The Tempest Beneath

The Vega lurched and rocked in the tumultuous seas in which it sailed. The dark stormy skies flashed with lighting outside the crew quarters of the hulking cargo vessel. Several sailors sat around a table nailed to the floor, keeping the lantern steady as an older man continued the telling of stories. His gray beard was encrusted with salt from years of sailing. His gruff voice spoke with a certain authority to the lesser experienced seamen who avidly awaited to hear what he had to say.

When the older man finally began to speak, the younger men snapped to attention. “So, you wish to hear another tale, hmm? Perhaps I shall tell you a cautionary tale, one to be warier of nights like these than you already are,” the man began, his eyes darting to each of them with an eyebrow raised. He pulled a pipe from his pocket and puffed off of it for a few moments before inhaling sharply and speaking again. “There are more dangers on a dark stormy night beyond that of turbulent waters and fierce lightning. Something that lurks beneath us, followed by a tempestuous storm and the wrath of the gods.”

This statement alone had the younger men enthralled, if not skeptical of the old man. One, in particular, in his early thirties with a black mustache and green eyes. “What kind of bullshit are you trying to spread this time Fletcher? More ghost stories of creatures that stalk ships beneath the waves? Creatures like that don’t exist you old fool. Even the legendary Kraken was proven to be a slightly larger squid,” the man argued with the now identified Fletcher, his glare and tone full of disbelief. Some of the others mumbled quiet agreements with the statement.

“Real or fake, who can be sure Jack? I would argue it's better to be cautious and informed rather than a poor ignorant fool. Now, may I resume after that outburst? My tale still has quite some length,” Fletcher spoke, eyeing Jack and taking a few more puffs from his pipe. “As I was saying, a creature who brings a storm and a fury. It’s massive, doubling the size of any palace back home. Nearly unseen thanks to the inky black material that covers its skin, well if it’s not the beast’s skin on its own. When it strikes, you’ll never know until it’s too late.”

These words brought the listening soldiers into a murmur, the veteran’s words carrying significant weight on this ship. Few of these sailors felt the same as Jack when it came to Fletcher’s stories. The old man continued his tale, “As I said, the beast is followed by a dangerous storm; some say this also leads to its seeming ability to disrupt electricity and devices. Not a problem for an older vessel like ours, mind you, but there are tales of those newfangled electronic ships being completely disrupted by the beast. No distress calls, no more navigation, and no more propulsion. Of course, we aren’t any safer; our doom is more based on the beast itself, and not our disrupted ship components. Either way, few will live to tell the tale,” Fletcher spoke, looking around at the group once more as they became more unnerved as this story went on. Though Jack still had more words for the old man.

“Are you serious Fletcher? Disrupting electricity? What tall tales are trying to spread now, a beast that can manipulate modern technology?” Jack asked, shaking his head in disbelief, never one to fall into these foolish stories. This old bastard must be senile. The Vega lurched again as it hit a particularly steep wave, making a heavy impact into the wooden hull.

“The story isn’t over Jack, now listen will ya?” the old man snapped at the disruptive one. “Everything I’ve said isn’t even the worst part of this creature. It has hundreds, if not thousands of eyes, all yellow, with an eerie glow and serpentine pupils. By the time you see them, it’s far too late. I suppose I should now tell you all how it hunts its prey. The territorial beast will lurk below its victim before springing up, wrapping long and eldritch limbs of inky black, speckled with eyes.” He explained, the ship lurching once more, far more roughly as if it had struck an obstacle on the open sea.

That alone was enough to stir more fear within the sailors, as they all sprung out of their seats, running to the door that exits them onto the deck to investigate the sudden halt. Though the door wouldn’t open, almost as if it was barred from the other side. Efforts to peer through the foggy windows were effortless as it was pitch black outside. Well, until a yellow light engulfed the glass, causing the sailor looking through to fall back with a shout. All the while, Fletcher sat in his chair, still calm as he puffed on his pipe.

“I suppose I’ve escaped the wrath of the Ink Tempest far too many times. I hope one of you can escape, to continue the tales of this monster.” Fletcher said, puffing one more time, before the side hull imploded and an inky limb covered in massive eyes flew in and grabbed the old sailor, dragging him out with fury and vigor. The ship began to crush and snap as wood gave out under the powerful grasp. Thunder crashed above as lightning struck the wooden deck, lighting a fire even in the pouring rain, almost fueled by this tempest. Little time is needed for the blazing ship to be crushed and dragged beneath the tumultuous waves, leaving few survivors on wooden remnants to float. These survivors left to the mercy of the sea may go on to lose their lives, or continue the stories of the Ink Tempest to future generations of sailors, including the ever-skeptical Jack.