Previous Instalments:
- Ghost Ship: The Horror from Cape Horn – Ghost Ship: The Mystery of the Leviathan
Ghost Ship:
The Leviathan
Chapter 1:
2005
Adelaide, Australia
The heat was sweltering as the sun shined bright in the sky but it was in the cavernous drydocks of Port Adelaide an eager anticipation permeated; Vincent Johnson a man who’s passion for the ocean was only rivalled by his neatly trimmed beard – he clapped his fellow co-worker and longtime friend; Tim Wilson on the back – Tim was quite the burly oceanographer that usually had a booming laugh and was the second Aussie of the team, at present; Tim found himself wrestling with a particularly stubborn array into place on the deck of their research vessel; The ‘Lady Luck’ “Almost there Tim; just a few more degrees starboard eh?” Vincent called out a grin splitting his face
Around them, the ‘Lady Luck’ a modest but well equipped biological research ship buzzed with activity; Victoria White, a marine biologist that had travelled from Yorkshire meticulously checked the integrity of their deep-water sampling cages, humming a rather jaunty tune.
Nearby was Sarah – a Texan with an unusually quiet demeanour, she was the team’s indispensable tech specialist and already, she was hunched over the bank of monitors in the cramped confines – yet efficient lab, her fingers a blur across a keyboard.
Then there was the newest addition of the team; Randall – Randall had travelled with Victoria from Britain, he had originally met her during one of Victoria’s visits to his college in Manchester alongside other speakers, while he didn’t dare to admit it, he found Victoria rather alluring – as a fresh-faced member of the team, still wet-behind the ears with enthusiasm he was practically alight with excitement.
Randall had just finished loading the last of the provisions; a trolley piled high with crates of food and drink “It is always this much…., organised chaos Doctor Johnson?” he asked, wiping sweat off of his forehead
Vincent glanced over towards him with a light chuckle as he adjusted his wide-brimmed hat “Randall; this is simply the calm before the storm…, or, rather it is the calm before the utterly fascinating, occasionally frustrating but always exhilarating storm of discovery; the South Pacific mate, it is an uncharted biodiversity, potentially new species…, it will be glorious!”
The atmosphere was infectious – jokes were thrown with casual ease, and comments about seasickness remedies and the potentially problem of the ships cook with their questioning culinary skill – a gruff but kind ex-fisherman named; George.
The captain: Steven Vance – a man whose face was a weathered map of his experiences, stood on the gangplank, he was a quiet sentinel overseeing the final preparation, he offered a rare, thin smile to Randall as the lad nearly tripped over a coil of rope.
This was the typical ritual – the lively prologue to every expedition, a comforting blend of professional efficiency and shared camaraderie; they were a team, a family of the sea about to embark on a grand adventure.
Chapter 2:
It would be a few days later that the ‘Lady Luck’ was slicing through an unnervingly placid segment of the South Pacific; an endless darkened blue stretched into the horizon reflecting the shimmering light of the sun – Randall observed the glassy surface from the stern, he couldn’t shake the feeling of mild disorientation “Is it usually this calm?” he queried, his eyes drifting towards Victoria who at present was adjusting a sensor “I always pictured the Pacific as a churning tempestuous nightmare; this is almost like a bathtub”
Victoria looked up, a faint frown creasing her brow as she glanced towards the ocean “It has its moods Randall; but…, yes, today it is exceptionally serene; perhaps a little ‘too’ serene…, but it is excellent for sampling at least” she offered a reassuring smile, though her eyes lingered a moment longer
The team would conduct their first research stop; a mundane, but essential collection of deep-ocean sediment samples and plankton hauls – the silence of the ocean was only broken by the him of the winch and occasional splash of equipment; the work was methodical, almost meditative, a stark contrast with the bustling harbour a few days prior.
