My world is sinking. My home is this ship. And I’m all alone. My stories sit on these shelfs.

I grew up on this fishing boat. Just me and my dad. My entire childhood are these books. They were my world when I couldn’t get to the one on land. And now we are sinking.

This is no time to be woeful. The water seeping in through the wood is no help and the fact that the only light is flickering like theres no tomorrow isn’t great either. Maybe it’s right though.

I try with one final tug to pull my leg free from under the couch. Thankfully it slips out with a painful scrape against my skin. I stumble up and cling to the door. It’s jammed. My father tryed fixing it when I was young with no luck.

I step back and grasp the handle, then I pull back with my entire body. I repeat this step multiple times and just as it’s about to budge I remember. The water seeping in.

The door comes free.

A wall of water slams into me and I’m pushed back. I land on my bookcase as the boat makes a terrible groaning sound and sinks a tad bit faster. I stand and try to push against the waves, but my legs just tire.

I start to really panic. Oh god. What if i actually die out here.

More and more cold water attacks me. With all my force I jump to the window. The light is really flickering now and I resort to the moon being my source.

I grab the heaviest book I can find and hold it in two hands. As I reel it back I read the title. “The Lord of The Rings”. Nice.

I slam it into the window but it doesn’t budge. As my arms throw as much water aside in search of a heavier book, the ship is thrown back.

It’s vertical.

I fall again to my bookshelf. And it’s where I stay. I dive under water and grab all the books that fit in my arms.

When I resurface I realize I’m crying. My stories sit sadly in my arms dripping wet. Everything is ruined. I want to collapse to my knees but the water is too high.

With the flickering light I look up and out the door. The water continues to fall in. I try to jump up. My arms barely graze the top of the door. But a wave pushes me down. I scream. I cry. I flail my arms. But I know it’s useless. No one is out in the middle of the ocean. Just me and my stories. We are all that’s left.

I hold my first ever book in my left hand and my diary in my right. I hug them close as my feet lift off the ground and the water rises. In one final attempt I try to pull myself out the door but the water rushing in is too strong. My heart shatters. I am going to die out here.

I open the book that holds my first words and read it silently to myself.

I tried I swear I tried dad. I swear I tried stories. I swear I tried to get us out of here.

With the final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could do to save us.

The torchlight flickered as I realized what was happening.

It was just me and Felix. Everyone else hadn’t made it past the trials. They all were eliminated on the fourth trial.

And now I stood, knee deep in water, infront of him. The one who teased me whenever I did something stupid but held me when I had cried. The one who acted like he hadn’t kissed me like the world was ending when fake gas tricked us.

This was the last trial. Either we would drown or figure out the way before we died.

My heart pounded as I started feeling the walls. Nothing in the walls, not a crack or a button.

Felix had been checking the floor and ceiling. The water was up to my elbows.

I looked to him for some sort of confirmation there was a way out. His eyes said it all.

We weren’t getting out.

They had tricked us.

We were going to die here. In this watery room. Our new tomb.

I held Felix’s bright green eyes, waiting for him to tease me and tell me I was being an idiot. Waiting for him to make a flirtatious comment. Or maybe even just the quirk of a brow.

Nothing.

I felt hot tears fall down my cheeks. I didn’t want to die. I had to win. I had to see my dad again. I had to see Izzy. I had to go home.

I can’t die. Not yet.

“You won’t die,” Felix was hugging me. Had I said that out loud?

“You’ll just go to a different place. That’s all. And soon after you’ll be accompanied by your family.”

“What about you?” The question slipped out before I could stop it, “Are you going there too? And what about your family? Aren’t you scared they won’t make it without you?”

“Eliza, my family is gone. They’ve been gone since I was a child,” He watched me with those piercing green eyes.

“I don’t wanna go to that place if you’re not going too,” I felt more tears drip out of my eyes.

“Don’t worry, I’m coming with you.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

The water was almost to the top.

We were treading.

With the final flicker of the moist torch, I knew I had done everything I could to save us. We took a deep breath.

