Poseidon Awakens (Chapter 13)

Chapter Thirteen of a serialized novella
New chapters every Tuesday and Friday

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Who is that?” Frank’s eyes were wide.

“Hey...is anybody in there? Where is everyone?”

“It’s Miranda,” said Oscar. He looked upward and muttered “thanks” under his breath.

Frank unlocked the door. Miranda’s eyes were wide as she looked at them.

“I...I don’t know what happened. One minute I was speaking with the professor and the next I was standing here.”

Oscar smiled. “That’s okay, I’m just glad to see that you’re alright. Have you seen any of the other crew?”

“No, I haven’t. Professor...is the professor alright?”

Frank and Oscar turned to see their employer staring at the pile of ash on the floor, shoulders stooped and face twisted in grief.

“He’s...he’ll be alright,” said Frank.

“What happened?”

“The professor managed to stab Poseidon,” said Oscar.

“Look,” said Frank, pointing at the bloodstain.

“What? That’s insane,” said Miranda.

“It was a miracle,” said Oscar. “But the professor didn’t kill him...the god just faded out, so it’s possible that he could come back at any time.”

“But what about that other one,” said Frank. “The Kraken?”

“Haven’t seen him yet, but one problem at a time. Frank, can you stay here with the professor? I’d like to see if we can find anyone else.”

“Sure, but are you coming back?”

“Yes, I will. Still not sure of everything, but I do know that God has got this.”

“God?” Frank frowned. “Which one?”

Oscar laughed. “The Most High, Creator of heaven and earth and everything in them, of course!”

“Okay, I guess I’ll stay here then. Doesn’t look like the professor will be a problem. Oh, by the way, can I have that back?” said Frank, pointing at the gun in Oscar’s belt.

Oscar felt a twinge of fear, but then he remembered he wasn’t alone. “Sure, here you go.”

“Thanks...we’ll be here when you get back.

Oscar nodded, then he and Miranda left to search for the other crew members.

“I haven’t heard anything, Oscar,” said Miranda.

“That doesn’t mean they’re not here. I believe they’ve been released, but we may need to help them find their way.”

“Way? What do you mean?”

“Long story...but I’m confident we’ll find them. How many would you say are really missing?”

Miranda shrugged. “Not sure...dozen maybe? I saw most of the crew leave a few days ago myself. So...where we lookin’ first?”

“Where we’ve already looked, I guess.”

“So what’s all this talk about God?” said Miranda, frowning. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve had my fill of ‘em.”

“You must not know the True one, then,” said Oscar. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I promise you, the Most High is in control. Put your trust in Him, and see what He does.”

Miranda shook her head. “No. I grew up in church...all they did was fleece my parents out of money, and then finally, destroy their marriage. My father left us for their music director and I had to drop out of school so I could help mom pay the bills.”

“People are imperfect, Miranda, you know that. Why would you blame a perfect God for what imperfect men do in His name?”

“I...look...we can talk later...I thought we were supposed to be looking for the missing crew?”

“Right. Let’s keep searching.”

Miranda opened the galley door and gasped. The crewmen were seated around a table staring at their empty plates.

“Hey...where were you guys?” said Miranda.

The men didn’t look up. Oscar sniffed the air. Sulfur! He touched one of the men on the shoulder, but he didn’t acknowledge their presence. None of them did. It was as if they were still in a trance.

Miranda moved closer to Oscar. “Oscar...I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

He nodded. “Don’t worry...everything will be fine.”

“Fine? Are you kidding?” She pointed at the men. “This is not normal...we’ve got to get off this ship...find some help.”

Oscar shook his head. “Who do you recommend we call? The cops? Doctors? Look, you said it yourself, this is not normal. No, we deal with it, right here, right now.”

“Well...congratulations on making a strike against Poseidon. Pity you didn’t have my longsword...we could be celebrating right now.”

Oscar shook his head. “Shut. Up.” That squid was trying to worm his way into his mind.

“Oh, tough guy huh? Wound Poseidon and all of a sudden you’re Hercules? I know the guy...trust me, you’re nothing like him.”

Miranda punched his shoulder. “Don’t you tell me to shut up.”

“No, no...sorry, I didn’t mean you.”

Miranda’s eyebrow shot up. “Voice in your head?”

He nodded. “Yeah...it’s the Kraken again.”

“Oh, sorry I hit you. I thought it was just me.”

“You hear him too?”

“Yeah. He said you’re no Hercules, and that he wished you’d used his longsword on Poseidon.”

“Has he said anything else to you?” said Oscar. Don’t care if you’re listening or not...you’re not the one in charge...the Most High is.

“Something about what he’d like to do when he gets his hands on everyone,” said Miranda, frowning. “Not good...do you think he can be defeated?”

He shrugged. “Not by us. I’m trusting in God to take care of this situation.”

“God? He doesn’t care.”

“I used to think that too, but recent events have shown me that He does care...very much. Even if we don’t understand why things happen, they will work out as the Most High intends them, and because He’s good, the outcomes will ultimately be good.”

“Right...” said Miranda, her arms crossed in front of her. “I tried that praying stuff before...it didn’t help, so I quit.”

“That’s okay. God is patient. And if you think about it, the Kraken could have already wiped us out, as could Poseidon. But why didn’t they?”

“I don’t know...they like to toy with their victims?” Miranda sighed. “It’s hopeless...we’re all going to die here, and that’s the end of that.”

Oscar leaned in close to Miranda. “I think it’s because God has them on a leash. In other words, He’ll only let them go so far.”

“Well, they’ve gone far enough if you ask me,” said Miranda. “I mean, destroying the professor’s notes, killing that poor diver...”

“You see, that’s just it. As far as I can tell, everyone is accounted for – either they’ve left the ship, or they’re right here, in front of us. Of course, there was one guard, but...”

“Guard?”

“Yeah...when I snuck back here the Kraken took out one of the guards, but my point is that they could have done so much worse.”

“You’re a nice guy, Oscar, but aren’t you a little naive? They’re still here, they can still kill all of us, even if we don’t see them.”

“Yes, they could. But I don’t think they will. Come on, let’s get back to Frank and the professor...these guys are alive, and I don’t think they’re going anywhere.”

“And do what?”

“Don’t you think that they’d want to know we found the men...alive?”

“Who can say...especially the professor. Alright, let’s go.”

“Hey,” said Oscar, “have you had any more voices in your head?”

Miranda gave him a sideways glance. “No...not since that last threat. You?”

“No. And I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t glad...it’s kind of unnerving having voices pop in my head.”

Miranda nodded. “Me too.”

“So they’re just sitting there...frozen?”