Image Credit: stuffpoint.com
You find yourself in the lower level of an old ship. A calendar on the wall says 1682. There is a small window, and the view is nothing but open sea and a setting sun. There is a staircase and you can see daylight at the top…
Lydia awoke to the sound of vomiting, the stench of urine and shit and the feeling of her body being buffeted against a rough surface. Her mouth was parched as her tongue scraped across her lips in a feeble attempt to quench her thirst. Her eyes searched for information in a near void of blackness. Straight on, a piece of paper crudely slapped upon wooden beams. In her blurred vision, she could make out four numbers:1682. As her eyes adjusted to the low lighting, she realized that she was looking at a calendar. August 7, 1682!
Dazed and out of sorts, she attempted to arise only to be slammed down by a sudden jolt. Something was not quite right. She stood up once more only to fall over once again. As she tried one final time to upright herself, a phantom hand grabbed her forearm. “Aye, where you going there, Missy?” Could it be? Was this her former lover disguised as some sort of rag tag sailor out of a pirate movie? God, he was wretched looking. And then she looked at herself. A gown of some sort corseted at the chest and waist. She was covered in a heavy shawl and her long flowing hair-did she have hair?- was atop her head hidden beneath a bonnet.
This was too weird. Where the hell was she? That tequila sure was strong last night. How many shots did she drink, anyway? As she looked around, there appeared to be others in the “hole” with her. Men, women, children in various states of sleep as well as health. Then that smarmy voice called out again .”Come on lovey, give it over a little.” One hand was at her breast and the other up her dress. But her foot reached the perfect target just in time for another rolling around the room. He screamed and she found herself up against a set of stairs, her head aching. She looked up. Daylight! Lydia mustered all her strength and crawled on all fours to the top.
“Hey, babe. Sounds like you had a rough night at Club 1682. I made your favorite breakfast and some strong coffee. But first let’s get ourselves in that warm bubble bath made just for two.”
Thanks once again to Kellie Elmore for the Free Write Friday prompt!
Building A Life Of Hope 
Wow!!!! Love it, Kim. So real and caught my interest from the start.
Thanks Oliana! Took me a bit to prime the engine but it was worth it!
Ah with our still cold winter (spring is not here yet with more snow since early this morning) we have to warm up the engine always 🙂
It is never ending here as well. Lots of rain today melting the snow but we are expecting more white in the form of snow and sleet tomorrow. So much for Out Like a Lamb!
Yes, I have to get to work and don’t dare take the car in case it is icy at midnight when I finish my shift. Well, in May it should be nice…haha
This was great; I loved the build up with a twisted surprise ending. I’m sure that hangover is going to be a doozy!
Yep the ending surprised me as well! No doubt about the hangover! 🙂
Quite the ride. Well done!
Thank you! Maybe the ship is a metaphor for a wild night out…
So good! You had me hooked the whole way through then I burst out laughing when I got to the final paragraph. Your descriptions were so vivid I could see the scene you wrote in my mind. Very well done indeed.
Thank you very much Suzanne. I had a hard time starting this one but then I just immersed myself in the experience of being somewhat out of control and confused. And Voila! I am glad that you found it humorous as well. 🙂
Good twist.
Thank you! You never know where this mind will go!
Love your vivid writing…I feel like I am there!
Thank you Sharon! I try to incorporate all the senses if it fits with the story line.
Wow! You had me hooked from the beginning. That was not an ending I expected 🙂
You know, I really struggled in my head about time and place. I wanted to stay true to the history. Then I thought why not a bit of “time travel”?
And time travel it was. Great piece. Liz
Thank you!! 🙂
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You are too kind! Left a comment on your blog. 🙂 Have a great day!
My gosh! Love how this threw me for a loop! What a treat, Kim! Thank you! xoxox
You’re welcome. Been in a bit of a funk (way too much work and not enough play these past 6 weeks) and the prompt helped me make a HUGE leap out of it. XO!!
Ahhhh, what a flash!
Ah thanks my friend!