Page 19 of Sink With Me

A loud bang has the steel floor shifting below my feet right when I lift one to move. I freeze, staring at the blank wall not even a few feet from my face. What was that? It’s fine. It's just the incredulous thoughts creeping in that has me on edge. My shoulders shake with my breath as I look to my feet, calming my rising anxiety.

Stepping towards the stairs, splashing sounds echo the corridor. I pause, looking behind me with furrowed brows. It's too dark to make out much besides a single red light on the ceiling. Glancing to my feet, water slowly encircles the souls of my boots.

The walls feel like they’re closing in, the steel panels wrapping around my skin. I turn, bracing my hand against the wall as I rush up the steps. My parents were near the bottom. My foot catches the step making me gasp.

“Daymen!” I yell. Where is he? Why haven’t I seen him?

“I'm trying–talk to you!” Karma yells.

Another sound rattles the walls beneath my hand making my throat constrict. I can't think or listen to a word she's trying to say as I look back through my stumble and see the dooming liquid slowly chase me up the stairs. I haven’t even inhaled water and yet it feels like it.

“I-I’m listening.”

I didn’t get to tell him. My parents probably held each other. Said their goodbyes. My body collides into another at the top. Hands grasp at my face bringing my focus onto dark irises.

“There you are darlin’.”

“There was an—" I pause drawing in a breath "I think there's a fault in the lower decks.” I flick my gaze over his form, pressing my hand to his chest. The steady beat of his heart increases. He’s safe. Think. “Are the quarters clear?”

He doesn't get to nod fully before the fear of the situation takes hold.

“Lock the doors.” I demand.

“Damn it Cordelia, this is important.”

I shake my head trying to focus on Karma's voice, but I'm too focused on Daymen as he pushes us through a heavy sway of the boat, slamming doors along our way towards the second flight of stairs.

“We need to get on the deck. Don’t worry, I’m okay, you’re okay.”

Are we okay though? Soldiers and deck mates alike scramble through the small hall towards the stairs. I need to get to the top. The logical thing to do is survey the situation and address it but I can't do that when my skin starts to slick with sweat and bodies tumble into my own from another sound quaking the boat. I stumble forward, regaining my footing to realize I no longer feel Daymens touch. The sound of watertight doors locking causes me to look back, but I don't see him over the throws of people.

“Go on! I'll meet you up there."

A stampede floods from the door branching into different areas along the deck. It smells like something’s burning but not like the scent that comes from the funnel. Tell him just tell him. I rip my attention away from the crew hoisting up lifeboats and count my team members in twos trying to ensure everyone is safe. Damn it Karma, hurry up.

“Breach in the hull!”

“We need to abort!”

"Captain, you need to get on a boat!"

I rush towards the nose shaking my head free from the jumbled yelling and pulling away from the hands that try to force me back towards the keel.

“What's happening?”

I can't find any logical explanation besides my worst fear.

“I-I don't know.”

“I found– information…”

“Damn it Karma, I can't hear you right now!” It's too much, I can't focus. The once slightly illuminated sky turns darker. I'm used to having voices in my head, but I'm not used to them echoing off metal planes, vibrating against my eardrums loud enough I think I’ll go deaf.

“Evacuate!”

“Compromised!

When I look around the area, I can't get a proper head count. Everyone is moving too fast in different directions, I’m sure I've counted the same person at least five times. I hold onto the rail attempting to stand on my toes long enough that I can see black hair bouncing over chaos in my direction. Just as I see him, I catch sight of flames forming around the middle of the boat, stretching around the steel.

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