Written by: MermaidAriel13

300 MILES OFF THE NORTH COAST OF PUERTO RICO

August 14, 6:40 PM

Why the hell did I agree to do this?

Eric sneered at the two people lounging on deck in the pre-evening sun. Those goddamn fools had made him turn off the engine an hour ago and were now acting like this was some luxury cruise and not an attempt to escape the frigging apocalypse. This was exactly why he practically lived a recluse's life on his boat, away from 'civilization'.

"Stop it."

Eric glanced over his shoulder to find Aaron entering the bridge. The ginger with the sparkling green eyes and perfect cheekbones threw Eric a sly grin as he approached.

"I know you don't like we picked up those stragglers in Key West, but you've gotta stop being such a sourpuss about it, Blue-Eyes," he said. "You'll get frowny wrinkles on that gorgeous face of yours."

Aaron snaked his arms around Eric's waist and planted a sweet kiss on his neck. Eric leaned back against Aaron's muscular chest, finding comfort in his touch. He still couldn't believe their relationship had grown from colleagues, to friends, to lovers. Then again, maybe it wasn't a surprise. For months on end, they'd been each other's only company. That their love had bloomed on the Venus seemed only fitting.

"I'm sorry," said Eric. "I can't stand them."

"I can't either. That guy's a pompous ass, and I'm pretty sure the wife has had every operation a plastic surgeon offers. The only decent one seems to be the goth fourteen-year-old, but she scares the shit out of me, walking around like some angel of death."

"Tch, we should've left them in San Salvador. I don't care about the other five hundred grand. I just want them off the Venus, even if we maroon them on the next patch of land we see."

"Lord, how did I ever fall for such a cruel man?" Aaron laughed and leaned his forehead against Eric's shoulder.

"I'm not cruel, I'm practical," reacted Eric. "They're an inconvenience. Besides, we might not need the money anymore. We could all be dead by the end of the month."

He regretted saying it as soon as the words left his mouth. Aaron stiffened behind him. Slowly, he unlocked Eric from his embrace and stepped away from their position at the helm. Eric turned to watch his partner sit at the monitors, his expression sullen. He groaned silently. Fan-freaking-tastic. All right, time for some damage control then.

"Aaron, I–"

"Why do you always have to be such a pessimist?" asked Aaron, looking up at him from his seat. "Can't you just, for once, believe that things might not be as bad as they seem?"

"There is a giant alien spacecraft hovering over the East Coast. How can I not think the likely scenario is we're all gonna die?"

"That thing has been up there for two weeks now. If they were really going to invade and kill us, they would've done it by now. Besides, didn't they say a few days ago that the air under the craft isn't as polluted as it was before the aliens arrived? Who knows, maybe they're the galaxy's clean-up crew or something."

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Eric dragged a hand over his face. "Aaron, this isn't a movie where we all get together with the aliens and sing songs around the campfire. Their mere presence is ruining the planet. Animal behavior is changing, the weather is topsy-turvy, and–"

"And if the craft drops from the sky, it'll probably make the Earth go boom," finished Aaron. "Yeah, I know. You told me that and every other doomsday scenario you that occurs to you. I don't care. We're about to put an entire ocean between us and ET, so quit constantly worrying. The sooner we drop these people off, the sooner we can kick back on a black sandy beach in Tenerife."

Eric released a chuckled sigh. It didn't surprise him to learn that motivated Aaron's agreement to sail the Nolan family across the Atlantic. The week they'd spent there four years ago had been phenomenal. And it would be a welcome change of scenery after the many years in Canada and the US.

Aaron rose to his feet and closed the distance between them. He gingerly caressed Eric's jawline and then entangled his fingers in Eric's raven shoulder-length locks. Their lips brushed against each other. The fleeting kiss stirred an all-too-familiar heat.

"If things go bad," whispered Aaron, "and the world really does end, I'd rather spend my last days with you in our little paradise. Let me be the one who shows you heaven, Blue-Eyes."

"You already do each night you're with me," Eric said lovingly.

"Get a room."

