Hello darlings! Just to clarify, this is a short story, and my main focus is still on my novel. 😉 But I just thought I should give you guys a taste of my writing! Hopefully it's a sweet one, and not bitter 😂🙈
Anyways, enjoy!

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Abigail's heart thudded wildly as she held to the mast. The wind howled, and a horrendous tearing sound ripped through the air as the white sail above them was torn and shredded. Abigail's stomach lurched as the ship threw her to the left heavily, then repeated the action on the right side. The inky night swallowed up any hope of spotting land, and Abigail felt despair swelling inside the pit of her heart.

"Hold tight! We'll get through this!" Clinton's voice rang out over the storm.

Abigail was hugging the ship's mast, and Clinton was behind her, pinning her to the wooden, thick pole. The deck was wet and slippery, and both their feet slid around. Despite the circumstances, in the back of Abigail's mind she worried about what people might think of Clinton should they see them at this moment. However, she couldn't deny the fact that she had missed the secure feeling that was created when he wrapped his arms around her, and for a minute, she imagined them back in the park, embracing each other fiercely. She could almost hear his laughter, and the birds above them, sitting in the branches of the trees.

The ship tossed sharply again on the monstrous waves, and Abigail lost her hold from the mast, and slipped out from under Clinton. She shrieked as she felt herself falling, the deck turning almost vertical. She felt the wind push out of her as she hit the railing below her, and fell into the dark green water, hearing Clinton's shouting before her head went under.

As her body slid into the sea, she gasped at the frigid temperature, and as a result, swallowed some of the murky water. When she finally surfaced, the dark shape of the ship met her eyes, rising and sinking rapidly. Her dress and the layers that made up her skirt were soaked, and dragged her down steadily. She looked up to see the ship sailing steadier away from her.

"Help! No!" Abigail felt desperate when she realised that her voice didn't even come near to over-coming the sound of the wind and thunder.

The sky lit up suddenly, lightning zipped across the sky, and the woman spotted a figure diving off of the vessel, and plunging smoothly into the ocean.

She longed to swim over to the individual, but knew she must stay away from the ship lest she be crushed under it's hefty weight.

A roaring wave turned onto her form, and she was pushed under the surface without any chance to take a breath. The sea spun her around, and flung her around like a rag doll, and any time she struggled to rise above the water, she was forced back under by the strength of the ocean. Abigail's lungs screamed for air, and she floundered wildly.

Abigail squeezed her eyes shut, and willed herself not to give into her body's yearning for a breath, because she knew she would only have achieved a lungful of water. Her head buzzed. Her clothes weighed her down considerably, but Abigail couldn't reach behind her to undo the mini buttons that trailed down her bodice.

Just as she felt she couldn't hold on anymore, her head broke through the water's surface. She gasped, and struggled her hardest to stay afloat. The threat of being shoved back into the watery world beneath her continued to taunt her as the waves fell onto her, and the rain pelted her upturned face. Abigail started to weaken, and with horror she noticed she was finding it harder and harder to keep her face in a position where she could breath. The wind blew harshly into her face, and made Abigail's eyes feel dry.

Though the night was dark, it didn't stop Abigail from spotting a shape ahead of her, but lost sight of it as a wave crashed down on it. A scream tore at her throat, and she kicked wildly, attempting to move away but to no avail. Was this how she was to die? Being torn to shreds by an animal belonging to the very waters she had been sailing confidently on just hours before? 

Lightning streaked across the sky, and the growl of thunder seemed to shake every nerve in Abigail's body. The wailing of the wind haunted her wavering hope.

She tried her best to stroke away from the shape that was now emerging out of the ocean. Abigail spun away in horror as it's face turned towards her, and it's body started closing in on her.

Abigail's wet dress floated around her, and she found it almost impossible to swim with the weight of it on her. The figure was still gliding towards her, and she tried to reach to her back and tear at the small, black buttons. However, the bodice tight and firm, stopped her from any form of flexibility.

Abigail watched as the shape came closer, closer towards her tiring body. Her already laboured breathing quickened.

The figure came within reach, and Abigail leaned back and used her legs to kick out at the thing. Two tight grips enclosed her ankles, and Abigail cried out. She didn't stop kicking, and succeeded in ridding herself of the vice-like holds, her mind whirring.

But her strength was spent, and though she tried to stay afloat, she found herself sinking steadily. Her eyes closed, and she hugged herself, teeth clenched. The water got colder the further down she got, and Abigail noted the increase of pressure as she sunk down, down.

Her ears picked up the sound of something under the water. Her eyes flew open to see the same dark shape swimming towards her. Two arms wrapped around her, and this time she didn't struggle. Through the haze of exhaustion, Abigail found it hard to believe that she hadn't understood that this wasn't a beast, but a human.

Abigail felt herself being pulled up, and made an effort to kick towards the surface. The arms that were locked around her chest were straining, and the woman felt her rescuer tiring.

Abigail's lungs expanded with air, and a coughing fit seized her body once the two reached the surface. She heard the one who had helped her intake huge breaths also, and a voice broke through the storm still raging. Now that they were above the water somewhat, Clinton used one arm to hold Abigail, and the other to tread water.

"Are you alright?" Clinton yelled, and Abigail relaxed somewhat at his voice.

She had no energy to speak, and could only focus on steadying her breathing. A feeling of safety made tears spill over, and her heart ached at the closeness.Water broke on top of the pair, and Abigail felt Clinton's arm tighten around her. The stubble on his face scratched her neck as he strived to keep the both of them above the roaring ocean. Abigail gripped Clinton's corded arm, and rested her head back onto his shoulder. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her limbs quivered with exhaustion.

Another wave pushed the two under, and this time Clinton took longer to get them back up. They both knew he couldn't keep this up until the duration of the storm was over.

Clinton's arm loosened from Abigail, and she felt him tearing at the buttons on the back of her dress. Abigail fought to stay above the water, as his arms were no longer supporting her, but felt a relief when the bodice loosened. Clinton peeled the drenched material off of Abigail, and while the woman felt freer, she couldn't but help feel a little exposed.

Clinton came back to help Abigail, and this time he felt more close then ever with only her thin underclothes between his torso and her. She had noticed a bit before that he was shirtless, and guessed he had stripped off his shirt to allow him to float easier.

Abigail could no longer see the ship, and somehow that made her feel more helpless then ever, with no hope of getting back. Panic arose in her as she thought about where she would have been if Clinton hadn't come... probably on her way to the ocean floor, blue and motionless.

The chilling water was beginning to cause her toes and fingers to numb, and Abigail held tighter to Clinton's arms, trying to transfer some of his body heat into her hands.

A black haze started enclosing Abigail's vision. She moaned, and heard Clinton shouting over the noise of the thunder and wind. She felt limp, and felt Clinton gently slapping her cheek, his tone urgent. The black haze swamped her eyes, and fell like a curtain over her sight.

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So how was it? Please tell me your thoughts in the comments, and consider giving it a vote if you enjoyed it! ❤️
sweetNsmiling xx