The Girl Named Mirage

As soon as Belle settled on the bed beside her baby, Elven came with a covered tray filled with food.

” Here’s our dinner, babe. ”

He puts the tray on the table beside the bed.

” Sorry it took so long. I helped a newbie crew at the ship’s restaurant to clean his mess. He stumbled and fell due to the rough waves hitting the ship and he got sea sick.”

Belle smiles a little. She was happy that Elven was there to help someone. But she’s getting worried.

What if the next wave is going to hit them and all of their belongings will be tossed overboard? She’ll never forgive herself if something happens to her baby!

Elven has these worries as well but he’s just trying to hide it from his wife.

” Is that so? This rain isn’t stopping anytime soon, I guess…”

Belle trails her words as she gets up the bed. She doesn’t want to sound so worried.

” And it’s getting heavier… ”

And as if a cue, a big wave hits the ship and it almost turns over.

As they felt the impact, Belle’s mother instinct kicked in and she quickly hugged her baby, as the ship slanted, she rolled over with the baby in her arms and her back hit the solid frame of the bed.

” Ugh! ”

Despite the ache she’s feeling, she manages to cover her baby from the falling objects and keep her safe.

Elven on the other hand was thrown like a doll on the other side and hit the wall along with the glasses and plates that were smashed into pieces.

” Argh! ”

The ship manages to back up but it’s totally damaged now. The water penetrated the ship. The alarm went off.

” We need to get out of here! ”

Though bleeding, Elven gets up and takes his wife and daughter out of the cabin. Leaving all of their belongings behind. It doesn’t matter anymore. He needs to be sure that they can get out of here safely.

People start running out of their rooms, panic starts filling the place. As they looked around, they could see the damage done by the storm and people were panicking. They’re running away, not knowing where to go.

A group of women came running, carrying a small boy. They didn’t know who the child was but they had to take care of him now. As they carried him away, one of the men started helping them. Others followed after them. Though most people are scared, they’re determined to help out.

The ship started rocking again. It seemed as if it was getting ready for another wave. Everyone knows what’s going to happen next and they’re afraid.

Then a loud sound resonated on the ship and the ship started breaking down. The damage is already beyond repair.

” Shit, shit, SHIT!”

Someone shouted. No, they screamed. Their voices were filled with pain, fear, and desperation. They need to get out of this ship. In the middle of the night amidst the heavy rain.

There’s no time to waste.

Everyone started running towards the lifeboats and there were too many people, too much chaos. Too many people in such a situation. People were running everywhere. Some fell down and some tripped and others are running faster than ever before.

” The children, women, pregnant, elderly and the handicapped first! ”

They heard the man shout. Everyone ran to the lifeboats. There were so many of them. They need to get inside one fast before the ship sinks to the bottom.

” Grab and wear the life jacket! ”

” Stop pushing! Everyone can get out of here! ”

But the cry of anguish continues.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

” Here’s a life jacket. Wear this. ”

Elven puts the life jacket on Belle, and straps it close with their baby on her chest.

” Sweetie, everything will be alright. ”

And then he hugged and kissed his wife and daughter. Belle and Elven try not to cry. They need to be strong. For each other. For their baby.

” We’ll see each other at the dock. Take care of yourself and our baby, ‘kay? ”

” Now go! ”

He helped her get on the lifeboat. He helped to pull the lifeboat down safely.

” I’ll be right behind you. ”

” I’ll find you! ”

” Don’t worry! ”

” I love you! ”

Tears, raindrops and sea water streams down their faces. They were on the lifeboat, but will they be able to reach the dock or any land in this kind of weather?

Belle removes her life jacket and puts it on her baby. She then ties the ribbon from her hair on the strap of the life jacket and ties its end on her wrist. Then she hugged her tight and silently cried.

” Everything will be alright, sweetie. Daddy’s going to find us. ”

Elven was able to board a lifeboat. He then looked for the lifeboat where his family was boarding. As soon as his eyes found the boat, a giant wave flipped it over. Everyone falls on the water, including his wife and daughter.

Simultaneously, a big wave crashes against the deck. The whole ship shatters. The passengers and crew members who were still there were screaming and shouting at each other. There are some that tried jumping to their death while the rest are praying, hoping that they won’t die.

Suddenly, an explosion was heard. The fire starts spreading and the people try to escape desperately.

” Aaaaaah! ”

Another big wave crashed on the deck and everything started sinking faster. The people scream in fear.

But that doesn’t seem to bother Elven anymore. He jumped into the water to save his wife and daughter. No one dared to stop him.

” Belle! ”

” Yuffa! ”

” Wait for me. I’m coming! ”

” Babe, I’ll save you! ”

” Daddy’s here, baby! ”

He swam towards them but then another wave swept him away and unfortunately he hit the side of the sinking ship and that hit knocked him out cold.

One of the crew saw this and swam to his rescue. It was the newbie crew he helped at the ship’s restaurant.

Luckily, his guts kick in and he grabs Elven’s hand and pulls him out of the water. His arm is hurting from how hard he’s pulling but he has to do it. He needs to get him to safety.

” Stay with me. Stay with me, sir. ”

Elven tries to talk but he’s only making sounds. Blood trickles down his chin.

” Come on… You gotta stay awake… You need to stay with me, sir. We’d make it out of here together… ”

But Elven’s mind is floating somewhere. Somewhere where he could be with his wife and child.

He’s trying to wake himself up but he keeps losing control of his body.

” We’re gonna make it… Please… You promised me, Elven. You promised me! ”

The voice of the woman calling for him echoes inside his ears. He wants to answer but he can’t move his mouth. He struggles but he can’t.

His breathing started becoming harder, he tried to take a breath but he failed miserably. Time seems to slow down. Even though his sight wasn’t blurry, the scenery looks duller, more blurred. So much that he can’t really tell what’s happening. When his vision slowly turned dark, it was like everything stopped moving.

And when he finally woke up, he only wished not to be saved.