The couple pulled apart at hearing an emotionless female voice from the bridge door. The gloomy appearance of Nessa Nolan made Eric think of every vampire movie his cousin had forced him to watch during the holidays when they were teens. He completely understood why she scared the bejesus out of Aaron. Her lace clothes and high-heeled boots were black, her hair was black, her make-up was black, even her eyes were black. Honestly, Wednesday Addams had nothing on this porcelain-skinned girl.

"Is there something we can do for you, Miss Nolan?" Aaron mustered a smile while Eric imagined pushing her and the rest of her family overboard.

"There's something in the water," said Nessa.

"Yeah, they're called fish," deadpanned Eric.

He grunted when Aaron elbowed him in his side. His partner had a soft spot for kids, but to Eric, they were just another reason to avoid dry land.

"What did you see?" asked Aaron.

"A body."

They stared at her, flabbergasted by her reply. She said it with such calm, like it was a common sight out in the ocean. Eric was the first to regain his senses.

"Hilarious, kid. Gold star." He turned to Aaron, scoffing at the teen's attempt at a joke. "Can you believe–hey, where are you going?"

"Checking it out," said Aaron as he made his way to the door.

"Oh, come on, you don't seriously buy this crap, do you?"

"There could've been an accident with another boat or someone who fell off a cruise ship. Wouldn't be the first time that happened. You check the radars."

Eric tsk-ed when Aaron followed Nessa toward the aft. Unbelievable. He loved Aaron dearly, but he could be so gullible sometimes. Sighing, Eric sat down at the control panels. The radio hadn't picked up any SOS calls. Nothing on sonar either–whoa, hold on.

"Son of a bitch, not again."

Eric was a skeptic, but even he had to admit, something strange happened to the electronics whenever they sailed through the Bermuda Triangle. Fortunately, he knew how to handle the glitching screens on his right. He shut the controls off, gave the primary panel a good bang with his fist, and then turned everything back on. Worked every single time.

"All right, now let's see if I can..."

He fell silent when his eyes were drawn to the flickering screen of the underwater camera they used to observe and record marine life. It showed a peculiar circular pattern on the ocean floor. Several, in fact. Their intricate design was mesmerizing.

No way. But how is it so close to the surface? Wait...

Eric jumped to his feet, took the binoculars from their hook, and scoured the water outside. That shadow, it couldn't be...

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside. He turned right as a very agitated Aaron entered the bridge and closed the door behind him.

"We have a problem," he said. "The Nolan girl was right about the body. I used the hook pole to bring it closer. It was a young man. His lower half was gone. Noticed some driftwood further out as well. He must've been attacked."

"Let's not jump to conclusions. His boat could've been destroyed in that storm two days ago, and scavengers probably got to him after he fell in and drowned."

"It didn't look like scavenger nibbles to me, Eric. Something ripped the flesh and bones right off him. I didn't want the kid to see it, so I pushed him back out. Did the radars pick up on anything?"

"No, nothing. But, here, look." Eric handed Aaron the binoculars and pointed toward a spot in front of them. "Tell me what you make of that."

"Is that a sandbar?" Aaron's voice went up a few notes in astonishment. "In this part of the ocean? How? There aren't any islands close by."

"That's not all."

Eric turned back to the controls. His fingers moved nimbly over the keyboard, and the camera screen zoomed in. Aaron leaned in over his shoulder to watch, but then recoiled.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed.

"Calm down, it's not what you think, it's–"

Suddenly, the door swung open, making them both jump. In stormed Nathaniel Nolan, for once not in a five-thousand-dollar Armani suit, but a 'simple' Ralph Lauren leisure outfit. A cutthroat businessman, through and through, he had slick brown hair combed back, beady brown eyes, eagle-like facial features, and a rotten attitude to top it off.

"Ah, there you are," he said. "Now look here, Morgan. Next time I tell you to let us relax for a while, make sure we can do it without having to smell and look at a damn blood bath!"

As a rule, Eric despised anyone who used his last name so disrespectfully. But the blood bath comment spiked his attention just enough to let it slide. He pushed past Nolan to hurry out of the bridge and peered over the railing. The sight before him was unlike anything he'd ever seen before - not one, but three great whites. Their carcasses floated amidst chunks of flesh and organs. Even with the light fading from the setting sun, Eric could still clearly discern the blood around the dead animals. No doubt about it; this was a recent kill.

"Eric, what is—oh my God!" Aaron had come out to join him but instantly drew back at the carnage. "What did that?"

