Time Loop, Missing Scene, Pre-Canon, Out of Character, Animal Death, Injury, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse
> Trígōnon
> Kataigís
> Ipopsía
> Katadúō
> Ephiáltēs
> Atúkhēma
> Kósmos
> Thánatos
> Píptō
> Nóēsis
> Phónos
> Ekdíkēsis
> Hamartía
> Deúteros Bíos
SPLAT!
The car pulls over; Tommy is crying in the back as Jess's shoulders heave. Her whole being already hated today. Unbuckling and getting out of the car, she tiredly picks up a piece of garbage, some brown paper, and picks up the poor animal. It still feels warm in her hand as she walks across the small parking lot and throws it into the sand. Better to let the crabs pick at it on the shore than another animal getting hit trying to eat it on the side of the road, after all.
She stares at the bird a little while longer; she had always been told it was bad luck to kill seabirds. Of course she didn't believe it; it's just an old sailor's tale, but she watched a little longer as the waves brushed up against its feather. Maybe it was better that she brought it to the shore because it was just a little closer to the ocean it loved. She didn't have much longer to contemplate, however, because at that moment Tommy let out a particularly loud yell for her.
Her mood still sour, she gets back into the car, and breathing heavily, she slams her fists on the wheel. "Tommy!" she yells, "Tommy, shut up! I don't wanna hear any of this when we're on the boat, ok!"
Tommy quickly quieted down the minute her hands touched the wheel. She had put her windshield wipers on and sprayed some wiper fluid on, it making a horrific sound beforehand that had made Tommy scrunch up his face and cover his ears. She had learned early on with him that if she kept the sound going, he would yell and cry, so she figured it was better to just quit wiping the windows when it started up again.
The rest of the ride was silent. There was a small feather stuck just out of reach of her wipers that was bothering her, but aside from that, she appreciated the peace that Tommy was allowing her just this moment. Preparing herself to be around a group of people she doesn't know for a whole day.
Pulling into the harbor, she noticed she hadn't buckled when she got back in the car but shrugged it off. Turning behind her, she looked Tommy in the eyes; he lowered his gaze to his hands lying in his lap. "Tommy, look at me." He looked up at her face, not her eyes. "You're going to behave ok. These are Mommy's friends, and they want you to have a good time, so you're going to be a good kid for them, right?"
Tommy's eyes lowered again, and he nodded in agreement. She got out of the car and walked around, unbuckling him from the back and letting him get himself out of the car the rest of the way.
Jess grabs hold of Tommy's hand as they start walking up to the docks; a larger man wearing a sleeveless flannel walks up beside them.
"Jess!"
"Um, hello? Have we met before?"
"Might as well with how much Greg talks about you!"
"Oh, you must be Victor then. Where is Greg, by the way? I mean, which, uh, dock is he parked at?" Victor lets out a snort.
"You mean where is he docked? It's over here; we're gonna be late if we don't hurry!" Jess and Tommy follow him towards the Triangle. Victor looks over at them. "So you must be Tommy then, huh?" He says, "I'm Victor. I heard you like to paint?"
Tommy averts his eyes but nods slowly. Jess lets out a nervous chuckle, "He's a little shy; I'm sure he'll get used to you after we set sail." Victor tilts his head in acknowledgement as they walk up to the boat.
Greg is waiting there looking at them and pats Victor on the shoulder as he passes. Going up to Jess, he gives her an awkward half hug. "Hey Jess, Tommy, how are the both of you?" He greets, smiling.
"We're good, right, Tommy?" She squeezes his hand a little bit, encouraging him to reply.
"Y-yeah, I'm alright." Tommy says quietly.
Greg leans down to him, "That's good. Have you ever been on a boat before?" Tommy shakes his head no, clinging a little closer to Jess now that Greg is looking right at him. "Well, it'll be really cool. We're going to put the sail down, and the wind is going to help us move in the water."
Greg steps back up and shows them onto the vehicle, watching as Jess guides Tommy up the steps and lifts him over the water onto the deck of the boat. Other people are there waiting for the two, and Greg introduces all of them.
