Chapter 8 - The Sinking Ship
The freezing ocean water rose past our ankles in a matter of seconds.
Emergency backup lights flickered on, casting a terrifying red glow over the hold.
"We're going to drown down here!" Jim screamed, thrashing against the rising water.
Bruce rushed to the steel hatch ladder and pushed upwards with all his might.
It was locked tight from the outside by a heavy padlock.
The water was already rushing up to our knees and rising incredibly fast.
I lifted Lily up and placed her safely on top of a tall stack of wooden shipping crates.
I frantically searched the metal walls for anything useful to help us escape.
I spotted a heavy metal fire extinguisher mounted securely near the bottom of the stairs.
I yanked it off the wall and waded quickly over to the steel hatch.
"Move out of the way!" I yelled at Bruce over the rushing water.
I swung the heavy red cylinder upward against the locking mechanism.
Sparks flew in the dim light, but the padlock held perfectly firm.
I swung it again and again, fueled by pure adrenaline and a mother's fierce rage.
On the fourth massive strike, the metal latch finally shattered into pieces.
Bruce aggressively pushed the hatch open and scrambled out onto the deck first.
He didn't even look back down into the hold to help his wife or child.
I passed Lily up to Jim, who pulled her safely onto the rain-slicked deck.
I climbed out of the hatch just as the water inside reached my chest.
The luxury yacht was tilted at a severe angle and sinking fast into the black waves.
The cartel men were absolutely nowhere to be found on the main deck.
They had already abandoned ship in the only available motorized life raft.
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We were trapped on a sinking vessel in the middle of a raging tropical storm.
Then I heard the distinct, rhythmic sound of a helicopter roaring overhead.