The water was at the ceiling and we floated there.

Our lungs burn. Our eyes are swollen shut. Our bodies have stopped functioning.

And yet we’re still alive.

The Game Makers come and take our dead bodies away and leave our alive minds. We sit as they harness our power.

We sit and yearn for the other. Waiting for the day when we cross to that other world. To peace.

To where we can be together.

To paradise.

And until then, it is just nothing.

N o t h i n g

Nothing.

The water was knee height when I walked out of my bedroom. What the hell had happened? My brand new school shoes were soaked and I head to even worn them one day yet!

“Mum!” I yelled, “What’s going on?”

The lights faltered for a second, springing on and off. Water gushed out from what seemed like nowhere. It was already up to my hip.

“Dad!” Dom cried out. I rushed towards his room, but I didn’t need to. We met in the middle of the hall.

“Paddy, why is there water everywhere?” He asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, “are you ok?”

“I guess so, but where’s mum and dad?”

“I don’t know,” I said again. I felt so stupid. I was supposed to be his older brother, but I think I was failing. “Stay here,” I decided.

I took a breath and swam downstairs. Thankfully, the console table was just next to the stairs. Opening the draw with one hand, I crossed the other’s fingers. I scrambled around at the contents that weren’t of any use, but I couldn’t find the keys to the door.

Quickly, I grabbed onto the stairs and pushed myself up, gasping for air as I resurfaced. The water had risen to chest height bu the time I was down there.

Water splashed onto our heads from the ceiling. I picked up Dom the water was almost up to his head.

“How is that even possible?” I shouted at it.

“Are you ok?” Dom asked.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” I said, “but the door keys aren’t there!”

“Oh no! What are we going to do? Are we going to die?” He stressed.

“No, we’ll be ok.” I reassured him, not even believing it myself.

I could feel my neck beginning to be splattered with the water, gradually creeping to my face.

“Deep breath, Dom!” I said. He sobbed in reply.

With the final flickering of lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to to save us.

It was our last night. I knew it in my bones. I looked around at all my friends and breathed in my boyfriend’s piercing blue eyes, knowing it was only hours until they would disappear.

I took everything out of the storage chest over and over, trying to cling onto any hope that I would find food, water, a lifeline. But nothing. I felt my heart race and my eyes well up with tears of desperation. I needed air.

I walked through the open door outside toward the beach. There was still devastation surrounding us. Pieces of buildings strewn around, trees upended, and endless debris. I stared at what had been our beacon of hope these last 2 weeks - the lighthouse on the hill across. We had each taken turns going up there every day, trying to send a signal, hoping for a ship passing by. But the last two days, I had seen the lights go in and out. I didn’t know where we were. I hadn’t seen 1 ship in the weeks we’d been here. There wasn’t hope. We were stranded on a strip of land that stretched only a mile long. I pondered over the origins of the lighthouse, coming up with more and more far-fetched stories the longer I stared. Probably colonialism abandoned. Even the British didn’t see any value in this hellscape.

Luckily Shana had overpacked. We made fun of her on the way over - she was always planning for the apocalypse. But she had been our lifeline. I could still taste the beans and beef jerky we feasted on the first few nights.

Our boat had capsized and sunk, but we all miraculously made it to the closest island. I found myself thinking a terrible thought - if one of us had died, maybe we would’ve had the meat to sustain ourselves. I keep thinking I deserve to die because of that thought. I try to shake it out of my head every time it comes up, but all I was aware of anymore were the hunger pains, and it made me singularly focused on this anguishing thought.

I returned back to the shelter we had built together and saw everyone huddled around each other, trying to stay warm. They looked to me for guidance, and I found myself speechless for the first time in my life. I had never faced this kind of fear before. I had always been able to find a way out.

I turned around to look at the lighthouse, still standing out against the setting sun and the beautiful pink sky. The lights flickered again.

I walked all the way back and joined the huddle. We all sat in silence as it sunk in. The only sound were the waves ebbing and flowing into the sand. Maybe this wasn’t the worst way to die. Among friends, among beauty, among peace.

