said smiling behind them and inserted herself into the conversation. "Um... yeeeep..." Ben stuttered awkwardly and his voice cracked pretty badly. He never could quite figure out how to socialize like a normal person when Ivy was around. Literally ever. Everyone knew he liked her. Everyone but her, of course. She just thought he was awkward and quiet in general, like it was normal for him. She didn't know he was only that way around her. She liked him anyways, though.

Lia subtly elbowed Ben, chuckling. She just got an absolute kick out of seeing Ben around girls, but especially Ivy. He had liked her for quite a while now, and it was fairly obvious to everyone who knew them both that he wouldn't get rejected if he confessed to her.

Everybody was wondering about Ben, and if he would ever say anything to Ivy... ever. Then, all of the sudden, the ship shuddered. It vibrated, as if a shock wave just went through it. As the vibrating wore off, an overpowering billowing sound took hold of the interior of the ship. Another sound overlapped and followed; something like a very heavy object dragging deep underwater.

"What is that?" Lia asked. You could hear the fear in her voice.

"I don't know, but it's weird. I haven't heard any weird noises any of the other nights. Is it something with the engine?" Willis asked.

"It sounds like the anchor to me," Ben said. "Like it's dragging through the sand."

Everyone was getting pretty concerned. "But aren't we in pretty deep water?" Ivy asked. "We wouldn't be able to hear it if it's so far down, would we? And what's that billowy sound?" Everyone's nerves were starting to show, including those of Rich and Symone, who had just come back out of their room wondering what the sound was why everybody was still awake so late.

"There's no way that anchor could be dragging. It's a 65 ton anchor!" Rich explained. "It's gotta be something else," he continued as the crew began to exit their quarters, yawning, sighing, and pulling on their jackets and boots and hopping out the door to do their duty and go and investigate the strange sounds.

"Ben's right though, it does sound an awful lot as if the anchor were dragging," Lia commented.

There better not be something wrong, Rich thought. I spent way too much money on this boat for there to be something wrong... and it's our anniversary trip! And our friends are here! If something happens and anybody gets hurt... goodness... I really hope nothing happens...

"Guys, let's all just go to bed. I'm sure everything is fine. I did have the boat inspected and everything when I got it. And the crew is checking everything out right now," Rich said, hoping to relax everyone at least a little, even though the noises were continuing and didn't seem like they were going to let up.

"Yeah guys, he's right. Let's just go to sleep, we'll find out what it was from the crew in the morning. They're just noises," said Willis, hoping they'd forget the fact that only just a moment a go the whole ship shook.

"Yeah, they're just noises," Lia chimed in. "C'mon Ivy, let's go."

Nobody knew where Ben got the courage, but as Lia and Ivy reached their door, he suddenly blurted, (rather quietly,) "Hey Ive, could you wait up for a sec?" Lia and Ivy both turned around, Lia with a face that was shocked, happy, confused and excited all at once. Ivy had no idea what was going on and was just curious.

"Sure, what's up?" She responded inquisitively.

"I'll go ahead and, ya know, like, get ready for bed and stuff, ya know, like... yeah..." Lia stammered as she shuffled into their room and shut the door behind her. She whispered a victorious, "YES" to herself the second the door shut. Everyone else kind of disappeared, too. Rich and Symone quietly muttered a brief "Night guys!" before vanishing to their quarters, and Willis begrudgingly left his sister and his buddy in the hallway to talk. Granted, everyone immediately put their ears to their doors so as to hear the historical moment of Ben speaking up to the girl that he liked.

Lia attempted to listen to the conversation by putting her ear up against the door, (like everybody else was,) straining to hear them speak over the unexplained noises, just waiting for Ben to spit it out.

Suddenly, the ship shuddered again. The initial wailing sound from only a few minutes a go returning, and this time it was even louder and more abrupt.

Maybe it's whales, Lia thought to herself, trying to be hopeful. Maybe they're singing to us and we just think it's the boat...

Lia began to get lost in thought about whales again, wondering if she would see some alongside the yacht, if she were to step outside onto the deck.

Even if it's just one, there's pro-

A loud thud.

Wall caving in.

Her scream.

Freezing water.

Everywhere.

Blackness....

Nothing.....