"I'm not sure," said Eric. "There aren't a lot of animals capable of tearing apart a great white, let alone three. I can actually only think of one. But I haven't heard of any sightings in these parts."

"Morgan!" Nolan suddenly bellowed from the bridge.

"Ugh, great, now what?"

The couple went back inside to find the enraged businessman near the controls. His trembling finger pointed at the camera screen.

"What the fuck is this, Morgan?"

"First, don't use that kind of language on my boat," reacted Eric sternly. "Second, that is nothing."

"Don't give me that crap!" yelled Nolan. "Those are damn underwater crop circles! You've led us right into an alien ambush in the middle of the fucking Bermuda Triangle!"

"Mr. Nolan, please calm down." Aaron put himself between Eric and Nolan. "The rumors about the Triangle are wildly exaggerated. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for what's going on."

"Pufferfish."

The two other men looked at Eric as if he'd lost his marbles. He continued, "This is what male pufferfish do to attract a mate. I saw something similar in Japan about a decade ago."

"You expect me to believe damn pufferfish did this?" Nolan's face flushed scarlet. "Pufferfish don't eat sharks, boy!"

"I never said the two events are connected," Eric said, trying really hard to keep himself from punching the guy's lights out.

"Listen you–"

An ear-piercing scream instantly silenced the discussion. Only one person on board could've produced such a high-pitched sound–Mrs. Nolan. The trio ran out of the bridge to find the bleach-blond bimbo in the Barbie-pink beach dress holding her daughter at the aft. Her head snapped towards them as they approached.

"The horizon! Look at the horizon!"

Eric raised his eyes. As the last rays of daylight painted vibrant hues of orange across the darkening sky, an ethereal emerald glow shone at the very edge of the disappearing sun. The green flash pulsed with an otherworldly energy, lasting only a fleeting moment before fading into the twilight's embrace.

"It's them," said Mrs. Nolan in a panic-stricken voice. "They're coming! We're all gonna die!"

"What the hell are you two waiting for?" Nolan grabbed Aaron by his shirt. "Get us the fuck out of here!"

"Let go of him!" Eric pried the violent man off his partner. "Now listen, this has nothing to do with the craft. It's a natural phenomenon that happens regularly out at sea. There's no reason to—"

The boat jolted. Everyone held their breaths, hoping the carcasses in the water had bumped into them because of a wave. Then it happened again, much stronger this time. Eric spread his feet to steady himself.

"Aaron, get the light," he said.

Just as the singular lamp at the stern flicked on, Eric heard the distinct sound of a blowhole. He peered over the water. A faint ripple broke the surface. And another further ahead. He looked at Aaron, seeing a streak of cautious apprehension on his partner's face. They'd both been sailing the seven seas for long enough to know that it harbored ferocious predators. Yet none had ever attacked their boat so brazenly.

"God almighty."

Mrs. Nolan's awed whisper drew their attention. They followed her gaze, eyes settling on a radiance flickering across the water. The dark ocean was transformed into a breathtaking yet ghostly tapestry of light. With each stroke of the waves against the hull, the brilliant blue and green luminescence drew closer.

All were quiet, entranced by the enchanting glow. Then Nessa pulled out of her mother's protective embrace. She stepped onto the casting deck, sat on her knees, and trailed her fingers through the water.

"Miss Nolan, step back, please." Aaron carefully came up behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder. The usually straight-faced girl noticed how everyone held their breath and rose to her feet. Just then, something collided against the hull from below. The boat rocked, and Nessa lost her balance. She plunged into the water, setting off an explosion of shimmering sparks around her. Her mother cried in terror as Aaron jumped onto the casting deck and reached out for Nessa.

"Give me your hand!"

Nessa stretched out. The tip of their fingers touched when, suddenly, she was pulled under. Eric lunged toward Aaron to prevent him from falling in as well. His eyes widened when a dark shadow passed underneath the boat.

"Oh my God!" Mrs. Nolan sped to the railing. "Nessa!"

All remained silent until the teen broke through the surface, screaming at the top of her lungs, "Help me!"

"Hold on!" yelled Aaron.

"What are you—Aaron, no!"

