I finally rubbed my sore arms away from the computer and submitted my last paper, with college graduation close at hand. To celebrate the end of this learning journey, five of my best friends and I planned a luxury yacht graduation trip and rented a private yacht to head for warmer climes. We are in a country where it's cold almost all year round, with only a month or two of warm summer days. I'm Caroline, by the way, and I'm accompanied by my partners, Lucas, who is a science major with a knack for all kinds of technology, including sailing, navigating, and tinkering with electronics, and who is at the helm of the yacht, Sophia, who is lively and open-minded, and who has a passion for exploring the unknown, and who will make the trip a lot easier, and Emma, who is quiet and reserved, and who majors in nursing. Leo is a fitness fanatic, and his body seems to contain infinite strength, which makes people feel solid, while John is obsessed with photography, and is keen on capturing the beauty of the world with his lens, so he is indispensable for capturing the wonderful moments of this trip.
The preparations before departure are tedious but crucial, and we have made a meticulous list of everything we need to make the yacht trip as smooth as possible. Let's start with the paperwork. Everyone checked their passports several times to make sure they were still valid for at least six months, just in case there were any changes to the itinerary. Visas are also in order, as are boarding tickets and electronic itineraries. For insurance reasons, travel insurance has also been arranged, so that in case of emergency, there is at least one to rely on. Cash, credit cards are also prepared, whether it is in the aspect of shopping in the port, or to cope with emergencies, can be easily. Clothing is also well prepared, casual wear, swimsuits, beach shoes, sneakers, flip-flops, sun hats, sunglasses, light jackets, raincoats, down jackets, down pants ... a variety of equipment to cope with different climatic conditions.
I have prepared 15 sets of underwear and socks for fear that the clothes will be wet, such as in the sea when the fog is heavy, the clothes will be wet easily, and it is difficult to wear. Raincoats, folding umbrellas, and baby warmers are also stuffed into the suitcase to cope with the changing weather. Living supplies, toiletries are complete, toothpaste, toothbrush, facial cleanser, shampoo shower gel, so that we can keep fresh on the journey. Sunscreen is the most important thing, 20 bottles of SPF50 +, resolutely do not let the UV rays take advantage of. Body lotion, lip balm can not be missing, the sea breeze raging, have to take good care of the skin. Boys razor ready, girls of all kinds of physiological supplies also full box, nail clippers, small scissors daily essential. Electronic equipment and charging supplies are not sloppy, cell phones, chargers, plus 10 high-capacity charging treasure, shore play power not to worry. Headphones, cameras, GoPros and drones are all on board, so you won't miss a moment of excitement. Medicine first aid kit is stuffed full, seasickness medicine, painkillers, stomach pills, cold medicine, antipyretic, band-aid, disinfectant cotton, mosquito bites, as well as allergy medicine for personal needs, antihypertensive drugs, alcohol, white wine, but also disinfecting the key moments. Entertainment and leisure supplies can not be unprepared, books, playing cards, board games, a long journey is not boring. Small generator is also brought, just in case of power outages. Food and drinks are well stocked, nuts, cookies, chocolate to replenish energy, instant coffee, tea bags at any time to warm up. Considering the Chinese couples on board, instant noodles and canned food are arranged to satisfy the Chinese stomach. Cola, Fanta, pure water, beer, rice, protein powder to ensure nutritional intake. Kitchen utensils and seasonings are well organized, so you can also make your own delicious food on board. We plan to leave tomorrow, and when we get on the boat, we will organize the supplies according to the type of items, so that they are easy to access. The rechargeable batteries will also need to be fully charged to ensure that the electronic devices are always charged. Everything is ready for this much anticipated yacht trip to begin.
Just as we were unpacking, a strange message flashed across the news - "Tokyo port blockade, mysterious flu in many places." We just casually glanced at it and didn't take it to heart. With everything ready, we stepped onto the yacht with great anticipation, unaware that a thrilling survival challenge was approaching ...
Episode 2: Crisis in the Dark
In the days following the sailing of the yacht, at first everything went as expected. We laughed and chatted on deck in the sea breeze, enjoying the rare moments of relaxation. As we arrived at each new port, we were like wildebeests, eager to immerse ourselves in the local flavor.
