The Sea Monsters Prize

by kselzer

A flash fic written for a Halloween writing contest. A sailors first trip across the ocean doesn't end the way he thought it would. What kind of monsters lurk beneath the ocean, and what do they want with sailors?

The Sea- Monsters Prize (take 2)

Waking from a deep sleep the sailor stumbles up the stairs to the call of "All hands on deck!" Making way to his station, a stiff wind almost blows him over. Many hands make light work; a statement he finds doesn't apply in a storm. A greenhorn, he is new to working in ruff stormy conditions. He never dreams he will end lost at sea. With the next crash of waves he is tossed overboard. Plunging into the raging ocean he is momentarily disoriented. He tries his hardest to reach the surface, swimming for all he is worth. He breaks the surface, and treads water. Vaguely, he hears shouts from his fellow crew members. One second he is on top of the waves before something wraps around his leg and drags him under. As he sinks the bubbles spurt out his mouth, darting to the surface.

He comes to and finds himself in an underwater cave, dragging in needy gulps of air. Looking around he is almost blinded by the sparkling and glinting of jewels, millions, dangling from the caves roof. Bewitched by the sparkles, he falters at being forcefully spun around.

There, lurking in the caves shadows appears a giant eye. No sound escapes from the sailors' mouth. The sound of his erratic heartbeat bounces off the walls, reminiscent of death tolls playing at a funeral dirge. The eye draws him in. So mesmerized, the sailor never notices the sailors heads encased in the hanging jewels; the monsters prize.