Chapter 1:
The sea was filled with burning wreckage from the explosion. There were no signs of life anywhere.
Bubbles floated to the surface, and a muscular body soon followed. Only his dark hair and his tanned shoulders were visible above the water. He was dead.
But then the man raised his head and coughed, with tons of water spewing from his mouth. Exerting the little strength that he had remaining, he forced himself onto his back.
Luis took a few deep breaths and whispered the words that ruled his life before losing consciousness again. "Sheridan."
~*~*~*~
Hours later, Luis groaned as he opened his eyes. He was fortunate to be washed ashore on a beach. While he had no idea as to where he was, he was saved from the thrashing depths of the raging surf. And, judging from the immense storm clouds overhead and the strong winds sweeping through the palm trees, it was only going to get worse.
Luis slowly got to his feet and checked out his injuries. He was ok for the most part—a few cuts and bruises, but, luckily, he hadn't broken any bones. He did, however, have one hell of a headache.
He could tell from the sky that a huge storm was coming—it could even be a hurricane that was heading his way. He quickly scanned the surrounding area for something that he could use as a shelter during the storm. The best option was a large pile of rocks a few hundred feet from the shoreline.
Luis quickly walked over to the rocks, hoping that they would shield him from the turbulent winds and torrential rains. He leaned back against the rocks and stared out at the waves in front of him.
Mama is going to be so worried! Luis thought. She won't know where I am, or if I'm alive. Theresa will be worried too. She and Ethan will be so upset that Sheridan and I are missing.
Sheridan. She hadn't even crossed his mind since he had regained consciousness. He had to find her, rescue her. She was alive, he knew it. She had to be. She couldn't, she wouldn't be taken from him—not so soon, not now.
Frantically, he searched the high seas for any sign of his one true love, but it was to no avail. Luis moved closer to the ocean, hoping that the closer proximity would allow him to see a glimpse of her.
Then he saw it. A flash of blond hair, rolling with the tides. It had to be Sheridan, Luis knew it.
Luis quickly ran out into the surf and carefully swam out to where he had seen Sheridan only moments ago. He searched the area as best he could, but there was no sign of her.
Then, something hit his leg. He quickly reached down and grabbed it.
It was Sheridan's arm. He quickly pulled her to the surface and pulled her to shore.
He pulled her up to the sheltered area of the island. He quickly looked her over. She was pale and had numerous cuts and scrapes all over her body. He also thought that she might have broken a few bones, but he couldn't be sure until she awoke.
She was unconscious. Hell, she might even be dead. But that was a reality Luis refused to accept, despite the fact that she wasn't breathing.
Sheridan couldn't be dead. Luis simply wouldn't allow it. If Sheridan wasn't alive, he knew that his life was as good as over.