The water was rough and choppy. It slammed against the sides of the boat, sending the people in it to the floor. The men shouted and grabbed at ropes. Something had broken lose. The man steering grunted and groaned before called for someone to help him. Thunder cracked overhead, illuminating the space around them.
She gripped at the side of the boat to steady herself and a wave crashed over her, nearly taking her over but one of the men had grabbed her.
"Thank you!" She coughed out as rain struck her face. She was soaked to the bone. He grunted in response before gruffly shoving her to the center.
"Get under the deck and out of the way!" He ordered. Another wave crashed overboard, knocking her to the floor. She crawled to the door leading to the bottom of the ship. They were so close to the mainland, if only they could get through this storm. She pulled herself up against the door when someone called out.
"A ship! A ship heading our way!" One of the men announced.
"Dim the lights! Put them out!" The captain ordered and the men ran to darken the boat. A flash of lightning struck again and she could see the ship speeding towards them, hardly touched by the storm it seemed. A shiver ran down her small frame. She saw the lamps near her and ran to put them out. She was putting everyone on that ship in danger. Yes, they knew the risk of helping her, but that didn't make the truth any less terrifying.
She neared the main mast of the ship. Her eyes searched in the darkness. The storm blocked out the light of the moon. There was nothing to light their way save the flashes of light. Were they even still heading for the land? The men stood in silence as she clung to the rope and wood. They stood in silence, the only sound was the rain and waves. They held their breaths, waiting.
A crack of lightening flashed overhead and they could see it. Thunder crashed and the ship was closer than they expected. She looked ahead, searching. Another flashing of lightening heralded the thunder and made her flinch. Her heart raced. Ahead of her was the destination they pursued. The land of the rising sun. Japan.
If that ship caught them, the men would be killed on the spot for treason. She would be grabbed and hauled back and thrown in a cell. Would she be chained to a wall, too? They would tear the ship apart looking for her.
But what if they didn't find her? What if this was just a fishing boat that was tossed away from the island because of the storm? She neared the bow and looked at the rough water. She looked back at the men who had helped her. She looked and then she jumped.
She crashed into the water as wave after wave tossed her. She wasn't sure wich way was up. Her head broke the surface and she could see the island. Another wave forced her under but she kept pushing for the shore. She had to make it. She had to get to the shore. If she could just get to the shore and into the tree line she could rest. Arm over arm she swam, dragged under by the waves and pushing up for air. She swam for what felt like hours. She was cold and wasn't sure she remembered what it was like to be dry.
She was exhausted by the time the waves slammed her against sand, forcing the grains into her lungs. She coughed and started to crawl. Another wave tried to burry her further into the sand. She continued to crawl. She made it to the treeline and looked back over her shoulder. The rain had stopped but clouds and thunder still rumbled. Wind whipped at her soaked frame but what made her shiver was the fire on the water. One ship stood and the other burned. She could do nothing for them now.
She pushed herself to her feet and stumbled into the forest, tripping over roots and wincing at the stones digging into her feet. The terrain was unforgiving and harsh. The wind never stopped, but at least the trees helped to break up the gusts. She was still wet and still cold. Clouds covered the sky and she had no idea how long it would take for dawn to break. She felt as though she was stuck in an eternal night. She walked, not sure where she was heading. The plan was to arrive at the harbor but now she didn't even know if there was a village she could seek refuge in.
Perhaps it's better this way. She thought to herself. If they find me, no one else has to die. She continued walking in no particular direction. The forest was dark an eerie. She felt watched but hardly had the energy to mind it.
A rustling near her put her on edge. She paused and listened. There in the distance there was a light. She could hear voices. She crept closer. She could see the light and saw it was a fire. Black figures surrounded it. Something large was with them, with two tails and deep feral growls. The figures stood and shouting turned to harsh whispers. Did they hear me? She thought to herself. She crept low to the ground but froze when a twig snapped under her foot. The figures before her froze briefly before a man in gruff voice pointed in her direction.
"There!" He shouted and she took off in a sprint. Her legs were like jelly and her lungs burned at the abuse but she pushed faster. She was always swift, but this man was faster. He was behind her and quickly gaining on her. She dashed off to the side, throwing him off, and kept running. It was dark and hard to see, so she tripped over a root and stumbled. The land dipped into a hill and she fell, rolling down the hill, hitting roots and bushes as she went before she crashed at the bottom, hitting her head against a tree trunk. Her head bounced and she landed in a patch of dirt, face down, sprawled out. The dark woods swam around her vision as the dark figures neared her. Their claws were stretched out, reaching for her. She didn't feel them when one grabbed her arm. Darkness had taken her, dragging her down into sleep her body desperately needed.