"This is Sally and her husband, Downey." They shake hands and greet each other, "This is Heather, Sally's friend. You met Victor already. So! Let's go sailing!"
"Hey, um, Greg, I was wondering if I could lie down for a while. I'm not really feeling the best right now." Jess hesitantly questions.
"Yeah, of course! I used to get seasick all the time when I first started sailing, but you'll get used to it. I'm sure Heather and Sally wouldn't mind watching over Tommy for you while you're in the cabin."
Jess nods, and Greg calls them over. Heather comes, but Sally stays put, and Greg explains the situation to her.
"Yeah, I'd be fine watching Tommy!" Heather exclaims.
Jess smiles at her. "Thank you," she says before taking hesitant steps down the steep ladder.
Heather looks at Tommy; he's sitting just beside where Greg is standing at the wheel and beside Jess's old spot. She decides to sit where Jess previously did.
"So, Tommy, what do you think of sailing so far?" She pauses, waiting for a response but getting none. "I think it's a little boring—" she playfully pushes on Greg's arm.
Greg seems a bit annoyed, rolling his eyes and replying, "I love sailing." He turns around a bit to once again face Tommy. "I live on this boat, you know, and so does Victor!" Greg faces forward again, pointing at the Bow where Victor is.
Tommy follows where his hand is, eventually speaking up, "I like it." He softly says. The two pause, waiting for him to continue.
"That's good," Heather says finally. "I wonder if there are any games we could play out here? What about I Spy, though that might be too easy? What do you think, Tommy?"
Tommy stares at her for a bit, replying a bit faster this time, "I like I Spy."
"Ok, well, then I suppose I'll go first," Heather says, she and Tommy going back and forth for a while before being joined by Victor when he makes his way back towards them. Greg stays quiet for the most part, mostly replying to Victor. Sally was sitting on the stern talking with Downey the whole time.
Jess's eyes slowly open, the Triangles unfamiliar ceiling coming into view. The light is bright but not enough to make her cover her eyes. She sits there for a couple minutes, just staring, until she hears the latch open and sees Heather's head popping down into the cabin.
"Oh good, your awake! Tommy was asking for some juice and Greg said there was some in the fridge down there!"
"Ok, I'll bring some out for him." Jess mummers quietly.
"Its ok! You still look tired, I can come down!" Heather turns around and begins climbing down the ladder to the cabin.
"No, no, I should get up anyways-" Jess's face lights up a bit, "What good am I doing on this trip if I just sleep the whole time!"
Heather has already gotten to the bottom of the ladder and starts looking in the fridge, "Well Ill just give you a couple minutes to come up then" she says as she grabs a jug of apple juice.
Jess stretches and swings her legs over the side of the bed, looking up at Heather who gives her a wide smile. Jess wobbles a bit as she stands and quickly moves to the couch in the, uh, living room area.
"How about a little champagne as well," Jess looks up at heather, "-to take the edge off. I mean, we both hardly know anyone here, I know more than you but still."
"Uh, sure, sure, that sounds good." Jess thinks for a second, "Just us though right? I wouldn't want Tommy to be exposed to a bunch of drunks or anything."
"Yeah, just us! I'm sure Greg wouldn't mind. And we'll only have a little, nothing too noticeable." Heather reaches up and plucks out 3 solo cups from a bag in the cabinet. "I wonder if Greg keeps any sharpies down here?" She says to herself looking through a couple drawers before clearly finding what she was looking for and quickly scribbling their names on each cup. Heather. Jess. Tommy.
Jess watches her closely, she pours the apple juice into Tommy's cup, then a little bit of champagne for the both of them. Moving Jess and her cups a little closer to the couch before grabbing Tommy's and making her way back to the ladder. "Could you hand me my cup when I get up?"
"Yeah, don't worry. Ill also be up in a minute." Jess brushes her fingers through her hair, watching as Heather smiles again and turns to go onto the deck.
