Last Call
Allen Blake knew he was going to die. It took two days of floating in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in a life raft with two other people and not enough food or fresh water for him to come to terms with that reality. Now he sits staring into the night sky wondering how such a beautiful sight could be laced with such misery and despair. Sleeping next to him is Bradley, his friend of over twenty years and Charles, a man he had just met a few days earlier. He felt somewhat responsible for Bradley sharing this torture, with what little he knew of Charles he gathered that he would turn on the two of them if given the chance. Over the next few hours Allen played the events of the last few days in his head wishing that he could go back and change the decisions that had been made that brought him to what he now assumes is his final resting place.
"Didn't you choose fishing the last time it was your turn to pick?" Bradley said to Allen in a condescending tone. "Last year Jeff picked scuba diving in a lost shipwreck, and cliff jumping in Brazil the year before that was all me. I thought we were supposed to keep ramping up the excitement on these vacations man." Allen didn't want to admit that business wasn't so good this last year and even split three ways the extravagant vacations Bradley and Jeff usually picked was a little out of his price range this year. His wife was always very supportive of Allen and his friends still spending this time together but he knew he'd have to cut a couple corners this year. So not only did Allen pick a more cost effective trip he also made sure the boat he chartered was the best deal he could find. Captain Cal's Fishing Charters: You've caught the rest now catch the best. Allen thought something that corny had to be at pretty affordable.
"Dude don't worry, this guy has the best areas mapped out and promised the biggest catches of our lives." Allen reassured Bradley and Jeff. Hoping they wouldn't pick up on the slight scent of BS he was trying to get away with. "Look I'll meet you guys at the airport tomorrow and we'll be on the boat drinking beers by night fall."
It was becoming hungry. Days had passed since it was able to lure in an adequate meal. The small seabirds that were brave enough to venture out this far had disappeared long ago; what little sustenance they provided was still better than the alternative of starvation.