A few more days of sailing would pass before the ‘Lady Luck’ would reach its primary research site; a known hydrothermal vent field – the air was stick thick with a jovial anticipation, even despite Randall’s earlier observations; Vincent and Tim, now clad in bulky diving gear, stood poised at the stern “Alright lads” the Captain called out, his voice gruff but with a hint of amusement “Remember what I said about the Guant Squids down there, they’ll be more afraid of you than you will be of them; unless you’re carrying some calamari”
Tim snorted as he adjusted his mask “Don’t be tempting me mate; I’ve got a hankering for some fresh seafood”
Vincent gave a thumbs up “We’ll be back before George incinerates dinner; Captain, Victoria, Sarah; keep an eye on the telemetry”
With a synchronized splash the two men disappeared into the indigo depths; above the ‘Lady Luck’ continued its rhythm of research; Victoria monitored the ROV as it relayed images from the abyssal plain, meanwhile Sarah catalogued the initial samples – Randall, still feeling a little out of depth decides to help Victoria, double-checking readings earning an appreciative smile from her.
As the afternoon wore on; a subtle change began to creep into the atmosphere, the intense blue of the sky softened, then began to deepen to a bruised purple – dark smudged clouds crept across from the west, a light, almost imperceptible fog began to coil around the ship and a taste of brine with something else…, something old…, something cold.
Victoria raised her eyebrow a moment as she observed the monitor, she felt a shiver despite the warmth “Hmm…, like we’ll be getting some weather after all” she murmured, her eyes sweeping towards Randall briefly before back to the screen
Within only the space of an hour the weather escalated with an alarming speed – a fine drizzle turned into a steady downpour, drumming a relentless rhythm against the deck, winds, initially a playful breeze began to howl and increased in strength ever passing minute.
The fog: that was no longer light and ethereal – but thickened into a white shroud that swallowed the horizon and pressed in on the ‘Lady Lucky’ like a suffocating blanket.
Chapter 3:
“Right team!” the captain’s voice boomed over the intercom “Secure everything topside, everyone then below deck; looks like we’ve got a rough one coming in”
The team soon scrambled; they secured loose equipment, their earlier joviality replaced by a focused urgency; below deck the ship groaned and swayed, a rhythm thud of waves against the hull grew louder.
The captain: Steven – his jaw set, remained on the bridge, his eyes fixed onto the radar screen, the green sweep of the radar was hypnotic, a solitary eye in the swirling chaos.
Hours would bleed away into an oppressive darkness; dinner would be a subdued affair, the team eating in silence as a storm raged outside; Vincent and Tim, since resurfacing after cutting their dive short by the deteriorating conditions, had now begun a shared vigil while the winds shrieked like a banshee.
Sat at her monitor; Victoria began to stretch, feeling the need to move about after being unable to do anything since the beginning of the storm; taking off her jacket, she decided to get and grab herself a drink, during her excursion, she would venture to the bridge to bring Steven a drink too knowing he hadn’t moved from there for such a long time “Cheers Love” he said with a wide smile
Leaning back a little, Victoria sipped at her drink as the two began to enjoy a conversation, while Steven’s eyes continued to return to the radar screen but, when answering, he would turn his gaze back to Victoria; she did after all have a history with him, a history that had been kept private between the two of them – as he looked towards her, his lips tugged into a warm smile.
Shifting her eyes a moment, she glanced out of the window at the heavy downpour and then looked back towards Steven with a smile – the moment between them was warm, intimate; a usual air between them when they had privacy.
Suddenly though; there was a sharp, insistent ping that broke that mood, Steven snapped his head back around quickly, leaning to look at the screen – a Large, anomalous blip had appeared and it was moving with a surprising speed in their direction “What in the blazes?” he muttered, his brow furrowed
Victoria shifting closer leaned close towards him to get a good look “What is that?” she queried, her voice soft
The two stared at the screen; oblivious to Vincent’s arrival – he raised his eyebrow a moment “Eh…, everything alright?” he queried
Steven and Victoria glanced over “See for yourself Doctor Johnson; something just entered our detection range; it is very large”
Vincent, intrigued moved over to get a look; peering at the screen; the blip was substantial, larger than a commercial vessel they might expect to find within such remote waters “A rogue freighter maybe?…, lost tanker?” he mused, there was a note of unease in his tone
The three watched the screen in a tense silence as the blip continued its unwavering trajectory – a ghost in the storm coming right for them; realising there is no change in direction, Steven shifts quickly to try hailing the vessel heading their direction – he makes numerous attempts asking for a response but getting nothing back only heightening unease.
