Secrets at Sea

Chapter 10

As we briskly walk down the dark hallway, the soldiers form a tight barrier around Mason and me. We only slow down as we approach corners so one of the lead soldiers can scout the turn. We rush past countless doors busted down. No one has a flashlight on and the only light in the pitch-black hallway comes from the moonlight filtered through the broken doors. Liam is directing us away from the elevator and farther into the boat. We turn the last corner and are met face to face with an emergency exit stairwell. We burst through the doorway and begin ascending the steep steps. Two of the soldiers flick on their flashlights, illuminating the steps in front of us so we don't trip and smash our faces. I slow down a bit after the third landing, but I feel pressure on my lower back from the solider behind me as he helps me keep pace with the group.

"We're almost there." I hear Liam say from the landing above me. The solider that was pushing me from behind quickens his pace and steps up next to me to grabs my upper arm. He practically drags me up that last few flights where the rest of the group has stopped.

Liam nods at the solider that's still holding my arm then turns to the solider next to him. "Jones, scout then report back." Jones, the solider leading the group, nods before slowly opening the stairwell door and slipping into the dark hallway. We stand in the darkness listening to the creaking stairs shifting with the sway of the ship. The solider next to me lets go of my arm and I rub the sore skin.

I'll have to thank him later for helping me get this far once we're safe. I think.

"Why can't we use a flashlight? It's pretty sketchy standing here in the darkness," Mason mutters. "Don't you think it would be beneficial to know exactly where we're going?" From the faint light coming through the door's window I can see Liam glance back at Mason and shake his head.

"Might as well hold up a neon sign declaring our location while you're at it." One of the soldiers hisses. Mason doesn't speak for the rest of the time in the stairwell.

There are four light raps on the door before Jones slips back into the stairwell.

"Report." Liam demands.

"All clear." Jones says, "The only sighting was 100 meters down from the deck entrance. Starboard side."

"Good. Let's make this quick." Liam opens the door. The solider grabs my arm again and we take off down the dark hallway. The stairwell had led us to one of the side hallways that feeds onto the main deck of the ship. I'm running at a full sprint to try and keep up with the soldiers and I can feel my asthma start to kick in.

Just keep going. You'll stop soon. Breathe. Breathe. Feet just keep moving. Right. Left. Right. Left. Breathe. I can't slow down, keep going. I'm panting now and I can feel even more pressure on my arm from the soldier's tight grip.

The solider leans in close to my ear and whispers, "You got this. We're almost there." I don't know if it was the words of encouragement or the fact that the solider didn't abandon me back in the stairwell, but I could feel a boost of adrenaline rush through me, quieting my aching lungs.

The hallway slowly gets lighter the farther we run. I can hear the ocean's waves crashing up against the side of the boat. Liam and the other soldiers start slowing down as we near the entrance to the main deck. We stop right at the entrance, still in the shadows, but we're able to clearly see the main deck. I look over at Liam, his bright blonde hair illuminated by the moonlight, and he is scanning the deck for movement. I read the name tag of the soldier that has a hold of my arm: Kepner. He sees me looking at his name and gives me a weak smile. His hair isn't like Liam's; it's a dark black that almost vanishes in the shadowy hall. His scruffy beard and soft eyes calm my nerves about the strange military man touching me. He looks to be a few years older than me and a little shorter than Mason.