Author's Note: Yep, I am still alive. I am finally done with school and I wanted to celebrate it by writing a chapter. In a 30 degree heat, sweating like a pig. So I hope the chapter I've produced is tolerable enough. I am, however, slightly proud with the amount of descriptions, usually I am too good with those.

Just as usual: no beta, English is my second language... You know the drill ;)

Hopefully you enjoy and, as usual, opinions are most welcome. They motivate/help me to write better.

Cheers to all,

AngelT


Kurtis checked the coordinates on the charts one more time and then looked straight ahead of him, where in the gentle light of the rising sun bathed the island of Yamatai. Or so the coordinates were implying. He had, of course, his gut feeling to trust as well - Kurtis had never seen Yamatai but his heritage by blood made sure to make him feel uneasy each time he saw the island looming on the horizon. The queasiness could have been anything but Kurtis considered himself being above the random fluttering butterflies in the stomach. He was also not prone to getting sea-sick. It was the island. And the closer he was getting, the stronger the feeling was becoming.

I know what awaits me.

Many of his 'brothers' traveled this one way trip. Kurtis smirked at the thought. He did not say the vows yet and most likely would refuse to do it unless absolutely cornered, but for now he was affiliating with them and had to call the things what they were. Through trial and error, at the cost of numerous lives, the detailed map was made that, amongst other things, indicated several possible passageways to get the ship safely in one of the numerous natural havens that had appeared in the rocky shore of Yamatai throughout many centuries. There was no guarantee any of this would work but then the next person who might come this way will have less dangerous options to choose from.

The sky was clear. So clear it seemed unnatural. Perhaps because Kurtis was aware of the true nature of this stillness. The moment some poor unaware sod would get close enough to the island, the hell itself would open its gates and let out the mightiest storm one had ever seen. So many people and vessels had disappeared before ever reaching the shore.

Kurtis looked up again, his gaze fixed upon the majestic peaks that were black now, engulfed in the golden light of a new morning.

I will make it though, I have to.

He stood up, letting a couple of papers slide down his knees onto the ground and proceeded into the back section of Solis Regina where he kept his supplies. A moderately heavy lemon-yellow backpack stood neatly in the corner. Kurtis had already checked its contents twice to make sure that there was nothing important he had forgotten and he was not about to do it again. The only last things he needed to add to this lemon monstrosity were the maps and charts that were now sprawled across the table and over the floor. Kurtis grabbed a couple of re-sealable water-proof bags and placed the papers within, closing the pack and carefully zipping the papers shut within the small front compartment. Kurtis put the lifejacket on, grabbed the backpack and swung it casually over one shoulder. Unsatisfied with the result he decided to put the backpack on properly.

Well, I guess it is show time.

His fingers curled around the steering wheel as he, once again, looked to the east where the black peaks became that of the shimmering blinding silver, the snow reflecting the sunlight. Kurtis turned the ignition key, making the motor purr softly and turned the wheel slightly to the right. His trek had begun.

Solis Regina was slowly gliding along the water that looked like a mirror, so still it was. Soon he would reach it, that invisible line which encircled the whole island. The line, the wall… People could have called it whatever they wanted but the outcome had been always the same: as soon as the vessel would cross the invisible border, there was nothing but doom ahead for it and its passengers. Even if you were prepared and you knew what lies ahead, you have a fifty percent chance of not making it to the shore. And even then, the doom that is cast upon you by Yamatai will always be one step behind you, chasing, grabbing you by your heels and calling. Always calling… In a sweet voice of a queen long missing, chiming for her servant to return and face her for the treason he had committed.

The sudden fresh gust of wind woke Kurtis up from his thoughts, his skin crawling with goosebums. Not because of the wind but because of the fear that had grabbed his stomach with sharp icy claws.

She knows.

The sky had darkened in a matter of seconds and kept darkening even now, progressing from gloomy grey to menacing black. The wind was getting stronger and Kurtis made the ship cut through the waves even faster. He had to get as close to the island as possible before Solis Regina will give up on him. The fact that the small ship would not make it to the shore was obvious, this safe passage proved to be as much of the myth as a couple of others that were marked on the chart as inefficient. The waves were getting higher; soon a cold splash of water had reached him through the open porthole. Kurtis shivered and slammed it shut; by now Solis Regina was rocking wildly, diving up and down the waves that were at least two meters high. Her keel pierced through the walls of water, as if she was fighting for her survival.

Me and you both, sister.