With everyone now aware, the group keep watching as Steven still tries to make contact, but it is very clear it is a futile effort, finally Randall speaks up “It’s nearly right on top of us”
“Alright; everyone let’s go check what this is, see if we can get a visual” Steven states “Sarah; could you grab the high-intensity light”
Donning their foul-weather gear, the team ventured out onto the deck, Victoria being last to leave behind Steven the two exchanging worried glances – as they stepped out, the wind tore at the clothes, the rain lashed down on their faces like icy-whips.
The Fog though – that was the most unnerving element, it was so thick, so utterly opaque that it felt like standing in a cloud, they could hear the storm, feel the ship lurch but see nothing beyond a few feet.
Chapter 4:
A shape slowly began to coalesce from within the swirling white; a massif of dark metal, impossibly tall, impossibly long – slowly, majestically began to break through the fog, it was a silhouette from another era, a colossal shadow that eclipsed the storm itself “Dear god…” Steven breathed, a look of profound shock and recognition dawning on his face
As it drew closer, its impossible details emerged from the mist – it was a Battleship, unmistakably British, from the Second World War; it’s grey hull, despite the passage of decades, looked pristine, untouched by rust or decay, its massive guns, formidable and silent were trained outwards as if in preparation for battle, but the most chilling detail was the complete absence of life – there was no lights in the portholes, no figures on its decks, no steam from its funnels; it just…, was.
“No way” Tim whispered, his face pale “It can’t be…”
“That’s the Leviathan….” Steven articulated, is voice barely a murmur above the storm’s shriek – beside him, Victoria stood, her eyes followed the Ship as it moved, subtly; she moved her hand to Steven’s almost to seek comfort, an unease creeping over her – Steven gave Victoria’s hand a gentle squeeze, sensing her unease
“Wasn’t she lost in ’42 after passing Cape Horn?” Randall breathed in shock; his eyes fixed on the massive vessel
“Yes; She was declared lost at Sea; No Distress Signal, No Wreckage; she just vanished…, but…, it’s said she kept reappearing; she was last seen 15 years ago near New Zealand; same ship and the same impossible condition, since it had been so long, everyone thought that as the end of it” Steven said; his eyes shifting in Randall’s direction
The Leviathan – a behemoth of steel and phantom power sailed past them, an eerie silent leviathan of the deep, it seemed utterly oblivious to the existence of their small research vessel, a mere mote in its path, it did not swerve, it didn’t sow, it just continued its impossible journey, slipping silently back into the fog it had appeared from.
As H.M.S Leviathan began to fade back into the impenetrable fog – a heated discussion quickly broke out aboard the ‘Lady Luck’ “Captain; follow it” Vincent declared, his voice firm overriding the dying shriek of the window “This is an unprecedented event, a historical enigma a…, a…, a defy-er of physics!, we can’t let it just vanish again”
Steven shook his head with a grim expression “Doctor Johnson; that ship is unnatural, everything in my gut, every instinct honed over all these years at sea; it is scream to stay clear, it is a phantom…, a warning”
“A warning for what Captain?” Sarah interjected breaking her usual quiet composure “It is a marvel…, a true mystery; think of all the data, the possibilities”
“No…, no-no.., I agree with Steven…” Victoria added quickly, her eyes still locked in the direction of the Leviathan had vanished; Vincent and Tim both raised their eyebrow in confusion, normally, Victoria would have been someone that would have agreed on the thrill of exploring such a mystery
Randall then quickly chimed in “What if there are survivors?; or…., maybe even clues to its disappearance…”
“Survivors?…, Clues?…., it vanished sixty years ago” Steven retorted, bur he was outnumbered by the voices wanting to track it, reluctantly, he conceded, his eyes drifting to Victoria for a moment – he was a professional, and he did understand their scientific drive, Victoria also understood his reasoning for not wanting to chase a ghost, she felt exactly the same – his eyes drifted back to the team “Even if we could track it in this pea-souper, what then, it isn’t stopping”
“Then we follow until it does” Vincent insisted, his eyes alight with a feverish excitement that bordered obsession “Please Captain; this is what we live for, Discovery”
With an irritated sigh, he nodded “Fine” he grumbled “But the moment I say turn back, we turn back, and we keep our distance”
Victoria decided to follow immediately as Steven moved; following to the bridge, and she quietly stood beside him the two exchanging a look of unease before Steven would begin the pursuit of a ghost in the storm.
