Dragon Island

Chapter 1

Let's go back to where this all started. I was on a ship heading home to North America from visiting my grandmother in England when a huge storm hit.

I was on my bunk below decks trying to sleep a little and get over my seasickness when I noticed that I was swaying back and forth. That wasn't too unusual seeing as I was on a boat but I really started to worry when I heard the shouts above deck and the howling wind. The rocking became more rapid as the wind picked up and the waves grew huge.

I jumped off my bed, all thoughts of seasickness replaced by panic. I raced around gathering my stuff together and shoving it in my suitcase, if we were going under I wanted to be prepared.

I could hardly keep my feet under me as the ship pitched about. All of a sudden the wall came barreling toward me, I didn't even have time to cry out before darkness enveloped me.

I woke to the sound of a small waterfall and my stockings and dress were soaking wet. I must have fallen asleep by the creek in the woods near our house, Mother must be worried about me, I thought. I jolted awake and everything came flooding back to me. This was no creek and the waterfall I heard was coming through a hole in the ship's wall. The floor had about five inches of water covering it and it was rising fast. I had to get out of there!

I stood up and saw stars, my head ached and I had a big goose egg on my forehead where it must have hit the wall. I steadied myself and waded over to the door. I turned the knob and pulled. Nothing happened! I tried again, still nothing. The water on the floor must be putting pressure on the door. I was trapped!

Suddenly the ship tipped upwards as it began it's climb up another wave. The water surrounding me rushed to the opposite side of the room and I nearly followed it but I managed to grab hold of the doorknob. I struggled to keep my footing as I turned the doorknob. The door finally clicked and swung open and a flood of water rushed at me nearly washing me away. I struggled for air, coughed up the water in my lungs and tried to climb the slippery deck. I may as well have been trying to scale a cliff with no handholds or footholds but finally the ship crested the monstrous wave and began it's downward plunge back into yet another deep, dark, icy trough. I was washed through the door with the seawater.

I felt the doorframe connect with my elbow on my way by, pain pierced my arm but I had no time to think about that as the hallway wall rushed at me. Colorful stars danced before me when I connected with the wall but I didn't black out this time. I slowly, painfully got to my feet and stumbled down the hall, keeping my hand on the wall, trying to keep my balance. I passed by black, vacant rooms that gaped at me through open doors, the floors flooded in murky seawater. In the dim light I could barely make out a short flight of stairs at the end of the hall. I began to make my way to the deck, above me I could see nothing but the dim outline of a rectangle and above that only endless black sky, all light blocked out by the dark, angry storm clouds.

The boat rocked and I put out my hands to break my fall, the pain in my elbow was rekindled when I hit the floor. Fresh waves of water rolled down the stairs into the hall and I received a mouth full of salt water when the freezing water hit me full in the face. I spat out the water and gasped as tried to regain my footing. I heard shouts as I pulled myself above deck. I felt relief that I hadn't been abandoned but it immediately turned to fear and panic when I saw the huge wall of writhing, roiling water rise up beside the ship. I barely had time to breathe before I was swept overboard.