WTF Happened Last Night?! Exploring a Mysterious, Saltwater-Filled Bedroom

Alice awoke in a haze, her head throbbing, and her lips dry. She couldn't remember the previous night, and when she struggled to sit up, she realized she was in an odd, saltwater-filled bedroom. She rubbed her eyes and peered around, attempting to make sense of her surroundings.

The room was small and barely lighted, and it smelled musty, which made her nose wrinkle. The walls were lined with shelves holding jars of what appeared to be sea life preserved in brine. Seaweed was piled up all over the wooden floor, which had uneven boards.

As she tried to piece together what had happened, Alice's heart started to beat quickly. After going to a pub with her friends, all she could recall was going out. She rose from the rough-hewn log bed and made her way over to the window. Outside, all she could see was a big swath of turbulent, dark water. She was sailing.

She discovered a handwritten message on a table by the bed as she fumbled about the space looking for an exit. It said, "Don't freak out." "You are secure. Last night, we discovered you floating in the ocean. We hauled you onboard because you were unconscious and hypothermic. When you're feeling better, we'll go over everything.

As Alice struggled to recall how she got into the water, her thoughts began to race. She had always been a good swimmer, but she was unable to recall anything that had happened the night before. Instead, she made an effort to pay attention to her surroundings, taking in every nuance of the weird, saltwater-filled bedroom.

She discovered a trapdoor in the ceiling as she looked about the space. She forced it open and ascended into the confined area above. She could make out the outline of a ladder heading up to the boat's deck despite the dimness and musty smell.

She ascended, squinting against the intense brightness. The boat had frayed ropes, and rusty rails, and was undersized and damaged. A man was in charge, his hat's wide brim hiding his face. As Alice came up from below deck, he raised his head.

In a rough voice, he said, "Good morning. "Do you feel better?"

Still attempting to process everything that had transpired, Alice nodded.

The man held out a calloused hand, "I'm Captain Jack," he said. "You're lucky we came upon you at that time. The sea is not forgiving right now.

Alice shook his hand as she exhaled a sigh of relief at not being the only person on the boat.

She said, "Where are we going?"

Jack responded, "We're going for the mainland." "Even though we are a fishing boat, we are always on the lookout for anyone in trouble. You're lucky we came across you.

Alice tried to piece together what had happened the night before as they were sailing. She could only vaguely recall going out with her buddies after that. Had she gone swimming? Had she been forced into the water? She was unable to confirm.

She was uneasy, and Jack tried to reassure her. He related tales to her about the sea and the unusual creatures that lived there. He demonstrated to her how to tie knots and control the boat. With the pace of life on the sea, Alice noticed that she was growing more at ease.

Jack brought out a map and showed Alice where they were as they got closer to the mainland. They were on the east coast, distant from any significant ports or cities, he said. An anxiety attack hit Alice. She had to figure out a way to return home. Even if her friends knew where she was, would they?

Finally, Alice couldn't help but feel grateful to Captain Jack and his crew as she got off the boat and onto the dock. Her life had been saved, and they had guided her through the night before in the hazy waters. She was still feeling uneasy as she left, but she knew she would never forget the strange, saltwater-filled bedroom or the circumstances that had brought her there. "WTF happened last night?" she muttered to herself as she inhaled deeply and prepared herself for whatever lay ahead.

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