The One-Off Stories

(For the Your Paper Quest Competition with the promt: Boats)

Traversing the Misty Shores was a dangerous at the best of times, never mind doing so on a lightless night. Yet, out of necessity, this was exactly what James was doing.

He consoled himself knowing that the trek across the whirling mists was only a few more hours, and had been uneventful, so far.

All he could see around him there was the swirling of the mists, made visible through reflecting the pale ice-blue glow coming from the hull of his Slipstreamer, a small flat boat now notorious for its use in illegal smuggling activities.

James wasn’t a fan of the term smuggler. Nor many of the other names for his now criminalised profession. He liked the term he was trying to coin, unsuccessfully: ’Acquisitions Expert.’ He was well aware that this was technically inaccurate but he though his self-imposed title carried more prestige. A sudden gust took him by surprise, rocking the boat.

He used to love sailing on the Misty Shores, but carrying unknown cargo for shady people from one island to the other, in the dead of night no less, was not what he had in mind.

Having a mist-faring career used to be so much easier.He thought as he looked at a large metal case at his feet.

The security on the safe was of a higher calibre than he was used to, as had been the offered fee.

Another sudden disturbance in the mist broke his thought. This time, though, he had to swing his weight slightly overboard to compensate for his cargo. In that moment he made the mistake of looking down into the sea of mist, seeing clearly the darkness and void below; he nearly lost his grip. To think that even after decades his heart still skipped a beat.

Before long another torrential turbulence of the mist came his way, though this time James saw something that sank his heart deep into his chest; a dim deep green glow on the horizon to his left.

He tried to change course to avoid the glow, he knew exactly what that meant and couldn’t afford to get caught up in a rescue, not now. Despite his greatest effort the green glow insisted on coming his way, so he had no choice but to deal with the drifter lost on the mist.

“Oh, thank the light,” A distant voice began, “I have been floating for hours.”

James’ body tightened uncontrollably. Without realising it himself he was still trying to steer away from the man in the floating vest, still unsuccessfully.

“I was certain this would be my last night in the Aerial!” The voice shouted, his silhouette now visibly floating in the mist, his green vest glowing bright now.

It still might be. A voice not his own spoke in James’ thought.

He instantly felt a jolt in his spine, visibly shaking the Slipstreamer.

“Careful there, friend!” The voice shouted in response, arms now waving, “We don’t want you falling in too.”

The man was now close enough that the light from the Slipstreamer illuminated his face. Within the mist James was certain he saw a grin on the man’s face.

Who does he think he’s fooling?Another voice not his own added, followed by another jolt through his spine, which rocked his boat even more.

The floating man was now close enough to flail his arms in an attempt to get picked up immediately.

“Now hold on there,friend,” James began as he stabilised his boat, “I’m already close to full capacity here, you joining would risk us both.”

The man stopped flailing and got uncharacteristically quiet for someone awaiting rescue, lowing his arms below the mist, out of sight.

Trying to hide something?A third voice joined in, jolt promptly ensuing.

“I can’t have you on board right now,” James said as he reached for something below his seat, “I can offer another vest to last you till rise of day.”

“That just won’t do, I’m afraid.” The man said as below the mist a mechanical click echoed.

Finally, he reveals what it was all about!A fourth voice joined shouted excitedly, as did the jolt.

Two black spheres, no bigger than his hand, rose up from the mist behind James; hovering menacingly. The floating man then started to rise out of the mist, revealing a small ice-blue glowing board he had been standing on.

“I have come for the content of that safe,” The man said as he revealed a weapon, “Don’t make me take it the hard way.”

James raised his hands slowly.

“Look,” James began, “I am not looking to put my life on the line here.”

The man smiled and the spheres immediately attached to the safe. They vibrated slightly, then the sound of metal shifting heavily came from within the safe. The top opened noiselessly and thick smoke tendrils rose from within.

I am free!All four voices shouted at once, echoing audibly across the mist this time, not just in James’ head.

Both men felt a sudden sharp lightning bolt rush through their bodies, paralysing them.

From within the safe a small silver cube rose. The top and bottom were all metal, but each of the four horizontal sides had a small window, through which a thick golden-yellow smoke could be seen swirling. The cube began to spin and as it did a green fluid expanded until it formed the ghostly bodies of four giant monkeys in different poses. All four of them swiped at the ambusher, knocking him into the mist, his screams suddenly deafeningly silent.

I! Must! Go! Now!They said one after the other.

A flaring sound emanated from the cube before a flash of light engulfed the area before fading.

Several days later the Slipstreamer was found ashore by the man awaiting his delivery.

He inspected the boat while on the phone, but found only an empty safe.

“The package didn’t make it,” He spoke calmly, “We’re back to square one.”