My friend Tizzy asked us to be guests on her families yacht this summer, traveling the world, exploring the seas and making memories that we'd carry with us all through our lives. Tizzy's Dad was a doctor in Los Angeles so he rarely came over to Kansas to see her, which made Tizzy a spoiled brat anytime he graced her with his presence.

"You guys ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" She asked weeks before we set sail. Yes, yes we were. My sister Dana and I were saving up to move out on our own at 18 and 17; wishing for a better home life and not as shitty jobs, we had our sights set on traveling the world. So we were pretty pumped to be able to achieve that goal for free--even if it meant traveling with a couple dumbasses. For example, it's been four days on the open ocean and Mike has already complained three days worth about not having cell reception. Toby has also been complaining but not for cell service, for booze. Tizzy's Dad locks the liquor cabinet before and after each meal so only he can enjoy the sweet, dry taste of red wine for dinner. Melissa wants to get laid--by Mike--but of course Mike only wants what he can't have: Dana. "Do you know every time Mike walks past our room he winks, it's a reflex. He's hoping that one time he walks by you'll be looking, see it and tear his clothes off."

Dana didn't appear fazed as she peeked around her sketchbook, "geez Kelly, I'll at least wait until you leave."

"Thank you." We shared the same snarky smile before laughing. "Nathan is kinda cute though…?" I left the end off the sentence while turning the page in my book.

"So is Mr. Howard."

My face got red and I hid my embarrassment behind my book, "he's attractive. Shut up."

"So let's leave my love life out of the convo, alrighty friendo?"

"Fine. Friendo." We left our room then to begin the trek down to the dining hall, we met up with Mercy and Faith before hitting the staircase. "You guys doing okay with the rocky waves?"

"Oh don't remind me." Mercy's face was a slight green color and her forehead damp with sweat. "This is misery… when will the storm be over?"

Faith, her twin sister, laughed "Mercy, it's the ocean--there's always going to be choppy waves." We reached the dining hall and realized we were the last to get there. Mr. Howard was sitting at the head of the table when the room illuminated with an extra set of lights followed by a thunderous boom echoing through the open windows. "Daddy, is the storm going to pass us by?" Tizzy used her whiny baby voice that everyone recognized and hated. "Because I'm scared."

"It should be fine, Tizerena." He didn't offer much comfort and support to his petite daughter. "Everyone, let's eat. Kelly--" My eyes shot up to see his handsome, square jaw and slight smirk, "book down."

"Sorry…" my face flushed as everyone laughed.

A violent wave hit the yacht, sending my body off my bed and to the cold wood floor. "Holy shit." I jumped up quick to see Dana lift her head.

"What?" Her voice still thick with sleep and eyes closed.

"Nothing, I'm gonna go look to see what's happening." I grabbed my jacket before shoving on my boots. I opened and closed our door as silently as I could before making my way up to the top deck where I saw Mr. Howard standing. "What's happening?" I called over the sound of the storm. He was braced against the railing as he whipped around to see me.

"Kelly! Grab on!" He screamed over the thunderous rainstorm and raging ocean waves then snatched me into his arms when a loud crash came and the whole yacht shook with a terrible screeching coming from below. "It's the rocks! We didn't see the rocks!" He was still shouting as a couple of the serving staff began running around trying to get the inflatable life boats ready.

"What do we do?!" I felt the lump of fear lodge in my throats with my heart stopped my blood ran cold. I couldn't feel the rain on my naked legs and cheeks.

"Get on a life boat, I'll wake everyone!" He shouted before pushing me toward a life boat and one of the staff member.

I thought about Dana and how hard of a sleeper she was, "oh shit." I turned on my heel and ran back I down the corridor. "Dana!" I screamed as the sounds of other people began to fill the now lopsided boat. We're actually sinking, oh my god. "Dana--" I pulled open our door to see her pulling on a jacket.

"What the fuck is going on?!"

"The boat is sinking! Grab your bag!" I realized I was still screaming but I couldn't stop myself--the fear was beginning to take over. I grabbed my duffel and shoved a few last minute things in there before pushing dana out into the hallway. Water was beginning to fill the inside of the yacht when I heard screams coming from the door just down the hall. "It's Mercy!" I sloshed through the ankle deep water to their door to see their glass window was broken. "Mercy! Where is Faith?!" Mercy's face was as white as a sheet of paper with trails of tears streaming down her face.

"She passed out! I can't get the door open! It's stuck on something, oh my god! Help us!"

I tried frantically pulling on the handle and banging my body against the door but that sucker wouldn't budge. "Mercy, is the safety lock on?" I pointed down in the window to the left of the dead bolt. "Try the safety lock!" I noticed my body starting to numb when the water reached my hips. "Mercy!" I tried getting her attention but her body was shaking violently and she could only wail in terror.

"Help!!" Her piercing scream bounced off the water and into my ears. "Don't leave us!"

I pulled on the door again and again until I turned to Dana, "take our bags to the boats and find Mr. Howard!"

"What?! You think I'm going to fucking leave you? No!"

"Dana, I can't open this door! If we're going to get them out we need Mr. Howard!!" I could see the sense clear on Dana's face, I could also see the fear. "I swear, I'll be okay." She gave me a sad nod and trudged her way to the top of the sloping hallway. "Mercy! Where is Faith--" I peeked through what little bit of window I could still see and saw something that caused my heart to sink. Faith was floating behind Mercy's face down and slowly drifting with the small current in the room. "...Mercy..." I barely heard myself whisper so I was shocked and disappointed when Mercy's eyes shot to mine.

"What?" She stared at me staring behind her until she finally turned around. "NO!" Her pained screamed was a stab to my heart. Mercy struggled to swim over to her now dead twin sister and take her in her arms when the ship groaned and shuttered, the corridor filled with water even quicker now. "Mercy!" I called to her through the tiny space between the water and the ceiling, "Mercy!" But Mercy wouldn't look at me, all she could do was hold her sister and lose herself entirely to the breakdown. I tried a few more times with the door, taking one final gulp of air and tried some more to no avail, I couldn't get it and then peering into the window I saw two of my close friends floating under the surface of the frigid waters. They were dead. I felt the ocean sting my eyes and my lungs burn red hot before thrashing for the surface. I gasped for air as my head emerged and I immediately heard Dana scream, "Get the fuck up! Let's go!!" I knew she was right, in that moment I knew we had to whatever we had to to survive, we had to get off this fucking boat.

"Where's Mr. Howard?!" I asked as we struggled to run up the lopsided deck to the tallest point of the ship.

"He's dead." My hand grasped the railing before shaking away the same fear I felt earlier, I'd think about Mr. Howard, Mercy and Faith later...if we lived through this.