Through the wall of rain he could still make out the outline of the shore that was getting closer. Around it he could see a few big dark hulking masses that were randomly scattered around; they could have been cliffs but most likely they were the decaying skeletons of those who came before. Kurtis caught himself calling out to a higher entity to guide him through this path. He was not a religious type and, unless a couple of singing angels would carry him to the safety, most likely would not become one in the nearest future, however his mother did value the faith and made sure her son would be educated enough to later be able to make the choice for himself.

It was no Gabriel that had suddenly popped out of the darkness to the left of the ship, only a old rusted hull of what seemed like a destroyer; the lonely beam of a small searchlight atop his ship glided over the decaying grey wreck and illuminated the hull number. Kurtis had little time to properly read it; he twitched and instinctively steered the ship away from the possible collision. With the heavy waves pounding on her hull, Solis Regina started to list heavily on her right side, the water pouring over the deck. The attempts to straighten the ship proved fruitless as more water found its way into the cabin. Kurtis knew then that he will have to abandon the ship before the weight of water turns it upside down, dragging him along with it. The water was reaching past his knees and the ship's listing got so drastic he could not keep the balance anymore. Half rolling down, half swimming he made it outside the captain's cabin and fell straight in the cold water. His backpack and clothes tried to drag him down but the lifejacket was made to support heavier people and did its job well. Knowing that the sinking ship will create a deadly funnel, Kurtis used the hull of Solis Regina to give himself a boost and tried to swim away. Too late he realized that the speed of the sinking boat was much faster then his own: it was as if something suddenly pulled him at his legs. First gently and then more rough.

If I do not find something to hold onto soon, I am dead.

Kurtis felt strangely calm. It was surprising as he was not ready to die. And he did not have a backup plan for something like this. He watched he maw of funnel growing larger as the white bottom of Solis Regina glimmered ghostly in the flashes of lightning.

It looks like a whale… Moby Dick would be a much more fitting name from this angle.

He was getting tired, struggling with the water and the waves and he was loosing the fight. He wished he could see something to grab onto, to wait out till the water calms down… to rest and then swim to the shore. But there was nothing.

The destroyer.

When he first had observed the wreck it looked smooth as a butt of a baby. As smooth as a butt would stay while rusting in the salty water for nearly sixty years. But now the flashes of lightning had revealed rusted poles that were sticking from under the water further to the right. He would have to risk it and take the funnel ride, grabbing the nearest beam at the last moment.

Kurtis took a deep breath and stopped struggling. It had all happened so fast: the current had pulled him in and on his first attempt to grab the pole Kurtis was too late and his palms scraped along the sharp rusted edges of the beam. It was painful but he was too occupied to pay it mind for now. The beam was hurrying at him once again, noticeably lower.

I am getting sucked in. My last chance.

He outstretched his arms and almost missed the pole the second time but luck was on his side. He managed to curl his left arm around the rusted surface and close his fingers around the strap of his backpack creating a lock. The centrifugal force had tugged on him so hard that Kurtis felt something popping in his left shoulder and this time he screamed. However, the self preservation instinct had won over and he managed to keep his arm fixed, while curling his right arm around as well. Next were the legs and now Kurtis was clutching the beam with both legs and arms, trying to ignore pulsating pain in the shoulder and realizing that once the funnel is gone he will find himself underwater.

Kurtis did not know how much time had passed till the funnel started to die down. All he knew was that the pain in his shoulder had crept up and settled down in his head, pounding relentlessly and making him regret his every blink and breath.

The water had suddenly swooped at him and before Kurtis knew he was in the wet and cold darkness, his lungs beginning to burn from the lack of air. Kurtis pushed away from the pole and tried to swim upwards, however he did not have much strength left and the backpack had suddenly felt as heavy as a boulder. He struggled for a bit and had finally managed to take it off, clenching teeth together from the shooting pain that ran through his arm every time he moved it even the slightest bit.

Kurtis was seeing black circles swimming in front of his eyes by the time he burst out on the surface. The storm was dying down as well but even then Kurtis was not sure he would be able to swim all the way to the shore.

As the first sunbeam pierced the gloomy sky, he saw that the destroyer had more to offer then just a couple of rusted poles. There was a gaping gash in the hull and when Kurtis swam towards it he saw that there was enough space for him to fit in and even sit up. With much effort he pulled himself up and squeezed in. The rusted piece of metal on his left side missed his eye by a centimeter and left a bleeding scratch on his cheek. But Kurtis had hardly felt it: the minute his back had touched the cool metal of the hull, the pain from his wounds and the dislocated shoulder had assaulted his consciousness all at once and he fainted.