Previous Instalments:
- Ghost Ship: The Horror from Cape Horn – Ghost Ship: The Mystery of the Leviathan
- Ghost Ship: The Leviathan – The Lady Luck and the Phantom Leviathan Encounter
Ghost Ship
The Lingering Horror of the Leviathan
Background:
The H.M.S Leviathan – a Large Battleship of the British Empire, sent to sea in 1942 on a secret assignment, needing to travel with haste, Leviathan travelled without escort to Cape Horn, unfortunately it wouldn’t long after entering the South Pacific that an eeriness would strike the crew that would lead to a horror any would have expected.
After contact was lost; The British Admiralty declared H.M.S Leviathan lost at Sea – the mysterious circumstances remaining just that – a mystery, the strangeness was simply put down to a possible unreported attack, with the pressures of war diverting attention.
Following 1947 though things would become even stranger; with repeated sightings in mid-1947 of the Leviathan in a Pristine condition, these sightings recurred every 5 years until eventually, they ceased altogether in 1990, the last sighting being near New Zealand; one of the few men to have witnessed the Leviathan would be an Australian Seaman named Steven.
In 2005 the sightings had long since ceased, until the fateful expedition of a Biological Research Team to the South Pacific; after two weeks at sea, gathering samples and stopping at two designated locations; their peaceful trip would shift – a sudden Storm would hit followed by a Thick Impenetrable Fog and a ‘Ping’ that would announce the approach of a mysterious arrival towards the Research Vessel; the ‘Lady Luck’
As the Team failed to make contact with the unidentified vessel; they would try to gain a visual on what was coming there was; a Slow revealing of the Leviathan as it came through the fog; a shocked Steven immediately recognised it – the Team Lead; Vincent would insist on following and boarding; a decision that would come with massive regrets and a terrified flight from the Leviathan back to the Lady Luck.
Chapter 1:
Miles from the nearest port in the vast, indifferent Pacific ocean, the air was thick with an unnatural chill, rain continued to lash down driven by an angry wind that whipped an churning of violent water that rocked the ‘Lady Luck’.
It had started with the monstrous silhouette of H.M.S Leviathan looming from the fog like a ghost of another era, now, it had once again disappeared into the swirling mist, leaving only a bone-deep tremor in its wake, a chilling echo of the horror it had just inflicted.
On the deck of the Lady Luck – a sturdy Research Vessel, it felt suddenly very fragile, Steven moved with a controlled desperation, his hand clamped around Victoria White’s arm, not roughly, but with an urgency that left no room for argument “Vicky, up, up now” he bellowed over a howling window as he hauled her onto the deck as if the Leviathan itself was nipping at their heels; Victoria, she was trembling – her face was pale beneath the spray, eyes wide and unfocused, fixed on the spot where the Battleship had been
Steven’s focus was entirely on her; his usual easy going demeanour replaced by raw, protective intensity – Steven ignored the other members of the Research Team; Vincent, Tim, Sarah and Randall who were still scrambling from their Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat with a profound terror.
Steven’s singular concern was Victoria; Vincent Johnson, the Team’s lead Ocean Biologist and a native Australian, a man who’s passion for the ocean was only rivalled by his neatly trimmed beard, watched with a flicker of something unreadable in his usually open and friendly gaze.
Tim Wilson, a burly oceanographer and a close friend of Vincent also hailing from Australia – a man who’s booming laugh could usually fill the deck, was silent as his eyes narrowed with curiosity as he watched as Steven practically swept Victoria across the deck, murmuring reassurances she couldn’t possibly hear over the wind; Steven’s voice was low, urgent – his head bent close to Victoria’s as he steered her towards the companionway, clearly seeking the privacy of his cabin.
The silent, knowing glances exchanged between Vincent, Tim and Sarah confirmed it – something was undeniably going on between the Captain and their usually professional Marine Biologist..
With Steven and Victoria sequestered, the remaining team members found their own respective ways to process the recent horror they had experienced; Tim retreated to the stern running a hand over the hull as if checking the ship for wounds.
Vincent made his way to the comms room, an almost desperate need for contact with the outside world overriding his terror; Sarah, the Texan Tech Specialist, with her usually quiet demeanour gravitated to her bank of monitors, her fingers already flying across keyboards seeking answered in the data streams.
