FIG-Seek out Stranger
From Create Your Own Story
Scrambling over the rocky intertidal zone, you go in search of whoever was calling for help. You hear a man's voice, weaker now, call for help again. Your feet complain as you walk on the hot sand once more. The kelp is not much comfort. You spot the man in the distance, struggling to sit up. As you get closer, you can see he is wearing the same tattered sailor's uniform as the other sailors on your ship. In fact, his deep chocolate skin and black, scruffy beard look very familiar. You can't recall his name for the life of you, but you're certain you've seen him before.
Right as you reach him, the sailor collapses, too weak to move. His gentle brown eyes find yours and a flicker of recognition ignites behind them. He coughs, which makes him grimace in pain and clutch his side. You can see now how the tattered blue rags that were once this man's shirt now cling to the thick red stain that soaks his side. There is blood in his beard as well from a gash that is barely visible beneath the black hair on his face. He reaches for the gold chain of the pocket watch, dangling out of your pocket.
"I'm sorry," he gasps, wincing as he does so. "I failed you. You...asked one thing of me...and I failed. I couldn't...find Sebastian...among the passengers..." Another coughing spasm shakes the sailor's body and you bend down to try and pull him farther from the encroaching tide that is pulling at his knees. He grabs your wrist to stop you and a tear leaks out of the corner of his eye. "I failed you...Miss Julia...I..." His voice trails off as his eyes grow unfocused and vacant. Finally, they close forever.
You stumble back, horrified. You were too late to save him. You watch as the tide sweeps up around his shoulders, dragging his body off the beach and into the gently rocking arms of the sea. You finger the watch in your pocket until the pull of the tide at your ankles forces you to make a run for the jungle.
You've never seen palm trees this tall or this close together before which tells you that you're either from somewhere with a colder climate or from some urban area. You lean against one of the trunks and watch the tide come in with a sigh. What do you do now?
