Page 44 of Five Goodbyes

We start moving, but suddenly, without any warning, the tranquility of the moment shatters in an explosion of sound and fury. A deafening blast rips through the air, shrouding the scene in a blinding ball of fire. Our path up the stairs is engulfed in flames, keeping us severed from the rest of our guests in the blink of an eye. The heat probably would’ve burned our faces, but I instantly pull Jasmine to me, throw her to the ground, then cover her with my body.

Fear courses through my veins as we pause a moment, then quickly scramble back to our feet. Wide-eyed and breathless, Jasmine and I find ourselves thrust into a living nightmare. The acrid stench of smoke assaults our nostrils, mingling with the metallic taste of terror that lingers in the air. Each breath becomes a struggle as panic intertwines my thoughts.

“We need to find a way out of here!” I shout over the deafening roar of flames and screaming from above, desperation dripping from my words. Adrenaline surges through me, fueling a surge of determination. My eyes dart around the chaos, searching for any glimmer of hope amidst the engulfing darkness.

Jasmine's voice quivers, a fragile mix of fear and resolve. “You’re right. I’ll grab the fire extinguisher from the hall.”

Together, we become a frantic whirlwind of motion, scanning the fiery abyss with wild, desperate eyes. The flames crackle and writhe, like sinister creatures hungry for destruction. The searing heat presses against my skin, leaving a trail of burning marks as a reminder of their ruthless power. But I refuse to succumb to the suffocating grip of fear. We press on, fueled by a primal instinct to survive, and to save our family and friends up above.

As Jasmine and I come back together, both with extinguishers, we pull the pins and spray into the wall of flames in front of us. Then, my worst fears are realized — another explosion rocks the yacht.

A thunderous tremor sends us to the floor. Pain radiates through my body, aching and sharp, but I grit my teeth and rise, determined not to let the agony paralyze me. I have to make sure Jasmine is okay. As I stand, I feel my skin singe from the lapping flames.

“Jazzy!” I have to yell so she can hear me over the roar at our backs. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Jasmine shakes her head, letting me know she’s okay without saying anything.

With each passing moment, the flames grow stronger, and it seems to be devouring the vessel with an insatiable appetite. The reality sinks in that our only escape lies in the embrace of the sea.

We exchange a solemn glance, unspoken words conveying our shared understanding. Hand in hand, we steel ourselves for the heart-stopping plunge into the unknown. I kick through a wall and look out at the black water. What in the hell has just happened? Who’s responsible for it? We don’t have time for these thoughts. I take her hand.

“Jump!” I yell. The shock of the water envelops us, stealing our breaths and numbing our senses. We resurface, gasping for air, the bitter taste of saltwater mixing with the lingering fear on our lips. Where are our family members? Our bodies tremble from the spikes of adrenaline we’re going through. Fear intertwines with every beat of our hearts, propelling us forward, driving us to fight against the rising tide of uncertainty, and the impossible uncertainty of what’s happening.

Above the surface, chaos reigns. Desperate cries punctuate the crackling fury of the flames, an agonizing chorus that echoes through the air. We raise our voices, shouting with desperate urgency, our words blending with the cacophony of panic.

“We need to help them, Jasmine,” I say, my voice strained but determined. “Our family and friends are in the water. We need to get over to them.”

Jasmine nods, her eyes filled with fear and determination. “Let’s go.”

We propel ourselves through the water, our bodies slicing through the waves with purpose. The cries of those in distress guide us, leading us to survivors who have jumped or fallen off the yacht in their desperate attempt to escape the flames.

“Stay with us!” I call out, my voice carrying over the water. “We’re here to help. Stay calm, we’ll get through this together.”

Jasmine and I take turns swimming to each person, offering words of encouragement and lending a helping hand. The sea isn’t turbulent, but even the small waves feel like they’re crashing against us with relentless force, but we refuse to be deterred. We create a human chain, linking arms with those in need, forming a bond of support amidst the chaos.

One by one, we bring everyone we find closer to each other, forming a tight group in the vast expanse of the sea. I don’t take time to account for familiarity of faces. I’m simply doing checks on wounds as I bring them back to the group. One thing is true for all of them, fear is etched on their faces, their eyes searching for reassurance and hope. We do our best to provide it, offering words of comfort and assurances but I don’t know how much good these words are doing.

“Where’s Gramps?” Jasmine cries. I haven’t found him yet, but I can’t say these words to her. She’s calling out names, but there’s so many people here and so much shouting, it’s impossible to know where certain individuals are.

“We’ll find them all,” I assure her. She looks at me with doubt, but we aren’t the types to ever give up. I keep her in my sight as we find more and more of our friends and family and group them all together. We can’t stop fighting. Help must be on the way. We aren’t that far from the shore.

Time stretches on, minutes feeling like hours in the battle against the elements. But we hold on. The flames continue to rage on the yacht as it sinks below the surface of the water, a relentless reminder of the danger still upon us. But in this moment, all that matters is the safety and wellbeing of those we can get to.

“Stay strong,” Jasmine calls out to a couple struggling to stay afloat. Her voice is calm, which stands out in the midst of all of this chaos. I hear a woman begin to cry as Jasmine says, “We’re almost there. Help is here.”

“Get tighter together. Keep your arms locked in tight,” I say as I bring back a man that’s fading between consciousness and passing out. The woman Jasmine brings back is in complete shock.

“Jasmine, stay here with them and keep them calm. I’ll look for more of our family.”

“Don’t you dare think of leaving me. That can’t happen,” she demands.

“There are more people here who need help, so you must stay. I need to find anybody who might be injured. You need to stay, and we don’t have time for an argument.” Before I begin swimming, I see Jasmine’s eyes dart to the top of the yacht. I follow her gaze to see something incredible.

Amidst the mayhem, a glimmer of hope emerges, cloaked in the flames, smoke, and bravery. The Special Ops team materializes. Smoke, Eyes, Brackish, Sleep, and Green are running through the flames, and to our surprise are throwing people and life jackets and life rafts off of the yacht and into the water. Some scream as they soar through the air while others drop down, lifeless. There’s no chance the Special Ops team aren’t being burnt by the flames, but their fearless act is saving lives. Their courage becomes a beacon of light amidst the suffocating darkness. I watch as some move to the rafts floating in the water.

I’m only seconds away from swimming as hard as I can to the people who’ve just been thrown into the ocean when I see Jasmine’s features change. Her eyes widen with desperate hope as she spots her grandfather amidst the chaos. “Grandpa! Grandpa! No! Grandpaaaaa . . .”

I follow her scream, my heart clenching with a mix of fear and awe as Joseph Anderson runs directly toward the fire. In a flash, he rips his jacket off and throws it over his head, and then fearlessly ventures into the heart of the inferno. Flames lick at his heels, threatening to consume him, but he presses on, a warrior undeterred by the fury of the elements. His unwavering determination fills me with both admiration and trepidation.

“No!” Jasmine’s cry echoes through the chaos, her voice trembling with anguish. She begins swimming straight toward the fiery yacht before I can think of stopping her. “He can’t . . . he can’t . . .”

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