Randal; the newest and youngest of the team; at eighteen he was still fresh-faced recruit from Manchester – he stood frozen for a moment, disorientated and shaking before slowly making his way towards Sarah.
“Did…, Did you see it?” Randall asked, his voice barely a whisper as he found and approached her; like a scream, still raw from the Leviathan was trying to escape; he watched Sarah’s quick, efficient movement, her quiet competence a strange comfort in the chaos
Sarah didn’t look up from the diagnostic report scrolling o her screen “See what Randall; the Ghost Ship or the way Vincent nearly got us all killed?” her Texan drawl was flat, even, belying the tremor that ran through her hands
Randal flinched at the sharpness of her tone “Both I guess…, that.., that ship; it wasn’t an old wreck was it” he swallowed, his mind still replaying the chill that had seeped into his bones, the flickering lights, the impossible sounds – that Ghost Screaming face in the mirror he had encountered, he stared silent for a moment, Sarah still had not shifted her attention “But…” he said, a shift in his voice “But…, I mean.., Victoria…, she looked really shaken…” he paused then, unable to resist as he added “She’s…, close to the Captain isn’t she?” his voice was careful, almost shy; his mind was processing images of Victoria – Small, Delicate in Steven’s embrace, a stark contrast to the brilliant, alluring woman who had recruited him after he attended one of Victoria’s speeches at his college – the image of her beautiful face framed by loose tendrils of hair, a strangely dark thought processing; she seemed more striking to him in her distress, she was so much more vulnerable
Sarah finally shifted her gaze, her left eyebrow dropped slightly, as if narrowed as she looked towards Randall – he wasn’t looking at her now, he was staring off; she really looked at him, trying to determine something but finally breaking the silence “Steven’s the Captain Randall; Professional courtesy to the team I believe…” Randal shifted his gaze, as if she brought him out of some deep thinking to look at her, Sarah gaze though was serious…, penetrative as if examining something very thoroughly with intensity
Randall, sensing a strangeness in her gaze simply dropped the subject – the horror on the Levithan still permeated, still formed tight cold knots in his stomach; but there was also a disconnect in his youthful curiosity that override pure terror knowing he wouldn’t get the answers he wanted from Sarah, he decided to retreat from her, to go find Vincent instead – Sarah watched him carefully, her attention slowly returning back to her screen, but a concern had begun to creep in
Chapter 2:
Randall stepped out onto the rain-showered deck, the wind immediately biting at his face, the fog was still as thick as it had been earlier and pressed in on all sides reducing visibility by metres; Randall hand to hold onto the rail just to guide himself – the Lady Luck felt tiny, isolated in a vast, grey void, as he moved along the slick metal a sudden, sharp and distinctive ‘Ping’ rang out catching his attention despite the roar of wind and rain; the Radar – Alarmed, Randall changed course, drawn by a primal instinct to check.
Pushing open the bridge on the Bridge it felt eerie…, heavy and the faint green glow illuminating did not make it feel any better within a suddenly tighten space – Randall approached, letting his eyes fix on the display.
There, a short distance from the Lady Luck, a solitary, ominous blip sat perfectly still – it wasn’t moving with the fog, nor was it drifting, it just…, sat there, an unmoving sentinel in the swirling chaos, Randall leaned closer, a cold dread seeping in.
Compelled by a morbid curiosity; Randall went back out onto deck, peering into the impenetrable curtain of fog; Nothing – it was just an endless, swirling grey, the air though, it felt colder, the heaviness in the Bridge had followed outside; it felt like there was an unseen presence right there with him – he strained his ears, listening for anything beyond the wind and rain, a desperate hope that the Radar Blip was a malfunction.
Then…, it came.
A Whisper; so soft it could have been the wind, yet so clear it sent a shiver racing down Randall’s spine, it was right behind him, a sibilant dry sound, it was like parchment rustling in a forgotten room causing him to spin around, his heart pounding against his chest – it was just an empty deck, the relentless rain and an oppressive fog.
A sense of fear, far more potent and insidious than the initial shock of the Leviathan began to surface – it wasn’t over.