Chapter 5:
What felt like an eternity – though in truth could only have been an hour, the ‘Lady Luck’ tailed the faint, impossible radar blip of the Leviathan – the fog remained dense, a suffocating blanket that magnified the storms fury.
As the teams hopes began to wane, the blip on the radar screen flickered, hesitated – and finally, settled into a stationary position “It’s stopped” Steven says, an attempt an announcement but also hinted at his surprised confusion
While the team mostly erupted into a flurry of hushed excited whispers – Victoria simply stared at the radar screen, an unease creeping up along her back – the Leviathan was no more than a phantom outline within the swirling mist, but it was there; and it was waiting “This is our chance” Vincent said, his voice low but resolute “We board”
Silence descended as Victoria turned sharply to look towards Vincent with a surprised expression; the groaning of the ship eerily broke the newfound silence; Captain Steven though, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Vincent “Board?”
“What do you mean board her; Doctor Johnson, we have no idea what is on that ship or why it is even here, or why it moves” Steven states, his tone a sharp disapproval
“Precisely; we need to find out” Vincent countered “It’s an abandoned vessel Captain, probably just some fluke of atmospheric conditions making it look pristine, we’ll be careful, minimal impact, reconnaissance only”
“I’m going to need to stay here” Steven stated firmly “Someone will need to keep our position and frankly, I don’t trust whatever is going on out there” he looked at each person directly in the eye, a silent plea present, though his gaze lingered on Victoria – as the team left, he let his features soften, he knew she was going to need to board even if she felt uneasy about doing so “Be careful” he said softly
“Don’t really want to go on there Steven” Victoria said, her voice a whisper “But I know Vincent…, and I know he’ll just say I am being overdramatic or something if I don’t” her expression made it clear that she was becoming irritated
Steven thought for a moment before taking her hand and gently giving it a squeeze – Once the gear had been prepared, the team began to clamber into the Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat, Steven watched with a profound sense of apprehension as George approached him.
As the Team pulled away from the ‘Lady Luck’ and disappeared into the ghostly mist – Steven and George watched their fading lights from the bridge, Steven felt a knot of dread tightening in his stomach – then, just as the last glint of their headlamps winked out, a fleeting movement caught his eye, an almost impossible ripple in the dense fog of the Leviathan’s colossal deck – for a split second he saw it; a figure, tall and gaunt clad in a crisp Royal Navy Officer’s uniform from the 1940’s – the figure stood perfectly still by the Battleship’s stern, clearly staring towards the ‘Lady Luck’ the face obscured by the must, but Steven felt a prickle of cold crawl up his spine.
Rubbing his eyes – convinced the strain of the storm and his own anxiety were playing tricks, he began peering again; the figure was gone though, swallowed by the insubstantial white, he shivered; a coldness that had nothing to do with the wind sweeping through the bridge.
The RHIB bumped against the Leviathan’s hull with a dull thud, the sound was swallowed by the oppressive silence; the scale of the battleship was breathtaking, monstrous even – its sheer metal walls loomed over them, slick with rain an mist, stretching higher than their mast – as rusted, but surprising sturdy gangway hung invitingly “Well…, here we go” Vincent said in a hushed voice
Chapter 6:
One-by-One they climbed, their boots echoed eerily on the wet metal steps, the deck of the Leviathan was immaculate, almost impossibly so for a Ship lost over Sixty-Years prior – there was no rust, or grime – no sign of the sea’s relentless decay, it was as if it had simply ceased to age the moment it had vanished, yet, it was utterly deserted.
The massive naval guns were silent, the lifeboats neatly secured – no one, absolutely no one was aboard a ship that had just been navigating the high seas.