In Kingston, Jamaica, the white and delicate sandy beaches glittered with golden light under the sunlight, the coconut groves swayed, and the sea breeze gently brushed across the cheeks, bringing the salty freshness of the sea and the sweetness of coconuts. As soon as we stepped ashore, the tantalizing aroma emanated from a chocolate workshop tucked away in an alleyway, where the chocolate is said to be made from unique local cacao beans, blended with the passionate flavors of the Caribbean. When we stepped into the store, there were different shapes of chocolates on the rustic wooden shelves, and when we took a bite, the mellow, rich, slightly spicy and rum flavored taste instantly exploded in our mouths, and our sense of well-being exploded. We smiled at each other, and decided to carry a box of chocolates for each of us, thinking that when we went back, we would let our relatives and friends taste the unique hot sweetness as well. Specialty drinks are even more unique, with fresh mango, pineapple and other tropical fruits freshly squeezed, and then add the local secret spices, packed in ceramic jars painted with reggae patterns, sip, fruity, pungent intertwined, wonderful and ineffable, naturally, also manpower a box, full of return.
Singapore, Marina Bay, the glittering skyscrapers lined up, containers piled up on the wharf, loading and unloading of cargo cranes operating busily, ships from all over the world in and out, people coming and going, noisy and extraordinary. We walked through the multicultural bazaar and purchased what we needed. Seeing that the ship's supplies were one-third less than what we had on board, and the speed of consumption of all kinds of daily necessities and food was alarming, we didn't dare to have the slightest delay, and quickly replenished all kinds of items according to the list, not daring to leave anything out, because, after all, on the sea, supplies are the bottom of the earth for survival.
Emma and John are fascinated by the blue Mediterranean Sea, the elegant curve of the Bay of Angels, and the dreamy colors of street painters in Nice, France. The city was like a graceful noblewoman, tugging at their heartstrings with every inch of land and every strand of flavor. As they stood on the Englishman's Walk, their eyes filled with sadness and longing, they looked at each other and made up their minds to stay, with Emma whispering, "Everything here is calling to me to stay and immerse myself in this atmosphere of art and romance." John nods his head and agrees, "It's only four stops anyway, so we can just skip the last one and come back for the rest of the group on the way back." The crowd, though reluctant to leave, respected their decision, hugged them goodbye, and the yacht set sail again, heading for the unknown next stop.
With the yacht gradually away from the land, sailing into the vast deep sea, an inexplicable uneasiness creeps into the heart. Occasionally, when we passed by other vessels, we found that the crew of the other side looked in a hurry and acted strangely, and there even seemed to be panicked shouts from the decks of some vessels, but we could not really hear them because of the distance. Another time, late at night, Lucas in the debugging of communications equipment, inadvertently captured some intermittent, ambiguous distress signals, but when he tried to further lock the source of the signal, listen to the content, but nothing. These strange signs gave everyone a vague bad feeling in their hearts.
