La Sola Muerte

Chapter Two

Awake from my slumber I sit upright; a deafening alarm reverberates in my small cabin. The sound bounces off the walls like a pinball machine. Not wanting to listen to it any longer, I cover my ears whilst clambering down the bunk and stumble into the door.

Hastily I make my way to Jenny's cabin, the narrow corridor is no easier to navigate.

I hope she can explain what is going on!

When I arrive, the door is wide open and swinging from left to right as though on its hinges. With no sign of Jenny, I head to the mess hall, which is located on the lower deck. If people are not in their cabins, chances are they will be there. Aside from the bloody alarm sounding around what feels like every part of this damn ship, I can't hear anything else.

With my ears ringing, the blood runs through my body at top speed. My breathing becomes erratic, and my palms sweat. The disorientation makes my legs turn to rubber. The piercing ringing fills my head distracting me. I can't think of anything else. My hands are of no use in protecting my ears, and I feel a dull ache. From the pressure, my eyes are hard to open, the intermittent light isn't helping the situation.

A few moments later, arriving at the mess hall, I walk up to the doors. The turbulence moves them freely, slamming against the outer frame with aggression. Timing it right, I should be able to move through them. The doors crash open, smashing against the wooden frames, revealing an empty hall filled with sliding furniture. I reach to steady myself, my heart in my throat, as the boats rocks violently.

Great, now I have to battle back out of here?

Turning, I look for another exit.

Where could they all be?

On the opposite end of the mess hall, I spot a small door with a hatch on it. Like many of the doors on this damn vessel, it looks shut. I hope this one isn't locked. Making my way to the tiny metal door another huge wave hits, smashing against the side of the boat and a row of tables hurtles towards me. I manage to dive past them, my stomach swirls as I hit the cold wet floor. Maintaining my balance, I turn the wheel lock anti clockwise, a screeching noise cuts right through when I do so. It is so stiff to move it reminds of the power steering on my old car... I do miss that old red banger.

After about half a dozen full turns, I hear the lock catch, and the pressure reduces with a hiss. From the door release and the movement on the boat, I am sent flying to the floor. I hit it like a sack of spuds. The metal flooring offers no cushion to my fall. With the door open, I'm down for the count, but I try to pick myself up. Luckily, with the next shift in furniture, a chair slides right beside me on my left. Rising onto my elbows, I drag my feet towards my chest, and in one uncertain movement, I stand.

With a break in the turbulence, I make a move towards the door grabbing onto the hatch on the other side and pull myself through. Stumbling over the threshold, my shoes fill with ice cold water. A frosty chill shivers up my legs, making me tremble. In front of me is a metal staircase, which could take me to the top deck. Holding the handrail on either side of the stairs, I look up, and intermittently I see water pouring down the steps. Through the motion of this god forsaken boat, my vision is off, and I feel dizzy. Beginning my ascent, I take one step at a time: between the dizziness and the water.

This isn't easy.

Making it four steps further up, I take a short pause to catch my breath when I hear a frantic splashing from higher above. Turning my attention to it, I see a panicked Pierre Villeneuve. He is holding onto the door frame, struggling with his balance.

"Ah, thank god you are here!" he says hurriedly, instantly becoming out of breath.

"Well, I was hardly going to stay in my cabin was I," I snap at the drenched location scout.