Converging Destinies: Part 1

Chapter 189

       Within half an hour, death's mouth came into sight. The massive hole in the ocean was a sheer drop that the water rapidly flowed over.

       "I have doubts about going in, but we've come this far, I'm not sure what use it would be to give up now." Ella said. No one objected.

       "I really hope that tablet was right, otherwise I'm just walking into a painful, early death." Brie said.

       "We've already found more on this ocean than anyone knew existed. I'm willing to take this chance." Ara' Sei said.

       Everyone was in agreement about going in, even though there wasn't really much of a choice.

       Cedric and Eris gathered at the back of the ship, staring at the ocean behind them.

       "This is such a crazy idea." Eris said.

       "I know." Cedric agreed.

       "Well... if this does end up being the end, I want you to know that I love you Cedric." Eris said.

       "I love you too, Eris." Cedric said, smiling back. Eris blushed.

       "Would you uh... be okay if we kissed?" Eris asked.

       "Of course." Cedric replied. Right then, on the back of the ship, they kissed. Their lips locked together for a few, thrilling moments. Then, in each other's embrace, they stared upon their incoming doom.

       Brie flipped furiously through her spellbook, trying to find something that might help the current situation. However, her search proved futile, and she found nothing of use.

       Ara' Sei fought back the urge to spread her wings and fly away. Out of everyone, she had the best chance of escaping this fate. But then what? She would slowly die from the heat thanks to the Boiling Ocean. Instead, she clung to the railing, and took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down.

       Ella and Zerai stood at the bow of the ship. Like the two at the stern, they merely watched as death's mouth drew closer.

       Then, it was upon them, the ship was within a hundred feet of the gaping hole, and it was speeding towards it.

       "Hold on!" Ella shouted.

       "I'm not sure I can!" Brie shouted back. In response, Ella ran over and clutched the railing of the ship with one hand, while she held Brie in the other.

       Suddenly, the bow of the ship began to plummet forward, and the whole ship followed suit. The whole group could clearly see massive falls that plunged into a black abyss. Everyone screamed as the ship began to plummet.

       All of them could feel their stomachs rising in their chests. Within moments, everything became dark, and no one could see a thing. The heat around them became worse and worse as hot steam filled everything.

       Then, the group and the ship were sent flying into dark, boiling hot water. Brie managed to cast a spell on herself on the way down, and so was Cedric.

       As they plummeted further, the water only became more and more hot. It was scalding, and everyone was groaning in pain against the burning feeling.

       "Cedric! Have that fork ready or whatever!" Eris shouted.

       It was as if they were falling through air, but it was instead violent, scalding water. Ara' Sei wanted to fly up out of it. Cedric wanted to take him and Eris to Arboria.

       But suddenly, they heard it. Beneath the violent turbulence of the water, there was a sound. It was faint, but unmistakable. It was calling them deeper, and it came from below.

       "It's the melody!" Ara' Sei shouted, her words barely louder than the violent water. The realization hit them. This had been predicted in the tablet.

       "If you will accept its call, then the truth is what you'll see!" Ara' Sei shouted above the water.

       With that, everyone clung on as all went black and quiet.