But Eric was too late to stop Aaron from diving into the water. Cursing, he opened the side latch containing the emergency kit and pulled out the neatly packed yellow rescue raft. He yanked the red tag and threw it out into the water. It inflated instantly.

Aaron was almost within reach when something pushed itself between them, driving her further away. Her desperate cries echoed through the night until, suddenly, they stopped. Mrs. Nolan clutched the rail with her perfectly manicured fingers, shouting her daughter's name.

Eric ignored her and searched fervently for his partner. Where did he go? He was there just a moment ago! And where was the raft?

"Aaron!"

There was no reply. Nothing broke through the heavy silence except the sloshing of water and Mrs. Nolan's weeping sobs.

"You bastards!"

Eric was rowdily pushed aside by an enraged Nolan. He hit the deck and groaned as pain shot through his shoulder. The sudden sound of gunfire roared through the air. To his dismay, Eric realized Nolan had snuck a Glock on board with him. When had he gone to the cabin to get it?

"Are you crazy?" Eric stared in horror as the mad gunman released another shot in the water. "They could still be alive out there!"

"Open your goddamn eyes, boy! My girl and your buddy are dead, and we're next! Well, I don't plan on making it easy for these alien freaks! They messed with the wrong planet, and they messed with the wrong human!"

Nolan aimed again, ready to fire. Eric scrambled up and jumped at him. As they fell to the deck, the gun went off, taking out the only light they had, thus plunging them into haunting half-darkness. They struggled and rolled, fighting for control over the weapon. Another shot barked. The moment they heard the body drop, they froze.

Audrey Nolan's head was turned toward them. The life drained from her hazel eyes. Blood spilled from the wound in her chest, staining the usually spotless deck. The bullet had pierced her already shattered heart.

Crying in anguish, Nolan disentangled himself from Eric's hold and crawled over to her. Eric saw his chance and ran. He went into the bridge and sent out an SOS. It was too late for Mrs. Nolan, but there might still be hope for the kid. And Aaron.

You can't be dead. You just can't! I'll find you, dammit!

Eric took out the flare gun, hoping other ships might be nearby. But before he could go outside, the starboard side of the Venus tilted up, and Eric stumbled, landing on his ass. The controls flickered as the collisions against the hull continued. Crashing sounds rose from the kitchen below. The water splashed as everything not secured outside fell in. A chilling scream that abruptly cut off told Eric that Nolan was one of those things.

With one hand on the helm and the other grasping the flare gun, he tried to get back on his feet. The boat tipped over. Eric lost his grip and slid away, right into the open entrance of the cabin below. He tumbled down the stairs and landed in the kitchen with a hard smack. Water poured in as it broke through the windows of the bridge.

Eric pulled himself up by the bolted table. The water was quickly rising. There was no way he could climb back up the stairs. And there was no other way out. He was trapped.

"Aaron," Eric whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry."

Short clicks made his head jerk up. Whatever had attacked the Venus, whatever had killed Aaron, was waiting for him. The hell he would give in to those monsters outside! If he was going down with his boat, he was damn well going to take them with him!

Eric found his footing on the leg of the table and reached for the stove to turn it on, dialing the buttons to the max. He jumped back into the water and aimed his flare gun up. His eyes locked on to the cascading water and the open door. A black tip poked through.

"End of the line, ET. From me to you. Choke on it."

He shot. A supernova burst within the cabin, and in less than a second, the Venus blew to smithereens, taking along everyone and everything near it. The blazing inferno cast away the darkness and luminescent waves, leaving the only witness to the event paralyzed in shock.

As the ocean slowly devoured the flames, the broken-hearted man's harrowing cries drowned out the wails that echoed under the surface.

<<<<< END >>>>>

Find more stories by MermaidAriel13 on Wattpad.

Lorraine Tramain is a writer of paranormal/fantasy and history, with stories dripping with excitement and drama. There is nothing she enjoys more than to put her characters through the ringer and bringing lovers together only to rip them apart. Plot twists are her forte. 

 A feisty Leo and redhead who loves to read and write, bake, draw, and dress up in cosplay and vintage clothes. She enjoys exploring the world, but will always prefer the quiet peace of home. Things she cannot live without include chocolate, musical theater and movie soundtracks, and her Flounder-hugsie.