The moon hung high and pale in the late Summer sky. Not a cloud obscured the stars that glittered and gleamed in the serene night sky. Beneath the stars, the calm and tranquil waves of the ocean rocked the RMS Indestructible gently.
For the first time in a very long time, Wyn had no concerns, no troubles, no worries. He was free from the adversities of his past, and he felt absolutely calm.
The gentle swaying of the ship relaxed Wyn as he stared at the picturesque and quiet sapphire waves that rippled through the ocean tenderly.
Wyn had remained on deck for as long as the ship had been at sea. Since he could not sleep, he found his position at the front of the deck to be the most comfortable. There, he could take in the exquisite view of the sky and the ocean.
The arrival of the chilly night winds prompted the passengers on deck to retreat into their cabins, but Wyn stayed. Somehow, the cold wind did not affect him. In fact, he enjoyed the crisp and fresh wind.
Wyn wanted to stay at the deck and marvel at the pleasing views for as long as he could. For the entire trip, if that was possible.
A cold wind had whistled down the deck, prompting the remaining few passengers on deck to head inside, when an Officer approached Wyn curiously.
"Aren't you cold?" His gruff, masculine voice prompted Wyn to look away from the ocean and towards the man standing next to him.
Wyn smiled politely at the Officer. "It's alright. I like it."
"Oh? Well, despite that, you best be getting in soon," the Officer had a strong Welsh accent. "The night will be getting colder, and we prefer not to have ill passengers on board. We can't have sick patients arriving on The Promised Land when it is being touted as a land of paradise, eh?" The Officer laughed.
Wyn turned to the Officer with an inquisitive mind. "Do you know much about The Promised Land? Could you tell me more about it?"
The Officer raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "You don't know about The Promised Land?"
"You see, I'm only a servant," Wyn fibbed. "I'm accompanying my Master, but I know very little about it. What it is, and why it's called The Promised Land and being advertised as a land of happiness. I wish to know more, if you would do me the good deed of telling me so."
"Ah, yes, well, I suppose I can tell you all about The Promised Land," the Officer nodded his head. "According to the government and the papers, it is an island recently discovered. The island ain't on any maps, you see, but it is confirmed that it's there, in the heart of the Caribbean Sea," he coughed and took a pause before continuing. "The city saw it as an opportunity. They want to inhabit the place, make it their own. A colony, if you would. Called for people of all walks of life to purchase a ticket. Anyone, really. Anyone who wants to move for all sorts of reasons can go to The Promised Land. The government wants people there to build it into a city like Springton," he coughed again. "That's all I know about it."
"It sounds wonderful," Wyn breathed in anticipation. "Absolutely wonderful."
"It's being hailed as a paradise amongst the people," the Officer added. "But I beg to differ. It's yet another town that will be built into a city and corrupted by the businessmen and merchants that are heading there. Very soon, that place will be rife with hatred and regrets, just like any other city in town. The promise of a paradise is silly," he scoffed. "Bonkers."
"Surely it won't be as you say," Wyn said with a hint of concern. "I have hope."
"Hope is good," the Officer nodded his head. "Even though it's useless. Make a wish, boy, perhaps that will do the trick."
The Officer continued to cough heavily and excused himself shortly after. Left alone, Wyn looked skyward and contemplated the Officer's words. He could not begin to imagine what would become of him if The Promised Land turned out to be like every other city in the world; corrupt and unjust.
Glancing at the stars in the sky, Wyn decided to take the Officer's advice. He clasped his hands together, closed his eyes and made a desperate, hopeful wish to the stars.
"Please, on all the stars of all the galaxies…I wish for a better life."
Wyn opened his eyes and stared at the stars for several moments, hoping that his wish would come true.
All of a sudden, the ship jerked. Shocked by the sudden move, Wyn held onto the railing at the deck of the ship tightly.
The air had turned dangerously silent. The sounds of the crisp Summer wind and the still ocean waves had disappeared. The gentle swaying of the ship ceased, and it appeared as though the ship was seating on the ocean, frozen.
Wyn looked over his shoulder at the officers and clerks on board the deck, who all stood surprised and dazed at the sudden jerk. For a moment, all appeared to be calm again. Wyn noticed the waves had begun to ripple. The wind was emerging, and the ship began to rock gently again. He sighed in relief...
Before anyone could process what was happening, the ship began to rock menacingly in the ocean. The calm winds picked up speed and howled against the night sky. The serene waters of the ocean turned high and choppy, moving the ship dangerously through the ocean.
Screams and shouts from frightened men, women and children blared throughout the vessel. Wyn struggled to keep his grip on the railing of the ship.
The ship rocked perilously in the ocean, and Wyn watched in horror as several passengers, officers and clerks were tossed into the ocean without mercy. He held onto the railing with all his might, but it was not enough. The waves grew thunderous, the wind yowling in his face. In an instant, Wyn was thrown into the ocean. He flapped his arms around and kicked his legs in an effort to resurface, but the strong and powerful current pulled him down into the depths of the ocean. The icy waters wrapped around his body, freezing his mind and his limbs. He fell deep into the dark ocean, and despite trying his best to keep his eyes open and his mind conscious, Wyn felt himself slipping away…
Terror and fear engulfed him as he descended into the ocean. His eyelids closed slowly. For a brief second, Wyn thought he caught a glimpse of a shining emerald object, but there was no time to process the sight. His mind drifted away, his eyelids shut, and darkness welcomed him.