Jess slowly gets up when Heather reaches the top, grabbing her cup and handing it to her. "Ill be right up!" She calls as she grabs her own drink and slowly makes her way up the ladder one handed.
Its both more windy and less windy than Jess expected it to be. And quiet. She sat on one side of Tommy while Heather sat on the other, though at a less familiar distance. Once Tommy finished his juice a politely placed it on the floor, there not really being anywhere else to set it, and tugged on Jess's jacket.
"C-can I go to the back of the boat?"
"Sure honey, do you remember the names of the people sitting over there?"
Tommy shook his head no.
"I can go with him." Heather offers.
"Oh you don't have to, I'm sure he can get there fine."
"I want to talk to Sally anyways!"
"Well, if you insist I suppose."
Heather and Tommy got up from their seat, Heather grabbing Tommy's hand as they made their way to the stern.
Greg suddenly turned to Jess, "So, how was your nap? Do you feel better?"
"Yeah, it was good. I feel better too."
"You still look pretty tired, are you sure your alright?"
"I'm fine." Jess shut him down, changing the subject. "How was Tommy? Well behaved?"
"Oh he was just fine! Him, Heather, and Victor played I Spy with him. Before Heather left to get him that juice I let him try and steer a little bit."
"That must have been fun for him! He hasn't really gotten out that much lately so I'm sure hes really enjoying this."
"Yeah... would you like to give steering a try?" Jess startled at that, not particularly wanting to shipwreck everyone. She took a large sip out of her solo cup.
"No-No thank you, I think Ill stick with driving vehicles with wheels!"
"wouldn't it be fun though! Its not even very hard, you just sort of hold the wheel and go straight."
"I still think ill pass! Thank you though, for the offer."
Heather can see Sally look back at them as they approach, rolling her eyes at the sight of Tommy. They had always had their differences, and Heather knows that Sally obviously likes Greg, but taking it out on Jess's kid seems like a step too far for her, still she cant let any of her worry show.
"So, Tommy, what do you want to do?"
"Sit." Tommy says, quietly.
"Ok." Heather takes a couple more steps forwards, tapping Downey on the shoulder. He hurriedly looks up and scoots over to make room for them. Sally goes quiet and looks away.
They sit like that, awkwardly in silence for awhile. Tommy's legs kicking back and forth like crazy and his hands rubbing anxiously on the cuff of his sleeves.
Downey, especially, looks awkward. Not really being close with Heather, though more than the rest of them. Eventually though, Tommy must get bored of looking at the ocean, not really having any observations about it or anything and when Downey finally starts to stand up Tommy joins him.
Despite Downeys discomfort at being responsible for the child he quietly lets Tommy hold onto his finger and they walk over to the wheel where Jess and Greg are.
Sally lets out a long sigh, "aug finally were alone! So, tell me the details, what do you think of Greg!"
"I think hes nice, definitely not for me though. I kind of like Jess, though."
"I don't. I cant believe he invited her-and she brought her, what, toddler."
"I think hes sweet, Sally!"
"Yeah well it shouldn't be our job to look out for some random child on whats supposed to be a trip for us to relax and kick back!"
Heather had listened to her complain about this before the trip as well, it didn't get on her nerves as much back then but now that shes met Tommy she feels a slight connection to the little guy. She could still understand the frustration but the kid seems, well he seems lonely, a little off, too. "Well, what else would she do with him? Its a Saturday after all."
Sally didn't seem to cool off at all but she stopped talking about it. Quickly getting back on the topic of Greg, "Ok but do you think you could just try and get to know him even a biiit better?"
"Yeah, as friends maybe. Sally I told you I only came out here because boats are cool, not to hit on your "lonely" friend. It didn't even seem like he expected me to come with."
"He never does-"
"Whats that supposed to mean?"
"I, uh-" Sally's cut off by a sudden still of, of well everything?
Almost immediately after the wind stops, everyone else stops, Greg tries explaining it away, they get some interference with their radio but are unable to make anything out, and one by one everyone's eyes make their way to the fast approaching storm.
