UNDER THE OCEAN (Original)

Chapter Two: Trapped

 It was becoming dark rather quickly and started to rain as the three ran to the caravan. Once inside, they shut the door tight, looked at each other and giggled excitedly.

“This is going to be so cool,” Jasmine started.

“We're going to have so much fun!” Sam joined in.

“ . . . Don't forget we can stay up late for our midnight snack! Mum and dad won't even know!” There was no way that Sarah was going to be scared, she thought.

While they chatted away about their big brave adventure, the storm drew ever closer and the rain got heavier; the wind too, was not at all calm. No, it was getting much worse.

The trio did not even notice, until there was a great crack of lightning. It was so intense! The caravan shook violently.

“One one-thousand, two-one . . .” BOOM! The thunder was severe! Sarah's eyes nearly popped out of her skull. “I'm scared, I want dad to come and get me.”

“We'll be all right Sarah, I'll look after you.” Sam was trying to calm her, but inside he too was shaken! Jasmine grabbed Sam's arm.

“Do you think we should go inside? That wind is strong enough to blow us off the cliff!”

“Don't be silly Jasmine. It can't blow us off!” However, as the children snuggled up together in one bed, the storm raged right on top of them. The caravan shook and the rain pelted the windows like bullets. The lightening flashed again . . . “One . . .” BOOM! The thunder split open the night sky.

Jasmine squealed, “Where’s the walkie-talkie? Call dad!” Looking around, Sam found it on his bed near the end of the caravan.

“Here!” Clutching the lifesaver, he checked to see what channel it was on. Dad said his walkie-talkie would be on channel nine. While he searched for it, the light blew out.

“Oh no, Sarah pass the torch!”

“I can't see it!”

“I think the power's gone off!” Jasmine was feeling around for the torch. Sarah reached under the bed and felt the familiar rubber texture.

“Found it!” She fumbled for the switch and 'clicked' it on. Pointing the friendly beam towards Sam, Jasmine barked: “Show me the walkie-talkie!” Sam moved towards her and almost fell over as another clap of lightning and thunder crashed together in unison directly above them. The blast chased through the floor and up his legs. Turning them to jelly. The floor responded with a shake to the sound, then after the vibration settled, his legs steadied to normal again. “Wow, that was huge!” Sam too felt the fear. Falling onto the bed with the girls, he searched for channel nine. He pressed the intercom button . . . “Dad, are you there?” Another blast shook the caravan.

The intense rain outside was hitting the tinted glass as small bullets spitting from a machine gun. The children needed to shout down the walkie-talkie. They could feel every gust of wind flexing the flimsy walls of the caravan.

“Dad, can you hear me? Dad, come and get us . . .!” Nothing! No response! Jasmine suggested another channel. Flicking through to channel ten, then eleven – still no reply. Turning to channel twelve, they tried again . . .

“Can you hear us dad?” “Can you hear us dad?” They heard a repeat of what they had just said as soon as they said it; how could that be?

“Are you there dad? Come and get us!” Again, they heard the repeat . . . “Are you there dad? Come and get us!” It sounded like it was coming from the wardrobe. Sam cautiously opened the door as Sarah pointed the beam; then they saw it!

Dad did not even have the other walkie-talkie; it was sitting right there hopelessly in the bottom of the wardrobe. He must have forgotten to take it inside. Great! Now the children had no way of talking to dad – they were trapped! Upon realising they were alone, they became rigid with fear!

The caravan began to move and spin. Knocking the three of them off the bed and onto the floor. It span faster and faster. Sam held onto the bottom of the new wardrobe. Jasmine held onto the built-in, fold-a-way table. Sarah grabbed hold of Jasmines leg. They struggled to keep from being tossed about as rag dolls. This storm must be a massive tornado! It felt as though the caravan was being lifted off the ground and into the air. The children did not know what was happening to them. It was terrifying as the whites of their eyes strained against the darkness.

Things flew around inside the caravan. They felt rotating, like they were on a huge spinning wheel. Their heightened senses felt the caravan plummet. Another clap of thunder and lightning flashed, lighting up the whole inside of the caravan. Their mattress fell off the bed and landed on top of them, smothering them.

Under the mattress, they heard the muffled sound of the battering winds. They could feel the small fridge and other items hitting hard against the mattress; if they were not under it, they could have been badly hurt. Scary thoughts were tearing through their rattled minds.

There was sudden silence and the sensation of falling. They kept falling and spinning out of control. After what seemed a lifetime, it happened. CRASH! They hit something hard, almost shattering the caravan into a million pieces. Nevertheless, they kept falling. The caravan did not stop with that impact. It swirled down, down, down.

A gushing noise filled their ears like a tap that was suddenly turned on full blast. A fire hose splattering against their claustrophobic cocoon. The sound came from all sides. The pitch of resonance grew deeper and deeper the further they fell. Three minds played different tricks on them. Telling them they were falling into a big black hole. They felt alone, hopeless. Where were they going? What was happening?

Suddenly! THUMP! They stopped dead. All that could be heard was the children’s hearts beating like African war drums; the heat of battle in full view.

Finally. After some moments of serious confusion, Sarah opened her mouth. “Wha . . . what happened? “Where's dad?” She had a massive urge to sob but tried to be brave.

She was not the only one terrified out of her socks. All three of them had no idea what to think or what to say next. The silence around them was deafening.