The Storm
A storm was literally brewing...
The threatening thick, grey clouds loomed in the sky, indicating menacingly unfavorable conditions that lay ahead. The wind howled as it blasted through the trees, bending them over backward, the waves of the sea were being tossed about like a rag doll; licking the shore, the tide was high. The tempest which commenced so suddenly was one of great violence.
"Looks like a monsoon is heading our way," Ethan discerned. The weather was dark and cloudy, and the thunder rumbled loudly in the distance.
"Do you think it will be fatal?" Cassie asked as they stood watching the restless sea.
"Looks like it sweetheart, But you know what they say about the weather-it's unpredictable..." He surveyed their surroundings, concern looming in his eyes.
"You're worried aren't you?" she glanced at him; he seemed to have no answer ready.
"Slightly...I don't think our makeshift lodgings will be able to stand the pressure." Ethan would have given anything to be able truthfully to say 'no' to her question. But he had to be honest with her.
"So what do we do? Just wait for the storm to ravage us or are we going down with a fight?"
"We fight," Ethan replied with defiance, his heart thumping at its own dauntlessness.
"Good. Because I don't intend to die before you take me out on a real date." Before he knew what she intended to do, she kissed him lightly on the cheek then walked away.
Ethan held his cheek, where he had just felt her soft lips and smiled as she disappeared into the trees. Although she was in his tattered Hugo Boss shirt, in his eyes she was still the most beautiful and desirable woman he had ever seen. And one day-soon-very soonhe was going to make her his.
"Let's try and pull the shell among into the woods before the storm picks up." He suggested to Cassie. "Then we can try and stretch the tent over it, to try and break the fall." He shouted over the wind, with a voice like the flap of a sail.
"Do you think we can pull it off?" she yelled back, squinting her eyes.
"Yes! But we need to move fast," he replied. "Come on!" he beckoned as he ran towards the tent.
They completed their tedious task just on time, Cassies daintily fingers red and throbbing with pain. The downpour came fast and furious, merciless in its onslaught. Cassie huddled closer to Ethan as the loud, sharp crack of lightning resounded outside.
"Don't tell me you're one of those women that are afraid of thunderstorms?" Ethan poked fun at her as she clung on to him.
"It's not funny Hunter," she grumbled.
"I'm sorry my love. You're right."
If it was under different circumstances Cassie would have been elated at the endearment. If only-suddenly a deafening snap crackle and boom of thunder rent the air, along with that of a falling tree. Cassie let out a scream as she covered her ears.
"It's okay sweetheart. I'm right here with you." Consoled her as she sought solace in the safety of his arms.
The raging stormy wind blasted through the barrier they had created, inviting the cold, bitter weather into their safe haven, rendering them both helpless and exposed to its abuse. Never in his life had Ethan felt so indisposed and inept as he did at that moment. His eyes had a look of the defenseless, a light of passionate contempt. He wanted to protect Cassie but try as he might he was failing dismally, as the metal shell that housed them, shook violently, causing the water to come pouring in a steady stream, drenching them to the bone.
As the rain continued its assault and invasion into their private space the room was flooded with water, until it was almost the same level as the bed.
All Cassie and Ethan could do was cling onto each other and pray for the morning to come speedily...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the chirping of birds finally heralded the new day, the couple decided to venture outside and assess the damage. The only problem with that was a tree had landed on their roof, trapping them inside. So they had to slide through a small crevice in order to maneuver their out.
Ethan turned to face Cassie and his gut clenched. She was visibly shaking from the cold and possibly the trauma they had just encountered. Her light hair was plastered to her scalp, her huge grey eyes a stark contrast against her pale skin, her plum-colored lips pursed into a thin line. She looked like a drowned little girl, her
But instead, he threw his arms around her, crushing her against his soaked shirt. "Are you okay?"
She wanted to answer but all she managed was a nod, as she snapped her chattering teeth together.
"Cassie, I'm sorry that I wasn't able to protect you," he looked at her helplessly. "seeing you like this is-it's killing me!"
"It's -ok-ay. I-I'm f-f-fi-ne," she stammered as she tried to rub warmth into her arms.
"I wish we could make a fire but-" he flailed his hands, "as you can see..."
Cassie nodded again as eyes gazed around, assessing the extensive damage the torrential rains had caused. There were uprooted trees here and there, while some were split in half, branches were scattered all over the seashore. But there was something else-a a wrecked ship had crashed onto the island and was washed ashore, probably during the tempest.
Ethan spotted it too and he grabbed her hand as the ran towards the wreckage. "Come on. Let us go down to the shore, and see if we can see anything of the ship " he said, with anticipation and hope. "Maybe they have food and warm clothes," he glanced at her with an amused little smile.
There was no one in sight, but it was evident that a party from an American ship had crashed on the island. When they entered the ship they only paused a moment before they combed through both decks. The ship wasn't severely damaged, it was mostly the front and the top deck.
"Looks like we've found our new home princess," he muttered.
"What could have happened to the passengers?" Cassie frowned.
"A number of things-they probably jumped out when they realized what was about to happen, or they took the lifeboat and life jackets and chanced it with the sharks. Not sure really," he tried to reason.
"Ethan I-" Cassie staggered and swayed like a drunken man before she fell slowly to the wooden floor.
Ethan leaped forward and fell to his knees. "Cassie!"
But no matter how many times he cried out her name he never got the response he so desperately desired to hear.