The smell of the salty ocean breeze fills my lungs as we sail across the calm waters. Winds start to pick up as the golden sun begins to set over the soft skyline.  Tomorrow is race day and we decided to squeeze in another quick training this afternoon to prepare us for the competition. 

The team consists of me (Austin), Georgia, Jace and Carter. Carter has been my best friend since as long as I can remember. We've grown up together, learnt how to compete in multiple sporting events, and shortly after, we graduated college together.

In our final year t college, Cart and I met Georgia, our engineer. Five years passed and Cart, Georgia and I are the closest we could be. Only this year did we meet Jace, our medic. Jay, although serves as an amazing rigger, gets terribly sea sick whenever we sail. He stays below deck for the most part but comes out when we need him for first aid.

Because of his seasickness, Cart had to learn how to do Jace's job as rigger. That leaves but one position, the helmsman, that's my job. I direct the vessel and those on board.

Today is the calmest day of the week but the wind's starting to pick up and the water is beginning to roughen because of it. 

As each new wave forms under the influence of the wind, the tender, less aggressive waves gently lap the side of the yacht.

The rain starts to pound against the tops of our heads, leaving a slight stinging sensation as it hits. "Go about! Turn towards the-" I stopped. Facing east, I can no longer make out the land we'd come from. A small island is the only land visible. Looking as if it had no form of civility or human contact in all its life, it stood there in all its arrogance, almost mocking us as we flailed about on our boat.

"What were you saying, Auz? You trailed off there" Carters voice is barely audible compared to the strength of the storm. Even so, his projection seems louder than I've ever heard him speak before. "Uh- I," I stuttered, "I was just saying that we should get out of the storm before it gets too rough out here."

Georgia cautiously creeps towards the bow to get a better perspective on our situation. "I think we've already waited too long for that. The only land near us is that island to the left, Auzzie. We'll need to wait out the storm there."

She comes back to the stern to grip onto the railing as we swing towards the island in a quick motion, and head into the bay.

As the storm peaks to its full power, visibility has lessened and control over the ship becomes feeble.

We're moving way too fats and in this weather, there's no slowing down. If we're going to attempt this feat, it would likely result in us capsizing and possible fatalities. On the other hand, we're going at such a great speed at the moment that we have no choice but to crash.

"Alright, here's the deal; we've done this before and we can do it again. We're travelling too fast to slow down and too fast not to crash. We need all hands on deck if we're going to all make it out alive. Got it?" I chanted, hoping everyone could hear me over the roar of the crashing waves.

"Georgia, go get Jay, we'll need him too."

"Got it." she replied, already sliding down the ladder that leads to the cabin. As soon as she was out of ear shot I muttered under my breath, "We'll need all the help we can get."

Georgia returns up the way she went down, but she returned alone and looked incredibly pale. Usually, Georgia is an 'almondy' shade but at this moment, she looked almost ivory. 

Naturally, I wanted to ask her what was wrong but I was still confused and focused on trying to maneuver the ship in the most gentle way possible.

My curiosity got the best of me and I decided to investigate. "Georgia, what happened?" I asked weakly, still fixated on the island ahead of me. She utters words that I can't understand but I can tell by her tone that they aren't good. She stares blankly out to see as if she's considering jumping.

Pure horror fills my mind as I let my imagination begin to assume possible disastrous theories to explain why Georgia was acting so peculiar. Nothing seems to be certain and my mind keeps venturing to places I refuse to let it go. Hesitant but antsy, I ask again, "Georgia, talk to me. What's wrong?"

She stares at me blankly before visibly breathing deeply, and letting her words flow out into a sentence that makes time stand still. "It's Jay," she spoke, "he's not moving. He won't wake up, he won't move. I've tried everything." 

I'm speechless as I try to think of a logical justification for him to be unresponsive, but I can't. I just doesn't make sense.

"Did you check his pulse?" Carter chips in eagerly. "I-I think so but I'm not sure. I'm not the medic, Jace is!" Georgia responds.

"We'll deal with Jay when  we moor. Right now we need to concentrate on a safe landing." 

In unison, the whole crew looks at me astonished.

Awestruck, the crew stands there uneasily, practically daring to speak. Finally, Carter picks up the courage to to express his opinion, along with delivering the others' as well. "We're just supposed to leave Jay below deck like nothing happened? How could you do that?" He screams. His words more passionate and powerful than I've ever heard spoken.