The Mermaids

Chapter 5 : In Punishment

Samantha ran over to Will who had gotten into the boat in tears and dropped the sack full of food onto the lifeboat. She couldn't bear to watch her only brother have to endure that sentence. Then followed Sam who came with Alberta, a woman from the Indiana tribe who became their neighbor. Sam hugged Will in tears. Samantha simply couldn't and didn't want to imagine what Will would face in the vast ocean. He will starve to death or maybe drown in a storm. Indeed, a very small possibility for him to survive unless God sends His miracle.

Two guards pulled Samantha and Sam away from Will. They are screaming and cursing to get out of the hands of the guards who tried to block, but the guards seemed to have lost their hearts. Either because their hearts were really dead, or because they were afraid of the higher-ups. Meanwhile, everyone was silent. Watching the show is not entertainment at all.

Several other guards pushed Will's boat out to sea. Meanwhile, the owner of the small boat was silent. Staring at Sam and Samantha who were still crying bitterly. It's finished. For Will, this is the end of his sad life journey. He waved to his sister and son one last time. Samantha and Sam sat on the sand, languidly waving back at Will.

The lifeboats were further away from the pier. One by one the people and the royal guards had left the shore. Leaving Samantha and Sam still looking at the jar of Will which is getting smaller and smaller.

It was the same with Will, the dock in front of his eyes was getting less and less visible. Only the big ships belonging to the kingdom docked at the pier were still visible to him. But it didn't last long. Until finally he could only stare at the ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see.

He doesn't know how far he's sailed, but Will definitely wakes up hungry. He couldn't even remember when he fell asleep. No compass, no light. Making Will completely blind. He opened the sack his sister had dropped. There are a variety of fruits and bread, as well as a bottle of mineral water. Will took an apple and took a bite. Swallowed in silence, because he had no friends to talk to.

A smile grew on his lips. Not because he saw something funny, but laughed at his tragic destiny. He closed the sack tightly and hid it under the transverse log of the lifeboat. Keep it from falling due to the brunt of the waves. In any case, he should try to conserve all the available food. At least until he found a fishing boat that would give him a ride or at least find a small island to dock. Even if he was lucky, he might be able to find an inhabited island. But if not, then he must accept the fate of dying as one of the contributors to carrion in the ocean. Well, destiny is sometimes difficult to avoid. Will lay down on the lifeboat. He drifted off and closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

Raindrops dripped down his face and make him blink. Realized that the day had turned dark and cold. What's even more surprising is that mother nature is starting to become hostile. The rain slowly fell heavily, the waves grew fiercer and the wind grew stronger.

This is not good at all. As a fisherman who has been in the sea for a long time, he certainly knows that the wind he feels is a sign of a storm. Cumulonimbus clouds are approaching. The darkness Will felt made him blind to his surroundings. But the man's instincts could not be fooled at all.

Will paddled the boat with oars heading north. Try to find the island. Whether it was the right choice or not, at least he had tried. The wind was getting stronger, the rain was falling harder and harder and blocking the view.

It's late. The storm has come. The little lifeboat is like a small leaf in the vast ocean. Will tried to keep up with the waves as much as possible. But a lifeboat is not a ship, it can't fight too many waves with just an oar. The waves descended rapidly, forcing Will to hold on tight. Before long, waves tens of meters high had appeared in front of him.

"Oh, shit!"

***.

A little girl is running around in a flower garden. Chasing flying butterflies without any intention of catching them. Will approached with a smile on his face. He grabbed the little girl and smiled.

"You are so beautiful. Just like your mother."

The little girl didn't answer at all. She just smiled and laughed a little. Makes her face even cuter.

A woman in a white dress and floral bandana walked behind them. The steps are slow but do not leave the side of elegance. She touched Will's back with a smile. Will turned and put the little princess back down. Let her run again after the wild rabbits there. Will tightly hugged the woman who was now in front of him who was none other than Isabella.

"I miss you so much." His voice trembled as if he was holding back tears.

Isabella smiled while shedding tears, "I know it"

"I really love you."

"I also know it. You are the most amazing gift from God that He gave me. Just be yourself. You have to go back and fight for your life."

"Not! I want to be here with you."

Isabella shook her head.

"Sam still needs you."

Will endured the pain in his heart. He shed tears again. Isabella was right, Samuel still needed him.

The little girl is back. Will was just about to open his mouth to ask, but Isabella answered first.

"Aurora. Her name is Aurora. I hope you don't mind the name I give you."

Will shook his head, "No. Her name is so beautiful, like her mom."

Isabella smiled and took Aurora's arm.

"We have to go, Honey."

"No! Please,..." Will pleaded with a face that depicted the pain in his heart

"You are a great man. I'm so lucky to have known you. Thank you for the wonderful years and all your sacrifices. Now, get on with your life."

Isabella turned around while still holding Aurora's hand. The little girl smiled as she waved at Will. Will returned the wave with a hollow feeling. They were further away from the light. The further away and the light faded away until only Will was left in the darkness.

***.

Will opened his eyes. The water that entered his nose made him realize that he was still in the middle of the ocean. The storm has stopped. The dark clouds have been replaced by a sky full of stars. He kept swimming and trying not to drown. Take care of yourself so you can still get air on the surface.

He found nothing to help keep him afloat. It's very dark all around. The waves didn't stop and his body was tired, making him stagger several times and sink into the water again. The lifeboat is gone. He began to shiver with cold.

This is the end. The sad story of a man named William Smith. He must be one of the contributors to carrion in the ocean. The moonlit up the entire ocean, but Will's eyes were starting to fade. Until he couldn't take it anymore and began to sink. He really had given up and despaired. His body was sinking deeper and deeper into the ocean.

Amidst the remnants of consciousness, Will saw a girl approaching. Not! That's no ordinary girl. But a girl with a long tail. Until finally, everything turns dark.