Story Notes: I've wanted to write a story like this for a long time. I'm so happy to share this. I've worked very hard on this. It's been part of my prompts for a while, so I'm glad to tick it off my list. I also nearly forgot about Snowy when I edited this, silly me. I hope it doesn't look too strange. This is not my best work, and I had a lot of bother writing this, so I hope this is alright. Anyways please read, fav and review.
Title: Into the Deep
Category: Adventures of Tintin
Characters: Tintin, Captain Haddock, Snowy, Skut
Summary: As a torpedo hits the Ramona, Tintin ensures that everyone gets off the ship. When he gets trapped in rising water under a strong current will be able to save himself?
Genre(s): Tragedy
Rating: T
Theme(s): Drowning, Death
Suggested Music
1. Death of Vesper - David Arnold
2. Sacrifice - Steve Jablonsky
3. Souls Ascend - John Frizzell (From the Film: Ghost Ship)
4. Letting Go - Patrick Doyle (From the Film: Thor)
Tintin rushed down to where the refugees had gathered. They jumped for joy when Tintin relayed the news. He couldn't eradicate the beaming smile upon his face. Soon it would be over.
We can go home, all of us.
Without warning, a blast tore into the Ramona, splitting open the ship. Tintin and the refugees were flung onto the floor as metal scraped and twisted. More explosions followed, leaving him grasping for anything he could.
That wasn't us.. was it?
As an alarm sounded on the deck, a shout followed, echoing throughout the ship.
TORPEDO!
"GET TO THE DECK!" Tintin shouted.
The refugees rushed through the door, being careful not to panic, even as water started to flow across the floor. As the water slowly deepened, Tintin fought to remain calm. As he held open the swaying door to let them out, his heartbeat raced, but he tried not to let it show. Tintin didn't want to cause needless panic, but he couldn't deny the situation. As the last refugee passed through and to the steps to reach the main deck, two levels up, Tintin quickly inspected the last of the rooms.
I'm not leaving until everyone is safe, Tintin concluded.
After a thorough search found the last few refugees, his nerves calmed.
Everyones safe.. good.
Now get to the deck.
Another wrenching sound followed as the ship continued to split, but Tintin didn't identify the wall of water until the last possible moment. Water slammed into him, pulling him to the floor and separating him from the oxygen he needed to survive. He repeatedly attempted to surface, but the water remained supreme. The water pushed him from the stairs and down the corridor, forcing him to an unknown area as he finally resurfaced. He coughed and spluttered, fighting the current. As his strength gave out, so did the chances to inhale oxygen. Seconds later, only a few inches of air remained.
No! Please, No! I don't want to drown!
x
As Haddock winched the second lifeboat down, the ship quickly began to dip in the water.
Blistering Barnacles, we haven't got time.
"Tintin can .."
Haddock scanned the last of the group waiting on the deck, only to find Snowy running around barking loudly and pining for his master.
Tintin ... Blistering Typhoons, where's Tintin!
"Skut!" Haddock yelled.
"Skut, where's Tintin?" He exclaimed as Skut stumbled forward from the back of the group.
"I could have sworn he on deck. I thought he with you,"
"He was on one of the lower levels," Exclaimed a refugee. "He helped us out,"
"Everyone get in this lifeboat now, I'll get him up," Haddock ordered, managing to grab Snowy, who immediately tried to wriggle from his grasp.
"Effendi, the level is completely flooded. Even we couldn't get back down,"
I'm not leaving without him, Haddock thought as he carefully placed Snowy into the lifeboat.
I will not leave you behind, Tintin.
x
Unable to find his bearing under the influence of the water clouding his vision, his mind and body succumbed.
I can't get out! No!
He refused to let his last drop of air leave him. He held onto it for as long as he could as he attempted to feel his way along the corridor.
I don't want to die like this, Tintin pleaded.
As his lungs burned the last drop of air, water flooded into his body. His arms and legs spasmed involuntarily allowed the seawater to enter into every part of his lungs. One thought pressed through his mind and remained dominant even as death consumed him.
They survived.
They're safe.
That's all that matters.
As water filled his lungs, his world turned dark
x
Everyone quickly clambered into the lifeboat. Skut tried to calm Snowy as he kept attempting to jump out. As Haddock lowered them down into the sea, Snowy suddenly howled, sending a shiver down his spine.
Haddock thundered down the steps to the next deck, heading to the level that resided below. As he did, water started to flow across the floor. Sweat spread across his brow as the pace of the flow quickened. The deep claimed the ship piece by piece. Soon The Ramona would lie on the ocean floor. He stepped down the stairs, aware of the rising water.
"TINTIN!"
Taking a deep breath, he dived into the water, praying and hoping. A few metres away, a body hung lifeless in the water.
No!
Kicking his legs, Haddock propelled himself towards his best friend. Slipping his arms under Tintin's armpits, he pulled him back towards the stairs. The water deepened with every second. If they waited any longer, they would go down with the ship. As he broke the water, He pulled Tintin over his shoulders, trying to ignore his motionless limbs hanging from him.
Haddock's heavy clothes weighed him down as he raced back up the stairs onto the open deck. A series of thoughts ravaged his mind as his heart continued to pound within his chest.
Am I too late?
Can I save him?
Driving his teeth into his bottom lip, he preserved, desperate to reach the safety of the lifeboats. All of his pain faded, and he launched himself off the deck into the open sea, clinging to his best friend.
x
Skut watched in aguish as Haddock jumped from the deck and into the water. He watched as the sea claimed the Ramona, every last inch of the ship disappeared beneath the waves. As Haddock surfaced ten metres away from the boat, everyone cheered.
Skut refrained as he glanced at Haddock, now swimming towards them.
Tintin? He's, he's not moving, Skut exclaimed.
"Someone help! I need help!"
"Over here!" Skut yelled.
x
Haddock thrust forward with one arm, holding onto Tintin with the other until he reached the half-empty wooden lifeboat. Skut plunged his arms into the water grabbing Tintin's shoulders. Another refugee aided him as Haddock clambered into the boat, tumbling onto the bottom, as Skut laid Tintin flat on his back.
Haddock scrambled across, followed by Snowy, immediately crushing his intertwined hands onto Tintin's chest.
Come on lad, breathe!
Silence spread across all of the lifeboats as Haddock paused to press air into Tintin's lungs.
Please...
Don't leave me! Not now.
The only movements came from Tintin's hands as they bounced lightly with Haddock's rhythm. Even as Snowy licked his master's hands, no reaction came.
As the minutes ticked by, Haddock paid no attention to anyone else. He lost count of how long he'd been trying to revive him. Haddock could have sworn it was mere minutes, but he'd been trying for eight.
Please, I'm begging you.
This is taking too long ...
Come back...
Haddock pushed harder, aware of Skut's hands on his arms. His head hung as he grasped the horror of the situation.
"Captain ..."
Haddock couldn't find his breath as his heavy heart plummeted towards the seafloor.
"Captain ... he's gone," Skut whispered.
Haddock's hands slipped from Tintin's chest. Tears poured down his cheeks, mixing with the seawater still dripping from his face. As the other removed their hats, Haddock pulsed fit to burst as grief surged through his mind, body and spirit. His soul shattered into a million pieces as he pulled Tintin into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Snowy nudged Tintin's fingers, not understanding why his master wouldn't react. A soft whine echoed through Haddock's ears.
Snowy howled for his master, sparing no one from his heartache. Not even Haddock.
Sorry, this is a sad ending. I've written happy endings for my recent fanfictions, and I thought I needed to do something different. I hope this is alright. It's not my best what if, I have better ones coming soon. They may not be happy.