PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz
Suddenly the ferry lurched. Passengers fell from seats; drinks flew through the air slopping their contents. The boat levelled, everyone resumed positions amid nervous chatter. The journey continued, equilibrium seemingly recovered, but a sharp tilt to starboard sent people reeling again. Screams, panic, confusion! Anxiety crawled up inside like an intrusion of cockroaches. Seeing water flooding into the bar, her fear intensified. The ugliest side of humanity exposed itself. Drunken men shoved children aside to reach lifeboats. She dragged heavy legs in rising water. Another sway, a surge of seawater. Her head was submerged, leg trapped, fighting to break free.
Word Count: 100
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Clare Hempstead 
My greatest fear of riding ferry’s revealed. Great write! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Jellico. I tried to comment on yours, but it came up with ‘This comment cannot be posted’ – not sure why so here’s my comment on yours: Nice mis-direct. I thought she just didn’t like sailing, then WHAM! I saw it as terrorism too, but that may be because we’re seeing a lot of it at the moment!
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Dear Clare,
Ferry frightening indeed. Love the title. Good story, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle
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Some nicely built tension Clare. Like the short, snappy sentences. They enhance the atmosphere. Nicely done
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Thanks Lynn.
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My pleasure 🙂
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This is a great reminder of some of the worst accidents I have heard off… we had one in the Baltic sea 1994… when MS Estonia sunk. 852 died and it’s the deadliest European ship accident happening in peacetime…
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Thanks, Bjorn. The picture reminded me of a ferry disaster many years ago, where the rear doors weren’t closed properly.
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A nightmare scenario. Terrifying.
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Thanks Iain.
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Not a really good way to go. YIKES! Scary.
Marvelous, Clare. Really suspenseful.
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Thank you very much.
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Exactly why my wife does not do water. Have been known to drive 50 miles out of my way to not take a ferry. Yikes!
DJ
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I love going on a ferry. It’s great to feel the wind, smell the sea, watch the land disappear at one end and then come into sight at the other.
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Anxiety like an intrusion of cockroaches. Love that.
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Thank you. I had to ‘Google’ what a group of cockroaches are called and loved it when I found it is an ‘intrusion’. It fit particularly well in this instance.
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Very frightening. Well done!
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Thanks Sascha.
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A scary scene. I liked your description of the “every man for himself” mentality.
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Thanks Draliman. I’m glad you liked it.
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Very well described. A most terrifying thing, for sure!
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Thank you, Dale.
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You brought the rising terror to life in this piece. I love the line “Anxiety crawled up inside like an intrusion of cockroaches.” Great story.
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Thank you. I looked up what a group of cockroaches is called and loved ‘intrusion’. It fits so well with their persona.
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Wow, Clare. That was wonderful! :o)
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Thanks very much 🙂
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Shades of Zeebrugge. Well written horror.
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That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the photo!
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Wow, this is so graphic. Brilliantly written Clare.
My story – ‘An empty bottle’
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Thank you very much.
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Great use of language here Clare, to describe a horrific situation but more so the emotions and nature of human beings
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Thank you very much. 🙂
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You’ve plunged us right into the tale — pardon the pun. It’s going to take some writing to get her out of this!
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;0 Thanks very much.
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Great descriptions! Ferries have never bothered me. Thank goodness, since I need to use them for travel to certain places in the Puget Sound.
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I enjoy going on a ferry. I think it’s a lovely way to travel. Thanks for your kind comment.
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Wow! This took my breath away.
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Thanks for such a lovely comment, Dawn. 🙂
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There was a recent ferry disaster in the news. This story made it more real. Good description and writing, Clare. —- Suzanne
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