Scorching steel chrome-like textured railings upon the surface of the ship are illuminated by the glaring light above the azure sky, reflecting the cobalt complexion of the treacherous waves.
Merciless, they chant songs with their indomitable cries of lapis. No force stops the waves, they only persist, until the shore reaches.
Dancing, dancing, it will never fall as long as the moons orbit.
Humans are truly special. No matter land or water, there always seems to be an answer. However, how significant must one be to conquer the sky, and what's beyond it?
I cannot fathom. Nor can I imagine, but I know.
The sky will be ours.
One day.
All wearing shorts with flip-flops, the three boys get ready to start fishing.
"Lias are you wearing socks and sandals?" Zayne asked.
"Yeah, something wrong with-"
"BAHAHA, hey Atlas come look at this!"
Atlas chuckled at the sight, as he carries what seems to be a cooler full of energy drinks. Atop the cooler is three rods with crimson, and indigo shades on the fishing line. Condensing under the blistering intensity of the temperature, water droplets flow off the container in a single file line.
He gently lays down the cooler like a parent lays their baby in a crib. He looks about the great outdoors, donning a beige bucket hat, a chalk-white t-shirt, a brown ankle holster, and stygian shorts. Releasing a strong exhale, feeling nostalgic.
This.. is so ethereal. Seeing the clouds glide above that open ocean it makes me sometimes wish I was a cloud. The things my brain projects, It makes me shed a tear.
Its truly a shame, some people never get to witness the vast smell of a salty body of water corroding your sense of self. Like a cleansing for your brain. That's why I like to stare at the water, it calms me... more than anything. What I wouldn't give to watch it all from above.
That warm air that soothes every nerve in your body... Priceless. The smell of seashells under the surface, cloud your mind as you drift into the endless illusion. If you take a dive, that sinking feel.. like nature's baptism. The recollections that aren't mine, flood out, unclogging the sorrow placed in my head.
For what is the cost of a thousand surreal memories in my head if I do not believe anything is real outside of my own mind because of it? Is this my despairful agony? Or my drowning into solace.
"Say guys, what do you think about the ocean, seriously?" Atlas abrupted after narrowly escaping his epiphany.
"Whole lot of mystery, kind of beautiful though, but I think you see more in it than I do Atlas." Zayne responded whilst getting bait ready to begin catching fish.
"Its blue, sad in a way, but consoling. However, I don't like how eternal it is. When we die, our bones will rot as the sea dances. Ships sink, people fall, but waves don't. Least that will be evidence we existed don't you think?" Lias commentated over the deafening crashing of the waves.
"I think it's nature's therapy. A cleansing of the mind and soul. I enjoy it." Atlas's words drifted away as the waves screamed louder.
"Easy for you to say man, you're biased. And land is a much different experience. I've yearned for it. I miss it." Zayne said.
"What is it like Zayne?"
"Atlas, you really don't know what land feels like bro?"
"Not entirely, I've seen it, but I've never touched it with my own two feet. Its an enigma to my senses. Dad didn't want me unloading stuff onto the realms, so he made me watch as my old crew greeted people, grazed the land. That's a luxury."
"Has cap told you why he wont let you out there?"
"Nope, not a peep about it, Its odd, but I believe he has reason."
"Atlas, you're damn near an adult buddy, cap can't just control you telling you whether you can go on land or not. Trust me bro, you will feel land. No boy as special as you can go their lives without stepping foot on it. I won't allow it."
Successfully attaching the bait to the rod, he pulled back and shot the line farther than any eyes could catch. Caught in the aquamarine mist, a faint outline could be spotted, as seagulls gave their high-pitched calls far above the behemoth of a ship.
How ironic. Something as gullible and petite as a seagull can soar the skies casually, whilst a war machine like this ship is forbidden by the skies. Something calls to me out there, up there.
The tiny lights in the sky at night reach out to me with open arms. I hope I can be like the seagulls one day. Careless, flying about without a care in the world. That's the dream in my vision.*
"I just don't get it." Atlas blurted.
"Hm?" Zayne and Lias gave a puzzled look at him.
"So many years, yet I still feel like an outsider. Like my own mind. Separated. Below all those that are beside me. Adults always told me that I'll get it when I'm older, but now that I'm older... What was it? What is it that they know that I don't? I feel so behind, so unbaked. So many things people hide from me. I find it unfair. I want to learn. I want to explore. But no, the luxury of anything outside the boundaries of this damn ship is too good for me I suppose."
Lias gave Zayne a nod, and walked up to Atlas like a true older brother giving wisdom.
Placing a hand on Atlas's shoulder, "Atlas buddy, its good to be behind. What you think of luxury is hell to others. It's predetermined by the archetype of realm that one is born in that decides fate for their life." He sighs.
"What you feel right now Atlas... it's envy. Envy comes with the cost of forgetting what you have. People die in this ocean, Atlas. Brutally. Ordinary people only know land. Facing struggles that far surpass your knowledge. And what you have here should be cherished. That's just ok isn't it? What more could one want? After all, its what you want that matters brother."