Below deck in the small, functional cabin that served as Steven’s sanctuary, Victoria was still shaking as Steven held her close, his hand gently rubbing against her back as the scent of salt and fear clung to her, mixed with his own familiar scent of sea and diesel “It was alive….” Victoria choked out, her voice muffled against his shoulder “The ship…, the ‘Leviathan’…, it wasn’t just a Ghost, it was aware…, it knew we was aboard Steven…, it was playing with us” she eased back slightly, but kept her head resting on his shoulder as she shifted her gaze towards his eyes – her eyes were still haunted “The air…, it just went so cold…, then…, then…, I am not sure, something in that Medical bay threw something, it was so loud…., Sarah and I both felt it when we was in there alone….”
Steven shifted slightly, raising his other hand up, gently caressing Victoria’s face, stroking her fingers lightly against her face “Those doors; they slammed shut, then those whispers…, like thousands of voices, they were trying to trap us Steven; the bulkheads, they closed; it was trying to seal us in there…” her voice simply broke, the memory was still so fresh, it was clawing at her sanity
Steven could feel the rapid thump of her heart against his as he continued to stroke her face gently “Shh…, it’s alright Vicky; you’re safe now, I’ve got you” he spoke with an unusually gentle voice, sensing how much distress she was in, leaning, he kissed the top of her head, a silent promise “We’re getting out of here; back to the mainland, I’ll get this old girl to go as fast as she can…” he thought for a moment, then added “And once we’re back; I’m taking some time off; you too, we’ll go somewhere to escape…, just us”
Victoria stared, though the flicker of terror was still there, there was also a flicker of hope; the prospect of escaping this nightmare, spending time with Steven beyond the chilling reach of the sea; it was a lifeline, though she became suddenly aware of just how much of a leap that would be…, they so very rarely got a chance to even consider such things, it had often proven difficult when she was back in Yorkshire and he out at Sea near Australia – and the brief chances they got to be together was also short or trapped with the Research Team with little room for privacy – they had kept everything secret so far…, but that secrecy may have been lost.
She kept her eyes locked on his “You mean it?” she asked, a gentle whisper as she finally moved her hand upwards to his face
Steven nodded “Yes; I as going to be suggesting some time together before all this happened…, now…, I feel even strongly about it; and this time…, it wont be a short thing…, I want to take the next step with you”
The tender moment blossomed strongly – a fragile bloom of hope amidst the dread as she shifted closer or at least, she felt like she had, in truth she had barely moved due to how close they already where; she leaned into him; pressing her lips against Steven’s, it was a desperate, loving kiss – a warm sensation that filled her, she felt Steven’s arms wrap around her gently.
The moment though would be shattered by a sharp, insistent rap on the cabin door ‘Knock, Knock, Knock’
It caused them to jerk as their attention locked on the door; Steven’s brow furrowed “Who’s there?” he called out, his voice firm and ready to deflect any intrusion
Only silence replied though; there was not a single response.
A moment would pass as the silence was filled only by the relentless drumming of rain against the hull, Steven’s gaze met Victoria’s, a shared confusion giving way to a prickling unease; slowly, Steven moved, gesturing for Victoria to stay on the bunk as he moved to the door; his hand instinctively going to the small sturdy lock – slowly, he unlatched it then yanked backwards quickly, forcing the door open in hope of catching whoever would be outside by surprise.
But there wasn’t anything there; it was simply a narrow, empty and dimly-lit corridor – not a single soul was there, the light at the far end that offered only that dim-illumination just flickered erratically casting dancing shadows; but there was no movement, no retreating footsteps or lingering sound; just a ceaseless moan of the wind and the creaking of the ship.
Steven’s hand tightened on the doorknob, a cold certainly blossoming in his gut – they were not alone.
Chapter 3:
In the small mess hall or what was meant to be a mess hall; the atmosphere was thick with a familiar tension; George, the cook, a man who’s easy going nature could typically brighten the gloomiest of days had prepared a meal to try rebuilding a sense of normalcy – a stew with thick slices of bread, despite his efforts though, he still moved with a stiff movement, his eyes darting about due to a strange sense of being watched; nearby Vincent and Tim said at the table picking at their food.