When the yacht docked at the fourth stop, the harbor called "Ghost Harbor", Lucas was the first to notice something strange, frowning with a puzzled look in his eyes, muttering, "What's going on? Why is this harbor so quiet?" I was also full of questions, followed closely off the ship, looked around and echoed: "Yes, according to reason, at noon, the sun is strong, there should be staff busy figure, why not a shadow of a person to see?" Everyone is apprehensive, footsteps unconsciously lightened, as if afraid to disturb the eerie silence. Drifting in the sea for a long time, signal intermittent into the norm, we have long been accustomed to not pay much attention to the phone. However, only stepped on the solid ground of the harbor, but the cell phone suddenly "beep beep beep beep" ringing non-stop, in this dead silence, the sharp sound is particularly frightening, seems to be from the hell of the alarm. The headline of the news came into view: "A new type of virus has appeared in Tokyo, and it is highly contagious, so please stay at home and don't go out."It was sent two days ago, and as my heart tightened, I looked at another message, yesterday's message was like a hammer blow: "The virus has spread around the world, and the government is working hard to develop a vaccine, so residents should wait at home for help." Before we could recover from the shock and scrutinize the shocking message, Sophia's eyes widened in horror, and her scream instantly cut through the silence: "Run, run, run!" At the same time, we only saw a few distorted monsters in front of us, with ragged clothes and weird greenish-gray skin, hobbling but with an inexplicable ferociousness approaching towards us, looking like crippled people struggling to move forward, but exuding a chilling aura. I instantly froze in place, my brain is blank, fear like vines wrapped tightly all over the body, but fortunately, Leo's reaction is fast, the usual exercise of the physical fitness of the moment played a role, he shouted, a drag on me, spread legs wildly run.People panicked, luggage scattered all over the ground also have no time to care, desperately running towards the direction of the yacht, Lucas hands busy feet rushed to the cockpit, start the yacht, hands trembling, the roar of the engine to break the dead silence of the harbor. For a while, the wind and waves beat against the hull of the ship, the harbor is still dead silent, only the sound of the wind whistling, seems to be playing an elegy for the end of the day. The crowd of people running for their lives, yacht emergency start to escape, this series of changes, tension and excitement to suffocate, every second is like being infinitely stretched, the heart in the chest beating frantically. When the yacht sailed away from the harbor, everyone collapsed on the deck, sweat-soaked clothes, pale, looking at each other, the horror in their eyes has not faded, the heart surged a terrible thought: we, perhaps the last survivor ... We've tried calling and texting Emma and John. But there's been no response at all. They may have been killed.
However, as the days passed, the shortage of supplies became more and more serious. Everyone sat around in the dimly lit cabin, worried, looking at the little food and fresh water left, anxiety spread in everyone's heart. Some sighed, others clenched their fists and began to discuss how to survive in this desperate situation, each proposal carries the hope of life, but accompanied by heavy difficulties. To add insult to injury, the cell phone signal was completely cut off, and the last trace of light representing the connection with the outside world was also extinguished. The fear of the unknown, like a dark cloud, covered everyone heavily, and in the darkness, the only sound was each other's breathing and the sound of the waves pounding the fragile nerves.
Episode 3: Survival at Sea
On the vast ocean, yachts drifted slowly among the waves, supplies dwindled day by day, and the oppressive atmosphere was as heavy as a lead weight. However, instead of sitting on our hands, we quickly divided up the work and did everything we could to survive with the limited resources we had.
Survival at sea is not easy. Food reserves were rapidly depleting, water consumption was strictly limited to 500ml per person per day, Lucas had adapted a simple rainwater harvesting device on deck to minimize fresh water consumption, and I was responsible for calculating the food ration accurately, while Sophia's emotions were breaking down, and Leo was encouraging us all in his own way, leading us in a simple physical exercise every day to keep us energized.
A damp, musty odor hits my nose as I enter the dim, cramped storage compartment. By the dim light, I carefully counted the food and water, taking precise measurements of each to make sure we could last a little longer.Breakfast is simple, with a few nuts and chocolates for each of us, and a cup of instant coffee, which not only refreshes us, but also brings a little warmth in the cold sea air. Lunch is slightly more substantial, we heat up a stockpile of canned meats and dehydrated vegetables on a small stovetop, and serve it with a steaming bowl of rice. Dinner is usually nuts and instant noodles, with the occasional cut up of leftover fresh fruit to share for a vitamin boost.
Lucas is in the sweltering heat of the equipment bay, surrounded by intricate wiring and instruments. He was sweating profusely, concentrating on adjusting the communications equipment, his eyes determined to miss any chance that he might find a signal from the survivors. "As long as we can contact the outside world, we're saved ... must find a signal ..." he muttered, sweat soaking his back.
Sophia sat in the corner with her head in her hands, her eyes panicked, anxiety twisting around her like a vine. leo saw this and walked over to sit beside her, gently patting her shoulder and whispering comforting words. His warm and firm voice seemed to be able to dispel some of the gloom. "Sophia, don't be afraid, we're all in this together, we'll get through it." he said softly.
However, a new crisis came.