We leaned against one another and looked toward the lighthouse, waiting for the moment when our hope would be extinguished. And as the sun set, I didn’t feel the icy chill hit me like it had every night, I just felt the warmth of my friends. An involuntary smile gently crept onto my face as I put my head on Brent’s shoulder. I watched as the light stopped spinning, and burned brilliantly right at us, brighter than ever.

With a final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to save us.

Giants roared overhead. Shrieking pierced your tympanic membrane. Pounding footfalls shook the ground. Caustic clouds reached down with ghostly hands. Caressing pain into everything they touched. Dragons breath seared the air to a bloody mess. Lapping hungrily at anything remotely nutritious; flesh and metal alike succumbed to the fiery death.

Frantic hands slapped and banged against the hull, trying in vain to offer help. Though it was only a matter of time before the burning soul of liquid ice turned against you. Shaking your head to clear the consistent buzzing, your eyes land on your Lieutenant. Face torn away by savage rabid claws, nothing left just crimson stained bone. Bone that glistened in the half-light. The rest of your team had been blown high into the bruised sky, mercifully they never felt a thing.

Alone. You shouldn’t feel such penetrating desolation or bleakness on a battle cruiser. Yet you did, even her flanks had lost all hope fading to a deathly grey. That’s when you saw it, a mighty enemy ship baring down on you. Panic clawed at the remaining tatters of your tunic. Begging silently the gun towers along the port side would burst to life… Nothing. Where was everyone?

Gripping a shell awkwardly you managed to ram it into the breach. Time slowed almost to a standstill, whilst the mighty enemy gained momentum. Out of depth and out of options you stumbled through the motions. Pleading with your muscles to remember each vital step. At last the gun belched, recoiled and hurled out the foreign body. Clapping your hands over your ruined ears, every cell in your body visibly flinched. Shock waves rippled through your boots a personal hell for firing without order.

Your weary eyes lit up as you caught the other ship leap sharply. That was the only thing that spurred you onwards. Even when crystallised beads formed on your grimy slick skin, you kept firing. With every roar of fury your heart leapt. Determination and loyalty held you firmly at your post, uncaring that hell rained down. Elation flooded your fragile bones as a sudden explosion tore the night apart.

Just as she turned to broadside one of your lashing arms struck a deadly blow. Punching a hole through the thick skin, unfazed by the shear effort required. All the grief your ship owned simmered dangerously driving home the revenge.

No one moved. No one did anything. A breath grazing the lips yet never passing. Waiting. Anticipating. Knowing.

Then it happened. The inner demons caught a whiff of freedom on the gentle sea breeze. A fatal kiss of salty tang and they craved for more. Tearing, shredding and plundering their home. Slithers of metal hung suspended like serrated stars. A fanfare of swirling ruby, scathing orange and sickly yolk collided and burned. Sulphur stuck her rancid hands down your gullet, seeking out the acidic gastric juices. With a final whimper she sunk wearily beneath the oily sheen. Her last gasp frothed on the shallow surface.

Gone. You had eliminated the threat. Casting your eyes to the heavens you were greeting with a blank stare. Amongst the spilt ink there was no winking diamond treasure. A flicker of pain cavorted around your knee. The adrenaline mask wearing off. Dragging trembling worms across the area, a tacky viscous substance coated the pale creatures. At some point you had been bitten by a venomous cockroach invader.

Murmuring your thanks you ripped a strip of fabric from your Lieutenant’s tattered uniform. Tying it tightly around your thigh, you gritted your teeth against the sparks of fire.

With dragging clumping steps you made slow progress across the deck; turned into a treacherous scrap yard littered with fragmented bodies. The Angel of Death’s wings stretched wide sheltering the floundering ship. In the lull of the action she plowed on through listlessly rolling waves.

Up the rumbling growling steps you heaved yourself. Limbs trembling and quaking. Morally defeated boots slipped mutinously. At last you crawled through the bridge door. Before you a scene indescribable. Crimson, vermillion and scarlet lazily decorated the sharp white walls. Condescension dripped down upon you, sneers stretched wide and clown-like. Once buoyant bodies filled with life were now scattered deflated and mutilated across the room. You could swear there was one of the Captain’s fingers still wedged in the wheel.