They moved as a tight-unit; their Torches cutting swathes through the gloom, their breaths fogging in the chill air, the Ship felt so vast and empty; a hollow metal shell waiting to be filled, they tried the nearest hatches, finding them unlatched, it was almost welcoming…
The first foray led them into a series of crew cabins below deck – each meticulously neat, bed made, lockers closed, a few personal effects remained; a half-finished game of Euchre on the table, a rumpled uniform draped over a chair, a dog-eared paperback resting on a bunk.
It was as if the crew had simply stepped out for a moment and just never returned – the air was stale but not musty, it carried a faint scent of old metal and something else – a faint, almost imperceptible smell of ozone “It was like they just…, vanished mid-sentence” Sarah whispered, her voice tight with a mixture of awe and unease
They continued their exploration – moving deeper into the ship’s labyrinthine passages, the hum of their own equipment and muffled footsteps were the only sounds; the Ship was a relic, a time capsule – yet it felt alive in a way a wreck shouldn’t.
Finally, they ascended to the bridge – here, the enigma deepened further, the Ship’s wheel was secured, the brass gleaming; charts lay unfurled on the navigation table marked with courses and positions; communication equipment stood ready, telegraphs set to specific speeds; everything was in perfect working order, like it had just been under command only for the crew to silently evaporate “It’s like a Ghost in motion” Randall breathed, his Torch dancing over the controls “How could it be sailing if no one was even here”
“I’m not sure…, but I don’t like it” Victoria answered, her own torch drifting around slowly – just as she spoke, a faint and almost imperceptible ‘Thump-Thump’ echoed from somewhere deeper within the ship, it was subtle, easily dismissed as the Ship settling in the storm, but it was there
Vincent straightened, his earlier excitement now tinged with a nascent unease “Did you hear that?”
Tim nodded slowly “Sounded like something heavy shifting below decks”
The group moved cautiously; Torches sweeping the empty bridge – nothing visibly stood out of place, the atmosphere though; that had shifted, the initial awe was being replaced by something colder, heavier – the silence became less comforting and more suffocating
“Let’s split up” Vincent suggested, his voice betrayed by a slight tremor “Tim and I will go down to the engine room; Victoria, Sarah you two go explore the medical bay and Randall; check the offers quarters on this deck, keep the radio open, if anything feels off call it in and we regroup immediately”
It would be a mistake – born of the desire to cover more ground, to find an answer to the impossible questions the ship posed.
Chapter 7:
Randall, eager to prove himself, made his way along the narrow corridor lined with cabin doors, he chose the first open one, stepping inside; it was a small officers cabin, neat and austere; a mirror framed in dark wood hung above a small sink, as Randall turned, his Torch swept the cabin, he noticed a sudden shift in the air – a strange coldness that seem to just descend suddenly, as his gaze fell onto his own reflection he narrowed his eyes a moment.
For a horrifying, heart-stopping instant – he saw he was not alone, within his reflection stood directly behind him stood a man, he was tall and gaunt clad in an officers uniform, his face frozen in a rictus of silent, agonising terror; a mask of stretched skin and wide bloodshot eyes – his mouth open in a soundless scream.
Randal’s breath hitched as he stumbled into a sudden spin to turn around quickly – his heart hammering against his ribs as his torch beam wildly cut through the darkness; No One – the Cabin was empty.
Whipping his head back around, he looked back to the mirror – his own reflection stared back at him, pale and terrified, the sailor – that screaming face was gone, just an empty cabin, and his frantic racing pulse.
A cold, unseen hand seemed to grip his throat – Randall scrambled backwards, tripping over his feet, a silent scream crawling its way up his throat as he burst out of the cabin gasping for air – the image of that silent, screaming face burned into his mind.