The storm came, the dark clouds gathered quickly, covering the sky tightly, day instantly turned into night. The waves rose up like mountains, slapping the yacht hard again and again, and the yacht shook violently, as if it was going to be swallowed up by the sea. The yacht was swept into the unknown sea by the wind and waves. The crowd clung to the handrail and shouted in unison, "Steady! Don't panic!" Together, they responded to this life-and-death crisis. Just as everyone was struggling with the storm, something even more terrible happened.
On the night of the worst storm, our ship was attacked by unknown creatures. The "things" were not just ordinary zombies, but they seemed to have evolved some kind of water ability, and we saw shadows floating on the surface of the sea in the thunderous light of the late night. "They ... can still swim?" We were so scared that our faces turned pale, I don't know who said this.
A group of zombies appeared out of nowhere, using the cover of the storm to climb onto the yacht. In an instant, shouts and hisses were intertwined, and the people copied their weapons and fought with the zombies back to back. Some of the zombies were cut off the head, black blood splash; some were hit by the stick, the body twisted and fell down. The bloody and tense scene was chilling. "Chop its head, this is the key point!" Leo shouted, swinging the axe in his hand. It was hard to survive the storm, and before the crowd could catch their breath, they realized that the yacht had veered off course and was sailing into an uncharted sea, with mists and dangers before their eyes, and a bleak future ahead of them. "Where is this? How did we get here?" John asked in panic. The crowd looked at each other, speechless, their hearts are full of confusion and fear, can only watch the yacht in the unknown waters continue to drift ...
Episode 4: The First Blossoms of Hope
After the storm, Lucas stood in front of the navigation equipment, his eyes covered with bloodshot, but did not dare to be slack, staring at the flashing screen. Suddenly, his eyes widened violently, as if he had discovered a rare treasure, so excited that his voice trembled, shouting, "Look! There's land in the distance!" This voice was like a light that broke through the darkness, the people's originally lowered heads instantly lifted up, hearing this, they instantly cheered and jumped for joy, the haze that had been shrouding their hearts for several days was dispersed by this sudden hope, the light of hope was rekindled in their eyes, and some of them even burst into tears of joy and embraced each other to celebrate. Sophia, however, frowned, her reasoning was like cold water to quench the enthusiasm of the crowd, she worriedly poured cold water and said: "Don't be too happy too early, this virus is ravaging the whole world, the place may be full of zombies, it is dangerous to go there rashly."
After the storm, Lucas stood in front of the navigation equipment, his eyes covered with bloodshot, but did not dare to be slack, staring at the flashing screen. Suddenly, his eyes widened violently, as if he had discovered a rare treasure, so excited that his voice trembled, shouting, "Look! There's land in the distance!" This voice was like a light that broke through the darkness, the people's originally lowered heads instantly lifted up, hearing this, they instantly cheered and jumped for joy, the haze that had been shrouding their hearts for several days was dispersed by this sudden hope, the light of hope was rekindled in their eyes, and some of them even burst into tears of joy and embraced each other to celebrate. Sophia, however, frowned, her reasoning was like cold water to quench the enthusiasm of the crowd, she worriedly poured cold water and said: "Don't be too happy too early, this virus is ravaging the whole world, the place may be full of zombies, it is dangerous to go there rashly."
At this time, the cruise ship in the waves rocked more and more intense, the fuel indicator on the dashboard flashing rapidly, the fuel tanks have almost reached the bottom, there is no extra fuel for them to look for another place, there is no choice but to hard to the shore. Everyone rushed to the storage compartment in a hurry, rummaged through the dimly lit and cluttered compartments to find down jackets, and hurriedly copied the weapons they had prepared before, including homemade spears, sharp axes, and kitchen knives from the kitchen, each one with an uneasy heart and heavy footsteps, but with a hint of determination, ready to land.
Is this land a ray of hope or a continuation of the nightmare? We all have no idea, but we have no choice. The landing craft slowly approached the shore, emitting a "creaking" friction sound, breaking the dead silence of the coast. People carefully stepped onto the land, and what met their eyes was an abandoned fishing village, with decaying fishing boats stranded crookedly on the beach, fishing nets scattered all over the place, and the doors and windows of the houses closed tightly, dead silence, without a trace of popularity. Before everyone could catch their breath, a creepy hissing sound came from all directions, followed by a large number of zombies suddenly surging out of the houses, with twisted limbs, ragged clothes, and teeth and claws pouncing on them.