Standing near the bow, both arms rested above the azure unforgiving condemner. Atlas glances downward at the judge from below. Can one decide fate even if they are under you? The mass focus on what's above, but what's below hides much more, enticing those with what's above. The below hides something far above what humanity thinks is ultimately above.
"I apologize for the tangent. The problem is that I feel so limited. But it is what it is. Like you said one time Zayne. Remember?"
"Yeah, it is what it is bro. Nothin' much you can do. But it'll come. When it does you might get tired of it, tired so much that you'll wish to see water. Just not this water." Zayne replied whilst firmly grasping his rod tightly as if preparing to capture a barracuda.
"At least I've you two guys. I-I seriously don't know where I'd be without you two."
"Good news for you Atlas, we ain't goin anywhere!"
Suddenly, something bit Zayne's fishing rod. Pulling harder and harder with the force of a lion. "Yo yo guys! Somethings pulling!"
"Reel it in! Reel it in!" Lias exclaimed excitedly in his all-black outfit melting in the blazing heat.
Fighting back, the rod pulled with all its might.
What type of beast could have bitten such a bait?
The line was struggling to stay intact at the matter. Zayne acted quickly. He wrapped the fishing line around the bars of the steel handrail, and pulled with full force. Over exerting himself entirely.
"Gah! Its powerful! A little help here guys, don't just stand there!" He stressed.
Lias and Atlas huddled around and pulled Zayne back as he pulled the rod closer to himself.
Pulling, pulling, they surely must have overpowered it by now haven't they?
No.
Its useless.
"What is this thing?!" Lias roared at the strength of whatever force was pulling at the other end of the rod.
It was getting stronger the more force the three pulled, as if it was playing around for a game of tug of war.
"Guys we got this don't worry!" As Zayne cheered onward, a squeak was audible.
He was slipping forward. The force had decided to take it seriously now. With Lias holding on tight to Zayne's torso, and Atlas pulling Zayne's right arm back with all his force, it felt pointless.
Resist! Resist! Oh how resilient they are. Have they learnt nothing from nature? Cruel, unforgiving, what can a human do?
Its hopeless.
Some creatures are just meant to be... better. But what does it matter? The weakest of creature can overpower the peak of humanity.. unfair isn't it?
That is life.
Inching, Zayne's feet crept closer to handrail, still cling to the hope of capturing this fish. "Zayne let go its too strong!" Atlas cried as he pulled on his arm with enough force to break it if not careful.
"Bro! I got this! Its gonna get tired eventually!" Zayne screamed with a cackle of pure euphoria.
Smiling, smiling, how is he so confident in the face of the unknown? Its admirable. That's my brother.
Their feet crept until-
SNAP!
The metal steel railing had broken in half.
"ZAYNE!" Atlas shouted, with all the air creeping out his lungs.
Its too late.
Unforgiving, the creature has yanked Zayne and Lias clean off the edge, flipping them over the chrome-like steel railing like ragdolls. Shouting, whatever was audible of their voice was dragged down. Swallowed indiscriminately into the roaring waves along with them.
Soon came the splash swiftly after they had fallen.
Atlas's silver pupils dilated, widened, they had felt this before. But when?
Froze, the world had froze, they had touched the ocean, they touched the ocean.
They're in the fu##ing ocean!
What do I do? What the hell do I do man? I'm scared, goodness I'm scared, that's my brother.
The unthinkable had occurred: They grazed the ocean.
Heart racing, blood boiling, muscles loose. But in Atlas's mind, silence; Pure silence.
A thought crept.
That water.. that death trap... they'll be eviscerated no doubt.
Rushing rushing, Atlas grabbed the emergency flotation ring. Ripped a flare gun and a hunting knife from a nearby box.
No hesitation in that boy's eyes.
Without thinking, he leapt.
Soaring he wondered;
Why am I here? What is this all leading up to? Everyday, I get more questions than answers. But if I can only do one thing right in my life, I wouldn't be mad if it was this one. Please brothers. Don't fail on me, hang on tight.
Falling he realized he was submerging.
Into hell.
Splashing, the azure hell grasped his figure like a million piercing wintry hands. Fighting through that pull, hell had stopped him from pursuing the sea. Clawing through the merciless waves, he shouts. The weight of salt and memory flooded into the ocean was coming back, but he ignored it. This is no time for melancholy.
Thinking it was hopeless, he spotted his brothers. Gripping for life on the creature.
What is that? Is it a shark? No, it cant be. Its too large, alien-like.
Facing damnation, he persisted.
Why is the universe so indifferent? How is this justified?
Fate is only a word, why the hell does it determine life!
I don't accept that! Like hell I ever will! I don't care if I die, deaths not important right now, let my brothers be safe... PLEASE!
The monster, pale, like an uncanny shark the size of a small building. Little did he know, the grim reaper was right in front of him.
Testing him.
Its pure charcoal eye opened. It looks. Indistinguishable, it was bizarre.
Like a smile with too many teeth.
Lias and Zayne clung to the beast as it slowly strolled the treacherous waters effortlessly.
Atlas screamed underwater, drowning of noise, but one could feel his contempt from all realms.
