4

Stowaway chapter four

Zoe's point of view.

The dress is pulling me under.

The heavy material of the sequined dress soaks up the water like a sponge, weighing me down like a lead brick, I try desperately to unwrap the heavy dress from my body, my lungs feel as though they're going to burst as I hold in the precious air for as long as I possibly can.

The heavy material finally slips free of my body.

My head is pounding, my lungs screaming for oxygen as I release the last of the air. I keep fighting until I feel like my head is about to explode, I have to hold my breath, I try so hard, but the need for oxygen takes overtake me as I gulp in the salty water, The water creeps in around me, filling me with a deep dread, black splotches dance in front of my eyes, as the Icy cold I  had felt upon entering the water was completely gone the desperation overcomes me as Panic begins to set in. The black spots begin to elope me.

Fuck! I don't want to die.

Remembering the last words Mark last said to me.

"Promise me you'll never give up, no matter how hard it gets." 

I send one last desperate kick of my legs, determination pushing me upwards. I haven't come this far to be defeated.

My lungs crave for the oxygen they so desperately need as the darkness now surrounds me, the black spots merging together. The cold night air hits my face as I finally suck in the much-needed oxygen, my lungs finally able to breathe again; I try to hold in my cough as I vomit the salty water from my lungs.

I take a minute to myself as I control my heartrate I'm now behind the yacht, after falling from the front this is the best place to be, I turn on my back knowing I'm stronger on my back when swimming a distance and begin the swim towards the dock, the lights twinkle in the dark night, feeling so relieved he didn't take the yacht to far from the bay.

My smooth strokes glide effortlessly through the water without making a sound, the years of long-distance swimming and endurance training paying off.

What I hadn't anticipated was the coldness of the water in the dark night especially without the protection of my coldwater wetsuit, I push through the water as hard as I can thankfully leaving the yacht behind I can see the searchlights dancing in the water in the distance.

The icy cold is seeping into my skin now, I can feel the muscles of my upper back constricting; my bones feeling ready to shatter, and my toes and fingers started to numb, the more I swim, the heavier my limbs become, looking up I've just reached the entrance of the dock, the nearest boat sits just to my right, its a beautiful older style boat If I wasn't so cold and exhausted I could truly appreciate it's beauty.

I curse as I will myself to carry on, no longer able to feel my fingers and toes. 

Reaching the side of the boat, I grab onto the rope ladder my muscles burn as I pull myself up each step more painful than the last as I fall in a heap on the deck of the ship, shivering as the cold becomes too much, too weak to stand I crawl along the bridge. Please don't let me have come this far only to be overcome with hypothermia.

I finally reach the door of the cabin, turning the handle I cry out in relief as it opens crawling along I find another door realising its the sleeping quarters I drag myself to the nearest bunk to tired to remove my underwear I wrap myself up in the thick blanket as I wait for the shivering to subside.

I wake up sometime later; I have no idea how long I've slept for, I can hear a helicopter in the distance, climbing out of bed on shaky legs I make my way over to the little window, looking through it the bay is now filled with search parties as the sun begins to rise.

I wonder if they have been out there all night or if there resuming the search this morning to look for a body.

 With the blanket still wrapped around me, I slip off my damp underwear off and head into the living area, desperate for a drink, my throat sore and dry. 

I find myself in the little galley kitchen looking through the pantry area I cry out.

"Thank you, Lord." 

As I find a full crate of bottled water, opening one I drink it all, hardly tasting it, I pull out a packet of biscuits, looking through the pantry there should be enough food here to last me a couple of days, maybe I should just hide out here until things calm down.

Deciding that's the best plan of action, I pick up another bottle of water and take it with the packet of biscuits back to the bunk area. 

I start to look through the drawers where I find a t-shirt, dropping the blanket I pull the t-shirt over my head and giggle as it falls to my knees, whoever this t-shirt belongs too must be a big guy.

I look around the cabin of the boat, its beautiful and all restored to its original beauty even down to highly polished mahogany woodwork.

The main sleeping area has a large double bed with bigger windows looking out onto the water, I quickly close the doors not wanting to be seen there's another bunk room with four beds identical to the one I slept in, to my surprise there's also a bathroom with a modern shower I sigh! Longing for a hot shower but knowing I can't take the chance in case the water is seen emptying into the dock. 

I look down at the stupidly ugly rock on my finger, at least I'll be able to afford a decent hotel room when I get rid of all this hideous jewellery.

I head back into the first room, picking a book off the shelf before climbing back into the bunk. I guess the adrenalin is wearing off as I soon find my eyes getting heavy. 

I have no idea what time it is when I next wake up, I groan as I try to lift my head, my throat is dry and sore and my limbs heavy, I have the mother of all headaches. I pull myself into a sitting position not able to hold the dry cough back; I guess my late-night swim in the cold water has caught up with me after all, realising my head feels clammy I head into the bathroom where I find a first-aid kit I pop out two painkillers before heading into the kitchen for a fresh bottle of water then I pad back into the bunk room on weary legs.

I guess I'll have to ride it out for a couple of days on the boat. I only hope the owner doesn't plan on a trip out anytime soon.

I wearily climb back into bed praying this doesn't last long as I need to be on the move soon, I can't risk being caught especially this close to home.

I wake up again later that night; I can't control the shivering, my body violently shaking, I've never felt so cold in my life, too tired to move from the bunk, I wrap the blanket around my body almost covering myself from head to toe.

I don't feel any better as I lie shivering in the dark, cold and miserable my bones aching as the burning cough racks my body. I close my eyes as the darkness creeps up around me.

Dam you Rutherfords! Why did this have to happen to me?