Moments In Time: A Collection of Short Fiction Read Online Free Page B

me.
    “You’re going to be too hot,” he said, smiling. “You will be running full tilt around the ship and sweating like a thief. You should shed some layers.”
    “I’ll be fine,” I replied. He was right, of course, but if my breasts were bouncing all over the place while I ran around, someone would notice and it wouldn’t bode well for me. He simply shook his head and waited.
    The deck was especially hot as the engines ran full steam, bringing us toward our destination. Sweat ran down Brennan’s bare chest, and my eyes were locked onto the sight of him. Long days alone with only myself left me mostly unsatisfied, and the thought of Brennan touching my body filled my head, making me turn away for a moment, disgusted at my thoughts’ betrayal.
    He had been cruel to me daily, forcing a barrier between us, but now in the roaring engine room, waiting for a fight, I only noticed his beauty. His scruffy face and toned figure made me shiver, and the thought of what was under his trousers brought a sensation low in my belly, long forgotten. A vision of Thomas broke into my thoughts, and vomit broke free from my mouth.
    “Get it up now, boy,” he said loudly over the roar of the engines. “Soon you won’t have time for that. Check your gear and prepare yourself.”
    My tools were all there and had been checked three times. Thomas the watch was pressed firmly in my hand, along with the picture of Thomas inside. Just as I finished a prayer to God asking for forgiveness for my sins, the battle began.
    The faint sound of gunfire could be heard in the distance. Our engines slowed as the unmistakable explosions came closer, then the ship shook violently and the communication tube came to life.
    “Gun deck three, section five has taken severe damage, repairs required.” The yells and screams of my shipmates could be heard in the background; the sound of soldiers’ pain echoed off the walls. Brennan took off at a sprint, shouting orders that I could not understand. The bindings holding my bust also restricted my breathing and halfway there, I had to slow before passing out. The halls were in chaos, people running and yelling, sweat pouring from everyone’s brows, and the look of concern on every single one of their faces.
    Upon entering section five, the sight before me brought shock and horror, and my limbs failed to move me any farther. Men lay burnt and bloody on the floor, their screams filling the room. Grown men lay with severed limbs, crying and screaming out for God to help them.
    My breathing became fast and hyperventilation set in. My chest wanted to explode when it could not get enough air, but the grotesque scene before me kept my vision locked into place.
    “Get these guns firing again, or we are all dead,” Brennan yelled as he grabbed hold of my arm and threw me toward one of the large guns. They were blown apart and it would be impossible to fix them. Fallen ammunition rolled underfoot, and for the second time since coming aboard ship, the ground caught me. As I dropped, my watch fell from my hand and sprang to life. It immediately looked around, turned its own knob, and ran off to fix the damage. When I hurried after, not wanting to lose Thomas a second time, things went terribly wrong.
    A small section of metal had torn free of the wall, and the fight outside could be clearly seen. We were outnumbered at least three to one. The enemy swarmed our ships like wasps protecting their queen. Their cannons fired at an almost unstoppable speed, and our ships fell just as fast. This was, in fact, going to be the end of everything I knew. This was the end of England, of my family, and my friends. Everything Thomas gave his life for was being lost before my very eyes.
    Then, in less than a second, something struck me in the ribs and a moist sensation ran down my side. The world slowly blurred and then went black.
    Brennan was right. I hadn’t lasted five minutes.
    • • •
    Thomas lay next to me, propped up by