Across the ship similar incidents were beginning to unfold – Victoria, examining lockers in the medical bay felt a sudden, bone-chilling drop in temperature; the air grew heavy like a suffocating shroud and a faint, mournful whisper slithered past her ear it was too indistinct to be words, but chilling enough to make her hair stand on end – she span around, convinced someone was right behind her, but only found an empty space – here eyes darted about, then she heard a tray clatter nearly giving her heart attack as she jumped in freight – her eyes landing to find Sarah had just knocked something over, or, thought she had at least, it was near Sarah “Do you mind?” Sarah said sounding irritated
“Mind what?, you nearly gave me bloody heart attack” Victoria snapped quickly
“You didn’t throw it at me?” Sarah looked at her puzzled – Victoria just stared at her, before shaking her head
“Sarah…, Why would I throw it at you and nearly give myself heart-attack” her voice became a whisper – Sarah couldn’t really deny the claim, she could see the sudden paleness in Victoria’s face, her eyes began to drift about, looking for signs that they aren’t alone
“Maybe we should leave” Sarah whispered, her voice becoming uneasy
Deep in the engine room with Vincent and Tim – they too would find themselves experiencing something strange – a rhythmic, phantom clanking, like massive chains being dragged across the metal floor grew closer to them only to then inexplicably cease if they approached the source – the air had grown impossibly cold, the stench of ozone and something like burning meat began to become overwhelming – the two men exchanged a look, faces etched with a dawning terror “This is wrong” Vincent breathed, his voice barely audible of a sudden, guttural creaking and groaning that seemed to permeate from the very fabric of the ship “This is profoundly wrong”
“Maybe its time to go…” Tim suggested, reaching to pull on the radio urging everyone to begin moving, just as the two men began to move, the radio crackled with an eerie gurgling sound before a deep raspy voice crackled through saying ‘Come Join us’ – it was enough to push them to the edge
The team, now rattled and genuinely spooked began to converge – their brief, solo excursions shattered any remaining scientific detachment; Randall, shaking uncontrollably would recount his mirror encounter, Victoria’s face was ashen as she also spoke of what happened to her and Sarah – Vincent and Tim though, they now gripped their torches like weapons
Chapter 8
“We need to go” Sarah stated, her quiet voice surprising firm as she cut through the rising tide of fear “Now; this isn’t just an abandoned ship; it…. it feels occupied”
“Agreed” Vincent said, overriding any scientific curiosity with a sudden, primal urge to flee “We’ve overstayed our welcome, everyone; topside, back to the Lady luck…, now!”
The group would begin to rush through the labyrinthine of corridors – a desperate urgency propelling them forwards; but, the ship seemed to conspire against them, bulkheads which had been open moments before, were now inexplicably slammed shut blocking their path – they tried other routes, finding doors that had been unlatched now firmly jammed.
The ship was waking up and its unseen crew had begun to assert its will.
“It’s trapping us” Randall shrieked; his voice cracking with panic as another passage slammed shut before them with a deafening clang
They scrambled, finding circuitous routes, their lights dancing frantically over the old steel, their breath ragged, the subtle noises escalated – they heard phantom footsteps echoing from empty passes, disembodied whispers slithering through the air and a distant, mournful wail of something inhuman – the very metal of the ship seemed to groan and shriek around them, a chorus of forgotten agony.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of terrifying twists and turns, the group burst out onto the top deck; gasping for the cold, storm-lashed air – the ‘Lady Luck’ was a distant, flickering light in the dense fog, its presence a beacon of sanity within a nightmare “Go, Go, Go!” Vincent yelled as he pushed a terrified Randall towards the gangway
As they scrambled, their feet slipping on the rain-slicked metal; they reached the RHIB, Vincent and Tim fumbled with the lines, desperate to untie it and escape the phantom prison – as Tim wrestled with the last knot, Steven’s frantic voice crackled over the radio, distorted by the static “Lady Luck to Leviathan Team; Get out, Get out of there now, it is moving; the Leviathan is moving!”
A low resonate thrum began to vibrate through the very structure of the battleship – a deep, ancient pulse that chilled the bone; slowly, the colossal ship began to pull away from the RHIB just as they finally freed themselves; Vincent immediately retreating back to the safety of the Lady Luck – as they returned, they all turned to watch as the Leviathan vanished into the fog.
As things finally began to settle; Steven and George had come quickly to the teams aid, with Steven pulling Victoria up to safety first, checking her over, taking note of the terrified expression before hugging her; Vincent made a glance back to just double check that the Leviathan truly had gone – though, it was only once everything had finally settled that a realisation dawned of how close they had been to being taken wherever the Leviathan had intended to go.
Written By: Westley H.
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