Crash Landing (Part 9)

Emmanuella turns around to face the Commander, but General Violet stands behind him shaking her head at Emmanuella.

“You think you can come onto my ship and to whatever you please?” The commander’s rhetorical question stings Emmanuella’s ears, but Kwame steps in between the two.

“Your ship seems to be out of fuel; you should be more concerned with the safety of your crew, scientists, and soldiers, Commander.” Kwame directly challenges without a flinch, so Commander Ferrari steps forward glaring at Kwame, but the ship jerks knocking everyone to the sides.

The propellers on the side of the ship make a decrescending noise until the propellers stop spinning. The fire inflating the balloon dies out, and the ship turns to a dive. Kwame embraces Emmanuella, and just before the screams begin, Emmanuella sees the awful recognition in Commander Ferrari’s frozen glare. He knows.

The ship plummets, and those tied to the sheets are whisked off the ship to safety. Everyone else sides to the diving end of the ship. Kwame grabs a hold of the ship's railing with one hooked arm while the other arm holds onto Emmanuella. Emmanuella grabs hold of the railing herself and yanks herself up to the deck of the ship. She helps Kwame up, but when she rushes for the ropes, he grabs hold of her.

Commander Ferrari lunges at Emmanuella with a sword, but Kwame kicks him into a mast. Kwame lunges for Ferrari, but Emmanuella grabs Kwame’s arm.

“We have to jump!” Emmanuella announces. She dashes to the tip and dives with Kwame behind her. Pain spikes from the center of her back extending outward, Emmanuella’s body spins around just in time to see Commander Ferrari’s foot fall from his kick.

“A captain never abandons his ship, but a woman would never understand!” Commander Ferrari yells. 

CRACK! It feels as though someone hit Emmanuella in the back of the head with a bat. The sea captures and encases Emmanuella providing warmth, protection, and comfort. The ship crashes into the sea shattering into splinters taking the balloon with it. Emmanuella sinks accepting the rest the sea has to offer. She’ll go home to Grandma and Grandpa.