Leo was the quickest to react, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Run!" This shout was like a charge horn, the crowd instantly came to their senses and ran for their lives, rushing towards a towering lighthouse in the distance, the sand under their feet was soft, every step was extremely difficult, but fear drove them not to stop. After climbing to the top of the lighthouse, all of them collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, Lucas gritted his teeth, and used up the last bit of fuel to light the signal fire that had been prepared, the orange-red flame fluctuating in the gusty winds, and he hoped that the fire would penetrate the darkness and lead to help. But the zombies would not give up, stimulated by the flame more and more crazy, they hissed, with twisted limbs to climb the outer wall of the lighthouse, fingernails digging in the masonry to make an ear-splitting sound. The crowd gripped their weapons tightly, eyes determined, back to back in a circle, with the last of their strength to resist, every swing with the desire to survive, every block in order to guard the companions behind them. Just when everyone is exhausted, arms so sore and weak almost can not lift up, the distant sea faintly appeared the shadow of a ship, hazy outline in the fog, like the messenger of hope. But the zombies are still approaching like a tidal wave, and the putrid odor is almost drowning everyone.
The rescue team approached us carefully and sterilized and checked us before allowing us to board. They gave us clean water, food and medical attention. On board, we were told that after the outbreak of this global viral crisis, countries had joined together to form an international rescue organization to search for survivors. They found the signal fire from the yacht in the vast ocean and rushed to rescue us without stopping. After a period of sailing, the rescue ship arrived at a safe island.
Episode 5: A New Beginning
The people looked at the shadow of the boat, their hearts were mixed, both harboring a glimmer of hope for rescue, but also frightened by the raging tide of zombies in front of them.Leo waved his axe and shouted at the top of his voice: "Brothers, hold on! Maybe that ship is here to save us!" Everyone gritted their teeth and tried their best to fight against the zombies. The ship also seemed to notice the difference in the lighthouse side, and gradually increased its speed towards the shore, but it didn't directly approach, but instead shot a searchlight towards us and shouted with a megaphone, "Are you infected? Please answer!" The ship's searchlight cut through the darkness and illuminated the area around the lighthouse. The crowd used the light to see the flag flying on the ship, which was actually a flag representing the International Rescue Organization. "It's a rescue ship! We're saved!" I shouted in excitement, my voice tinged with tears. Rescue boat quickly docked, a group of members wearing protective clothing, holding weapons rushed off the boat, quickly into the battle, they are well-trained, accurate shooting, in a short while will be cleaned up the herd of zombies cleanly. The crowd collapsed on the ground, the joy of surviving the robbery surged to their hearts, and tears came out of their eyes uncontrollably.
The rescue team approached us carefully and sterilized and checked us before allowing us to board. They gave us clean water, food, and medical attention. On board, we were told that after the outbreak of this global viral crisis, countries had joined together to form an international rescue organization to search for survivors. They found the signal fire from the yacht in the vast ocean and rushed to rescue us without stopping. After a period of sailing, the rescue ship arrived at a safe island.
The island was transformed into a huge survivor base with perfect medical facilities, ample food supply and a safe living environment. The people started a new life here, and they utilized their professional skills to contribute to the construction and development of the base. Lucas joined the communication technology team, responsible for repairing and maintaining the island's communication equipment to ensure smooth communication between the base and the outside world; Emma helped out at the medical center, using her nursing knowledge to take care of injured survivors; and by the way, Emma and John, who were far away from Nice, France, were found and rescued by another rescue team by chance, and eventually reunited with the group. Leo has become a security member, guarding the safety of the base with his strong physique; Sophia is involved in the distribution of supplies, she is conscientious and responsible, so that each piece of material can be reasonably distributed; I and the other comrades play with our creativity, organizing a variety of cultural activities on the island, bringing joy and hope to everyone.
As the days passed by, the base became more and more prosperous, and the survivors supported each other and worked together, gradually coming out from the shadow of the doomsday.