Maybe we should not go back to port

“John I have looked forward to this cruise for so long, can we make sure to take pictures everywhere we go.”

“Sure Rachel, I have been looking forward to this cruise as well, we have been working so hard to save money for this.”

As John and Rachel loaded their luggage into the car, they kissed the kids goodbye, and reminded them to call them only if there was an emergency. This time away was meant to be  a renewal of love for adults only, the first vacation of its type since they where married five years ago. John put the last baggage in the trunk and with a slam car doors closed and away they drove.

The feeling between them was magnetic. It is hard to raise children and keep the spark of marriage alive. This cruise was planned a year ago.  Just the right ship, with an itinerary that they both wanted, and at a price that they could at least afford a cabin with a veranda. It just so happened that the port of departure was within driving distance so no need to fly.  Seven days with no children, in laws, work, and life pulling them away from each other, heaven was waiting.

They arrived at the parking garage of the Long Beach California pier with two hours to spare. The boarding process was long and both wondered why they had to be patted down as though they were criminals, but the excitement of getting into their cabin made them endure about anything to get through the process. Soon walking the gangway to board the ship Rachel yelled, “last one to the cabin has to buy the first round of drinks”!

Off they ran, both getting very lost on the huge ship.  In fact after about 10 minutes of running up stairs, taking elevators, and getting confused in the huge atriums, John asked for  help from one of the stewards.

“You need to take the elevator to the spa deck, and then follow the signs to cabin 1234.” stated the steward. John’s skills of navigation soon had him in the room, waiting patiently for his wife.  Five minutes later with a knock on the door, Rachel walked in, through herself into John’s arms, and together embraced in a long kiss.

One hour later both freshened up, put on their clothes and headed up to the deck to watch the ship leave port.  They got a great spot right on the spa deck, next to the rail so they could wave goodbye to everyone.

“Wow, look at all these people”, John said. “I am amazed there most be about 3000 people on this ship.” A waiter came buy, we took two of the fancy looking drinks on his tray and enjoyed the sweet taste, similar to a mai tai.  Soon one was not enough and we each grabbed another drink. “This is going to the best vacation of our life,” shouted Rachel as she took a picture of her husband. “I agree” said John.

A huge horn blew and slowly the ship left the dock and traveled out of the port area. Several tug boats followed along side of the ship helping to guide her out to sea.  I remember both of us looking at the beauty of the Los Angeles skyline and the big skyscrapers.

“Oh this is a kodak moment”, John said as he shot several photos.

“Okay lets get the fun started,” said Rachel. “I thought we had about three hours ago, snickered John.”

“How about round two”, Rachel whispered into John’s ear.

“YES, YES, YES” said John.

A flash of light so bright put both them on their knees while covering their eyes with there hands.

“What in the hell was that! I can not see,” John shouted.

A sound of explosives went off that was so loud that caused immediate deafness in both of them. Soon both were laying on their stomachs with their hands over their ears, screaming at the top of their lungs, but unable to hear that they were making any noise at all. John slowly rolled over on his back and looked up toward the sky. To his utter amazement he looked over toward Los Angeles.

A massive mushroom shaped cloud was rising over what was the area of the buildings in downtown. It was so bright that it was hard to see what was left of the city. Just as John was about to speak a blast of wind hit them both so strong it blew them both about twenty feet toward the center of the ship, rolling on top of other people on board.

Rachel could feel her arm get stuck on some type of rail and snap at her wrist from the pressure of other people rolling on her.  John could feel shards of glass cutting him all over including one big slice on his right calf. People where literally flying all around both of them as they watched dozens go overboard and head toward the ocean below. Both of them reached out to each other trying desperately to hold on to each other as the ship began listing to one side.

All the furniture started moving toward them, luggage and people where being flung around like toys. The massive ship kept listing more and more until they had to hold on to keep from going overboard themselves.  Finally she started rolling back over to a normal position.

Rachel screamed in pain from her broken wrist, but neither of them could hear the scream at all. John remembered that they had a camera and took several pictures of the mushroom cloud which was now fully engulfing the sky above them and dark clouds began covering the sun.

John looked over to Rachel and immediately started to analyze the situation. Rachel knew she was in the hands of the best man in the world at this moment, her husband was a fully trained survivalist, who told her for the past several years that this time was coming.

“We will be fine Rachel, we survived the initial blast, and the wind is blowing toward the country not out to sea, so we will not face the fallout from the nuclear bomb. However we are going to have to get to the Captain right away.”

“Why”, said Rachel.

“Because we need to make sure he does not take us back to port!”

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This tale is an excerpt from a potential story-line that I am exploring for a new book.  The essence of the story is that of a couple whom finds themselves on a cruise ship when a nuclear bomb flattens an American city. The husband is a trained survivalist whom is prepared to survive the fallout of a nuclear bomb blast, and is well aware of false flag terrorism, however even with all his skills he did not prepare for how to survive on a cruise ship filled with 3,000 people all panicing.

The book will walk through what two weeks looks like for the couple as they identify there training to the ship captain, they are put in charge of leading the cruise passengers through the most difficult period of their life.  The ship is surrounded by navy ships, moves toward different ports, and rations food and water as the damage to the ship is slowly repaired while at sea.

A fictional thriller set under the backdrop of modern times in America.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this.

God Bless.