"Everyone load into the cabin! Grab hold of something tight and don't let go until the storm is over, do you hear me!" Hurried yells of agreement are heard as Heather and Sally quickly run from the stern to the wheel.
Downey, Sally, Jess, Tommy, and Heather all make their way down into the cabin. Jess is holding Tommy, as he begins to get distressed. Loud, loud whirring can be heard all around them, the Triangle wont stop shaking, the lights keep flickering, and with each passing minute his cries get louder.
Heather can see the irritation on Sally's face at his crying.
"Shhh, shhh, don't worry its just a storm. We'll be alright. Don't worry." Jess flattens out his hair, pressing him into her chest while also holding onto the bolted in shelf at her side with all her strength.
Sally and Downey are much less afraid, that is, at the start. As the boat starts shaking further and further, faster and faster, they too start clinging to each other. Shouting can be heard between Victor and Greg and they work to keep the boat floating.
Heather is alone in her fear, and as one final horrible bounce of the boat toles a window breaks and her grip on the bed frame she was holding slips shes pulled right out. After her, the rest of them as well.
The storm stops, just as suddenly as it arrived.
One by one heads pop out of the still water, clamoring for anything solid. Jess still has Tommy in her arms but as Sally quickly notices, Heather is nowhere to be seen.
Another minute goes by, everyones gathered on the upsidown Triangle. Sally is still shouting for Heather to no avail. Once Jess gets Tommy situated with Victor on the boat, she lets out a wale, Tommy is breathing but the fear, the adrenaline of possibly loosing him is still fresh in her mind.
Sally, against Greg and Downeys wishes, gets back into the water. Diving and, with just her bare eyes to guide her, looks around for Heather some more. Swimming down, under the boat. There she sees Heather, just barely struggling, one pigtail is wrapped and coiled into one of the Ropes holding the sail. Sally quickly makes her way over to Heather, using all of her might to pull and grasp at it as Heather seems to start giving up.
Putting her feet upside down and pushing as hard as she can while pulling on Heathers hair finally releases her. Sally already feeling like a weight is pushing on her sternum with how long shes been under. She drags Heather to the surface, gasping for air, pushing her in vain up the bottom of the boat.
Downey and Greg quickly come to their aid, Greg pulling Heather out of the water and Downey pulling Sally. Greg checks Heather to see if shes breathing and right as hes about to preform CPR her eyes open and she rolls to her side. Water and vomit pouring down the side of the boat. She gasps, chokes, pukes, and repeats. Until finally shes settled down. Jess finally looks away from Tommy, who is still being cared for by Victor as shes just too much in shock to monitor him right now. She looks at Heather.
She shuffles over to them, not too close to get in their way but close enough that she can see her face. Greg is reaching down to cup some water to try and clean off the bits of vomit left on Heather's face and the boat as Heather just gasps and gasps for air. One of her ponytails is absolutely mangled and suddenly very short. A bit of blood is pouring down from her face as well, the same side that the fucked up ponytail is on, though it keeps getting watered down by Greg splashing her face with water.
Heather suddenly puts her hands up in front of her as Greg goes to splash her again, "Stop! stop." she croaks it out.
A moment of silence is felt throughout the whole group. And slowly they all start to process what just happened. They stay silent for awhile as everyone trys to recover.
Victor looks up, Tommy laying in his lap, he quickly glances around, taking in the sea around them. All around them. Behind them as well, and that's when he sees it, nothing else is near them besides one giant ship.
"Guys! Guys there's a boat!" Victor yells out and everyone looks at him, he turns his torso to point, and all the heads follow. One by one they each stand up, looking behind them.
Jess hesitates jumping for a second, everyone yelling at her to do it quickly and her feeling utterly paralyzed, but then she sees Tommy limp in Victors arms and decides to take the leap onto the staircase. Wobbly landing and all.
Her hands viciously grip at the railings as they all climb onto the deck, their already tired from holding so tightly to Tommy but her adrenaline is keeping her anxious and she just cant stop holding onto them.