Rage surging through his veins like a river, he stopped at nothing.
Inching closer, Atlas was at deaths doorstep. The eye was gazing into the soul of the starless. Condemning. Fate is funny isn't it?
Instinctively, unsheathing the dagger from a holster on his ankle, he surged upward like a flying fish. Breaching the surface, he broke the water's tension, and fell stabbing the beast right in its eye, gouging deep, and twisting his all his might as he yelled with a primal scream of hatred.
A middle finger to the indifference of order.
It screeched with a bellowing indistinct pain in its eyes. It had never felt this way before. The apex predator had been wounded. It's screech is a horrid blend of whale-song and avalanches all at once.
Naturally, the beast flailed, and had shifted the water, backing off the boys. Then whipping its enormous tail in the ocean to launch the boys near the ship.
The ghost-like unearthly creature that resembled a shark, had veered, bleeding, and stopped moving. It had gave out. The order is truly fascinating.
Atlas quickly grabbed his brothers by their collars with scorching and burning arms, kicking the water like a rabid animal. Inching closer and closer,
The ship is so close.
So close.
Giving out, everything stopped. A moment of peace?
Don't be rash. There's always something. Something to pour salt onto the wound.
A vibrating, yet soundless thumping beneath the depths of the sea.
Boiling, something was coming, it's heat was rising.
A monstrous shadow eclipsed the blinding lights from above, with heaps of ocean and ecosystem falling off of it.
Why? Why now? Why is there more? WHY IS THERE ALWAYS SOMETHING!?
Rising, Rising... It hadn't halted.
A leviathan.
Is this the way things were meant to be?
Its cracked maw opened like the mouth of a dormant volcano.
You're towering above the ship, Above the visible sky, Above the very world. Kissing the stars, why does it get to see them? How is that fair?
It was handed the gift, yet it doesn't comprehend it.
If it spoke, I'd ask it, what do you see?
But no, the way things are, it seems as if fate was awake from below to punish me.
To stop the inevitable.
Zayne's eyes went blank in awe. Lias nearly fainted.
Atlas floated there, in the face of the god from below, holding the two like a lifeboat.
He looked up.
"Not again.." Atlas said in an audibly weak voice. He's tired.
Reaching for his ankle, he grabbed the flare gun, shaking uncontrollably.
"I'm scared, I'm scared. Its cold, please go. Just go..." Atlas echoed weakly.
He bit off the flare cap with his teeth, Ignited it.
The flare, please... please work... Somehow.
A red scream of falling judgement from above flew straight into the open throat of the dancing, laughing, bellowing leviathan as it stares in hunger.
Flinching, It hadn't realized what had happened. With more confusion than hunger.
Then roared, blowing away the clouds like bubbles.
But Atlas hadn't flinched.
Desperately, he fired another. And another. And another.
Two had landed into the raging beast's throat again, as it gets angered, It decides to charge Atlas.
Atlas closes his eyes in front of fate.
All of a sudden-
The last flare had landed into the creatures eye socket. It begins thrashing in pure agony, like a spoiled child.
Going back to it's intention to eat Atlas, It tries to do so. As it slower, in obvious pain, It halts.
The leviathan's eyes are lifeless. How?
From below its jaw a noticeable chemical heat was glowing inside of it. Then, its head melted off, lifeless, even after death it still intends to kill.
The merciless condemner of fate has fallen.
It's body convulsed, like it had a mind of its own. Slowly falling, it crashed into the ocean with a tidal explosion of true defeat.
Racing, the entire crew had raced above to the top layer in silence.
Awestruck. Paralyzed. They were above the three boys like mannequins as they stared in the eyes of death calling to their name.
A noise escaped Kaya's lips. "Oh.. oh dear." She echoed.
Atlas with his face cut, dripping blood from the flare's recoil, with burns on his arms, legs wobbling, head spinning, had dragged his brothers back to the edge of the ship that was broken.
He lays down in exhaustion, and takes notice of the alarmed crew. "Something wrong?" Atlas strains with whatever strength he has left.
"ATLAS! Are you okay?!" Kaya screamed rushing toward Atlas as she picks him up and lays his head on her lap.
"Yeah.. yeah I'm fine. Just a little tired..." His voice drowns in a deep slumber.
Vos quickly orders, "Everyone! Get the boys first aid! Amaya, prepare the gauze, and Carlos, check their vitals!" Vos gave a worried expression.
He wonders why that damn boy never called for them.
Who in the face of that thing wouldn't scream bloody Mary for help? Its like if his brothers weren't at risk, he wouldn't have had the strength to keep going.
My son... you're naive. But brave. I'll give you that.
This ship would've faltered in the event that it survived.
"Atlas.. My child.." He whispered.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." He mumbled, as tears escaped his eyes.
He looks up, and "Uncle, is everything okay?" Sark interrupted his thought.
A storm flared in his eye, "Yes sark, I got dirt in my eye. Hah." Vos gave a forced weak laugh as he stared into the sky.
You always stare at the sky Atlas. Saying there's light out there that we cant see.
What do you see son? What do you see.. Are you calling out to him? Your blood?