La Sola Muerte

Chapter Three

Water continues to crash over the edge of the boat. The icy sea covers my legs like a blanket. Carrying through the crisp air is a cracking noise like something burst; it resembles the wailing of an animal. Instantly, I imagine the Kraken emerging from the Mediterranean. Following the wail, water pours out the hull door; the very one I clambered through when Pierre dragged me up.

A good thing I didn't stay down in my bunk after all.

The sweeping, icy coating of the ocean consumes my lower half, now rising below my knee. It could be the chill from the water or the prospect of what is coming, either way, I am frozen to the decking boards. My joints stiffen, and shock sets in.

I hope it is shock and not hypothermia...

My knees shake convulsing violently. I panic and feel a firm pressure in my chest; as if my heart is trying to escape my body. The blood coursing through my veins like a rapid river that does not feed my brain. Everything around me is blurred, and I shake my head from side to side. A feeble attempt to get my sight back. The pain in my forehead a testament to that.

Whatever function is left in my brain, tells me to get over to a lifeboat, but both feet are firmly rooted in the decking.

I am not going anywhere.

The boat continues to rock. The waves crash over the edge, and a hysterical laugh rumbles in my chest.

Am I the captain of this story going down with my ship?

My career is in tatters, there is something rather poetically painful about that.

"Move man! What are you doing?!" Pierre shouts behind me.

I can only move my head but turn to confront him. A clear puzzled look across his face as he steps around to stand in front of me.

"Unless you want to go down with the ship, you need to move."

I can hear him but don't have it in me to respond and continue paralyzed. The shaking consumes my upper body, and another giant wave breaks over the bow of the boat, coursing down the top deck towards us. Despite being glued to the spot, I am easily manoeuvred by the wave.

Through sheer force, I am propelled forwards off of my feet and soar over the side. Falling to what is surely imminent death, I close my eyes hitting the water's surface. My back takes most of the impact. Floating up for a second, I hover before gradually sinking into the depths. Closing my eyes, I give myself to the sea, with not a care in the world. For the first time since embarking on this god forsaken journey, I am comfortable. I feel at peace with a layer of calm, and it wraps itself around me.

Plummeted into the ocean's darkness, my heartbeat slows, and my mind clears. Lost in the moment. Disorientated. Flailing my arms, I swim towards the surface. The frantic movement sends water rushing up my nose and into my ears. Instead of panic, I am overcome with a sense of tranquillity. I stop moving, close my eyes and float in the dismal abyss.

I don't think about my demise or dying. What fills my mind, is my failed career. Everything was going my way when success came looking for me.

Maybe death isn't so bad after all? At least I won't be ravaged by this pathetic existence.

I hear a muffled shout, but my eyes remain closed. The weightless feeling becomes all too familiar as I lay lifeless a few feet below the surface of the water. As if being awoken from a terrible dream, my body snatches back to life. My head breaches the water's surface, and slowly I open my eyes. Something tugs at the back of my shirt; the collar is up around my ears. A mix of confusion and panic hit me, and I flap like a captured fish in a net. With the salt no longer on my eyelids I open my eyes. My vision is blurred, and I rub to clear them out. The feeling of utter peace and calm goes away, and my brief, clear mind clouds.