Out to Sea

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining high in the in the cloudless baby blue sky. A little brown haired girl, with tiny button nose ran out of the house on top of the hill.

Neil picked her up, and flew her around in the air. The girl giggled , and smiled, eyes very bright. "Let's go for a walk on the beach!" said the girl excitedly. "Neil, phone call for you!" yelled Laura, Neil's sister. Laura frequently visited, and watched Maria, Neil's daughter while he was out to sea.

Neil put down his daughter, and ran inside. He picked the receiver off of the end table. "Neil speaking." he said. "Hello Neil, I’m sorry to have to call you on your vacation but..." "But what?" asked Neil, sitting on the couch. "I have a shipment that's just come in, and it needs to be delivered to Maine A.S.A.P." explained the man.

Neil's mood went sullen. "Jack, you know I’m spending time with Maria, what about Mitch or Sydney?" said Neil. "Mitch isn't answering his phone, and Sydney is already on his way to the dock." explained Jack. "along with Kenny and Mark, but you know they are rookies at this, I need you Neil, this shipment is very important."

"Yeah, okay, I’ll be there," said Neil, and he hung up the phone. He sat on the couch for a minute thinking of what to tell Maria. He stood up, and walked outside. Maria ran up, and grabbed Neil on his leg. "Come on daddy let's go." Maria said enthusiastically. "Maria, I have been called back to work, something important." explained Neil. Maria's smile faded.

"But, you promised." Maria said, nearly in tears. "I know, but this is something I have to do." replied Neil. "But hey, I’ll be back before you start school." he said, trying to cheer his daughter up. "I'm only going to Maine after all." "Okay daddy." Maria replied sniffily, and forced a smile. Neil ran back inside for his travel bag, and drove off in his jeep, Maria and Laura waving at him from the porch.

When he arrived at the dock, Neil was greeted by three men, his crew members, Mark, Kenny and, Sydney. They loaded their stuff into the cargo hold, and started out to sea. Neil arranged the parcels that were to be delivered, into a safe area below deck so they wouldn't be damaged. He walked back on deck.

Enormous dark clouds loomed over head, lighting flashing within them. "Captain!" yelled Sydney, a tall, and very muscular man with black hair, and a bushy mustache. "We're heading right into a storm!" he yelled. "No need to worry Syd, this boat has been through worse." said Neil whimsically.

In minutes, as if mocking Neil's nonchalant attitude, the wind had picked up, and rain started pouring down in thick sheets. The storm sent twenty-foot waves spilling over the bow of the boat. The three men, including Neil, scrambled around the deck of the ship, doing everything in their power to keep the ship afloat, from spilling Neil, and his small crew into the treacherous sea. Another wave crashed, stinging Neil's eyes. That was it. The ship couldn't take it anymore. With a loud groan, it tipped over into the ocean, hurtling Neil, and his crew into the churning waters.

"What is it?" "I don’t know." whispered a voice. "Is it alive?" asked another voice, high pitched. Neil's eyes opened. All he could see were the blurry outlines of three figures hovering over him. "Where am I?" he asked, voice gruff and raspy from lack of fresh water. Neil blinked once, then three times. His vision cleared, and the figures images sharpened.