Ari knew that the boat couldn’t hold together for much longer. Filled with knee-deep water and bursting at its seams, its inevitable demise was only a matter of time. As if confirming her thoughts, another wave crashed into the side of the boat, sending a shockwave through the entire vessel and prompting the wooden hull to squeak and crack ominously.
But there was still a tiny ray of hope, as Ari caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a sizeable ship getting thrown around by the same unrelenting force of nature. A simple silhouette on the horizon that was her only hope of survival.
What is it doing here in this weather? Nobody in their right mind would go through this storm without a good reason. What is it here for? Are they coming after her? They couldn’t have noticed that she went missing so quickly… no… and they wouldn’t send such a big ship. She couldn’t fall into their hands again… not anymore…
She didn’t have time for these thoughts. Whoever was there on that ship, was her only chance of survival. She couldn’t let it slip away, even if it meant starting her escape from the very beginning. She couldn’t die here.
Without any further hesitation, she turned the rudder, directing the boat towards the distant vessel. She acted quickly, throwing aboard any materials she could find in hopes to lower the weight of the boat, including the last barrel of provision. It’s not like she would need it in any outcome. The only thing she kept was her old toolbox, she would rather die than let go of it. But despite all of her efforts, the progress was slow. She wasn’t moving quickly with the torn sail not catching enough wind, the waves getting in her way, and the elusive ship didn’t seem to get closer fast enough. Can she make it before her boat completely gives in to the unrelenting power of the sea?