Hauling yourself across the marred metal floor, you listened to the rhythmic rasp of your uniform. Feeling the cool soothing casing you smiled. Shuffling onto your knees you pressed the wireless telegraphy machine into action. Rapping out a desperate message, a plea begging for help.

You felt it in your soul. People were still alive on this ship. There was nothing more you could do, than hope the message had been received. As the engines stuttered and shuddered, causing a groan of discomfort to wrack the vessel, you toppled to the unforgiving floor.

With the final flickering of the lights, you took a deep breath, knowing you had done everything you could to save us.

He took a deep breathe went under. Jacobs face summered under water watching his wife and daughter holding each other in their arms. He grabbed the and held then tight. Slowly slipping away.

I told the captain that those parts were faulty. They didn’t look right and my father always said to trust your eyes. But they were cheap and money had to be saved somewhere. So we took the deal. At first everything seemed like it would go smoothly. No sparks flew when they were installed in the engines. They fit right where they were needed and we were back in space, back on our delivery. I thought maybe I was wrong, that sometimes your eyes lied, then lag started. It was nothing major at first, a few cogs not turning as fast as others, but that was an easy fix. Then belts started stretching and causing timing issues, once again something easy to fix. But they kept happening, over and over until an engine shut down. Now that is a serious problem, but nothing was wrong. Everything seemed to be in working order, the engine just did not work. So we hobbled along to the closest space station and it started again. Cogs not turning, belts stretching, but more than that sparks began flying. So much so that it ended up short circuiting our communication system. We had to keep going, with no way to contact anyone for help we could not stop. Then it happened, the second engine stopped. We were stuck, just drifting along and a slim chance of rescue. I tried, I did not give up. I cobbled everything together to try and get one of the engines back online, nothing worked. As time passed everyone became so desperate and tempers flared. Then other systems began to shut down. The temperature controls went first, then the air purification, then water. Last was the lights and with the final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to save us.

It hurts.

That’s life, I suppose.

But why does it bite and slice,

Till my flesh deep below is exposed like a sinning nun.

I’ll say it again, till my lungs are broken and bloody,

I’m in pain.

And I’m not feeling any better.

I’d sing you a song about my anguish, yet it may be too raw for the likes of you.

A bloody tissue sits on my bedside table,

You ask about my bloody nose and I don’t understand,

I’ve not had a bloody nose for years.

Until it hits me and I choke.

With the final flickering of the lights,I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to save us.

Or at least you.

The house that held so many of my memories began to change. The bright walls that were covered in pictures of my family had turned dark and rotten. The wooden floorboards creaked as my feet dragged my body away from the door.

The door.

It wasn’t bright red anymore that allowed the light of the outside world to enter. Instead, it was covered in cobwebs; darkness was the only thing to be seen through the two narrow windows.

The wind howled louder and louder. I knew it wouldn’t be long. The consequences of my decisions were dawning on me. But I didn’t regret them. If I could relive the last few days, I wouldn’t change a thing. Saving this little girls life, who now hid behind my legs, from the retched king was a decision I wouldn’t change.

I had prayed to the gods of past kings and queens for mercy on both of us. I hope it’s enough.

Then, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared through the windows of the door. The room fell silent and so did the wind. The door creaked open as a gust of black smoke filled the dimly lit room and circles us. This was it. He was here.

With the final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to save us.

A submariner knows the score before ever they embark on their first dive. If something goes badly wrong, Neptune will be the only winner.

One electric torpedo and we’re done. We had played every play in the book but it couldn’t save us.

“All hands brace!”

Our ultra-modern nuclear submarine, but still we can’t outrun their torpedo. Now the turbines aren’t turning, the oxygen is gone, there is no way to the surface. Davy Jones’ Locker awaits.

With the final flickering of the lights, I took a deep breath, knowing I had done everything I could to save us.