“This ain’t too bad George…” Tim grunted trying for his usual heart appreciation – his words though, felt hollow; his booming laugh was nowhere to be heard
Vincent stared into his bowl, his mind turning; replaying events of the Leviathan – the slow build up that they experienced, then…, his eyes widened as a realisation settled in; the Leviathan had been unusually silent when they first boarded – that same experience was happening right now
The air seemed to thicken, heavy and as though it was pressing n, stealing their breath – the shadows writhed just beyond the periphery of their vision, he’d dismissed it on the Leviathan, and he had been dismissing it since getting back to the Lady Luck, it could potentially be a normal experience for an abandoned ship…, maybe the absence of creaking should have been more of a concern – yet, on the Lady Luck ?…, a place that they had become accustom to the usual sounds…, those sounds were absent.
“It’s happening again” Vincent murmured, his voice low and cutting through the silence; Tim looked up and met Vincent’s eyes, an unspoken horror dawning between them “The way it picked up on the Leviathan; it started subtly…., then intensified…, the air went cold…, that feeling of being….”
“Observed…” Tim finished slowly nodding
Steven pushed his bowl away, a sudden nausea hitting him “We need to go find Steven quickly…”
Tim nodded in confirmation; they got up quickly drawing George’s attention who watched them leaving; not wanting to be left alone, he rushed after them; abandoning his post, their first stop though would be Sarah’s usual station by the computers – the screens glowed a chaotic symphony of data, but her chair was empty – Sarah was not there causing a fresh wave of alarm “Sarah!” Vincent called out, his voice sharp
There was no answer though.
Then…, a deep, resonant rumble vibrated through the deck beneath their feet, the unmistakable thrum of the Lady Luck’s engines roaring to life, the Ship lurched – a subtle, but definite forwards motion.
Panic flared; raw and unadulterated swept over the three “The Bridge” Tim snapped, the three scrambled pushing past each other towards the command centre; their minds racing; Who was at The Helm; Steven? – why so sudden, why no announcement – the three burst onto the bridge only to discover that it was in fact completely empty
The navigation lights glowed eerily; the radar had kept its ‘Ping’ going filling the eerie silence and the engines; they were set to full throttle – the Lady Luck was on the move, and she was moving with no visible hand guiding her “Bloody hell!” Vincent cursed, spinning around – his neatly trimmed beard doing little to disguise the wild terror in his eyes “Steven!” he shouted “Where is he?”
Before they could even begin a frantic search; a clatter from a nearby ladder drew their attention; Victoria appeared first with Steven partially climbing directly behind her as if to keep her safe as they ascended the ladder – they both looked dishevelled, breathless from what indicated an escape from the lower deck – Steven’s face grim, and Victoria, she was more pale than they had last seen, with a look of renewed terror
“Something is down below and has blocked access to the engines!” Steven gasped as he stood directly behind Victoria; gently keeping her once again in his embrace in an effort to ground her, to ease her terror, his eyes scanned the bridge before landing back on Vincent “It tried to seal us in down there; bulkhead doors slammed on us; Victoria described the same thing happening on the Leviathan; we barely even got up here”
Vincent’s mind raced as he tried to grasp at the impossible “We need to get to the mainland…., if we can’t stop this boat, what is the worst case scenario?” he locked his attention on Steven “Steven?; what do we do…., do we have to abandon ship…, back to the Rigid-Hulled Inflatable?” his voice was high pitched, almost frantic
Steven didn’t answer; his gaze was fixed not on instrument, but forwards towards the doorway, slowly, he raised an arm gesturing directly ahead.
Passing by the glass of the door, a dark shadow moved, not distinct shapes…, but amorphous shifting masses, flowing like ink through water, a silent, malevolent current, they simply glided past – it hadn’t seemed to even notice the five people huddled within the eerily green-glowing bridge.
All five of them had fallen completely silent, their eyes wide with a shared, bone-chilling dread as they observed an impossible spectral form pass by – the very rumble of the engine and lashing rain; the creak of the ship; it all faded into a backdrop, there was just the sight of a shifting shadow that disappeared from their view downwards, it was undeniable and utterly terrifying.
The realisation dawned; cold and suffocating, settling deep in their soul a truth more terrifying – They weren’t alone, and the Lady Luck was certainly no longer theirs.
Written By: Westley H.
Leave a Reply