The Sea of Darkness

Chapter 9: Close Call

"Paul, please! I don't want you up there!"

Paul ignored John's voice as he stood next to the opened hatch, looking around at the emptiness around him.

It was cold.

He shivered as he took one step forward, careful not to slip.

No gust blew past him. 

Odd.

The submarine was still traveling at high speeds, but it was like there was no air for it to past through.

There had to be air of course.

Paul could still breath, and he could see as a mist escaped his mouth every time he breathed out.

"If yer not coming down, I'm comin' up there with ya!"

Grunting, Paul responded.

"For the last time, I'm fine Lennon!"

The bassist heard someone climbing the latter to exit the submarine, and he rolled his eyes as he turned around.

John made his way to the top and stood up, still holding a small piece of apple.

"You know there's nothin' around here."

"There has to be. It's not like we're beyond any plane of existence here!"

John crossed his arms.

"Yer just in denial! Listen, I know that yer-"

Before John could continue, Paul took a step towards him.

"J-just go back down. I don't need you right now."

That statement made John grow impatient.

"Paul, seriously! Even if we did come across anythi-"

Two hands placed themselves on his sides, and he glared at the bassist who grabbed him.

"B-be quiet! If yer not going to be, then... then you can just forget about what we ha-"

John didn't think.

He didn't realize just how much room there was on the top of the submarine as he pushed Paul away from him.

The bassist stumbled towards the edge, and let out a yell as he lost his footing.

"Paul!"

Acting quickly, John threw the piece of the apple off into the void as he grabbed the bassist's hands, pulling him back up.

"W-wha... Why did you do that!?"

"I... I didn't see how close you were..."

Panting, Paul turned around to gaze down at the abyss that he almost fell into. John joined him.

The sight of the piece of green apple was getting smaller by the second as it continued to fall. After a moment, it was no longer visible to the two musicians, and no sound of impact met their ears.

Face turning a little pale, Paul turned his head to look over at John.

"Well... t-there's n-no ground..."

John could barely manage to speak.

He took a step back towards the opened hatch, bringing Paul along with him.

"L-listen... I'm sorry for arguing wi-"

"I-it's fine... I d-don't think I'm coming back u-up here again..."

Paul clung to John, placing his head on the guitarist's shoulder.

John patted his back.

"There, there. I promise I won't do anything like that again."

They both closed their eyes, basking in the warmth that they both brought each other.

"Uh, what's going on up here?"

Taking in surprised breaths, John and Paul separated from each other and turned around, only to see Ringo standing at the stop of the ladder, staring up at them with confusion.

"I heard yelling..."

Turning to Paul, John exhaled.

"Um... we were... arguing..."He turned his head away, too ashamed to look at either of his friends.

Noticing the fear on Paul's face, Ringo eye's widened a little.

"Paul?"

Slowly, the bassist shifted his gaze to look at him.

"T-th... There's n-no ground..."

"What?" Ringo asked.

"I'm afraid to say, but he is telling the truth..." John spoke.

"...H-how do you two k-know that?"

John placed his hands behind his back.

"Um... P-Paul almost fell off the e-edge, and... I threw a piece of apple I had to grab him..."

Ringo stared up at John with wide eyes.

"Y-you..."

"I didn't know he was that close to the edge. B-believe me, that's the last thing I wanted to happen!"

Sighing, Ringo nodded and started to climb down the latter.

"Uh, w-what time is it now?" Paul asked.

"About one in the afternoon... according to the clock anyway..."

Paul turned his head over to look at John, hating to see the guitarist in the sad state he was in.

He put an arm around him, making John look at him.

"T-thanks for saving me... but, please m-make sure to be in control of yer actions..."

Nodding in agreement, John stared forwards as they stepped towards the open hatch, wanting nothing more than to be inside the warm vessel.