Prologue
April 14th, 1912
It was so cold. Everything was so cold. I couldn't feel my fingers or my toes, not even my arms or legs. Everything was numb; everything. I watched silently as I blew out a breath of air, which crystallized in the freezing night air. I blinked slowly, trying to dislodge some of the ice crystals that had formed on my long, black lashes. I tried wiggling my fingers, and managed a small movement. I then tried my toes, but they were frozen solid from being in the ocean for so long. Come to think of it, how long had I been lying here? And where was everyone else? I tried to shift my body so I could see the area around me properly, but my body wouldn't obey. I tried again and managed to turn slightly, but I still couldn't see anything. Or hear anything.
Why couldn't I hear anything? If memory served, there should be hundreds of people around me, splashing and screaming for help. But no one was splashing; no one was screaming. What did that mean? I shifted again and rolled to my side, which also caused the bit of wall I was laying on to dip dangerously into the sea. I stopped moving, eyeing the black ocean with dread. Slowly I lifted my eyes, and swept my wary gaze across the mass watery grave. Everywhere I looked, the ocean was littered with frozen bodies; frozen bodies that would perhaps belong to my family.
I lowered my head back down and stared at the black, merciless water silently lapping against the wood. I would have cried, if my face and eyes were not so cold. I lay motionless, wondering what would become of me. Would the rest of me freeze soon? Would I slip into a slumber I would never awaken from? When was I going to die? Why wasn't I dead yet, like everyone else? What was so special about me?
As I pondered all this, my thoughts slowly drifting from death to the need to sleep, a dull yellow light swept across the ocean, lighting up all the bodies. I watched the light as it played across the ocean, silently highlighting all the dead. Then the light swept across me, and I squeezed my eyes shut against the harsh light. I heard voices, but I couldn't respond. I couldn't get my voice to work, or my mouth to open. The light flashed over me again, and this time I stared straight into it. The voices sounded again, this time closer and louder. The light became brighter too, or maybe it was just getting closer as well? Either way, I couldn't tell. Or I just didn't care.
I watched as a small black shape loomed into my view. I tried to focus on it, wondering what it was. A boat. It was a boat. And there were people in that boat; live people. I stared as the face of a young man appeared in front of me, asking me a question. I didn't reply, just closed my eyes and thanked the heavens that someone had found me.
I felt strong arms encompass me and then the strange feeling of being lifted. Then I was placed into someone's arms, and a large warm blanket was wrapped around me. I curled my fists around the edge of the blanket, seeking more warmth. Arms and hands wrapped around me, pulling me against a warm body. I leaned against whoever was holding me, laying my head back against their shoulders. As we rowed away, I looked down upon the watery grave, grieving the loss of my family, and then slipped slowly into the warm embrace of unconsciousness.
Hmm, can anyone guess what happened on the night of April 14th, 1912?
If anyone has any suggestions/ideas on how I can change this, just review. Or review if you liked it. Or even if you didn't like it. Oh, and is there anyone out there who would like to be my beta reader? If so, just PM me.
Thanks, VampSa :D