The Project's End - Part 1 Snippet

Chapter 1: The Crash (1943)

          These memories swirled around me, offering brief moments of comfort amidst the chaos. "Damn it! Come on, come on!" I shouted, gripping the yoke. The damaged yoke rendered my attempts futile. My plane spiraled out of control, hurtling towards the vast ocean below at an alarming velocity.

          My heart pounded against my chest as I glanced at the photo of Lylian, my wife, taped to the dashboard. Her smiling face brought a pang of determination to my chaotic mind. "Lylian.. I'm so sorry," I whispered, bracing myself for impact.

           The cockpit filled with smoke, and the acrid smell of burning electronics assaulted my senses. Flames licked at the edges of the instrument panel, adding to the urgency. Sweat trickled down my forehead as I reached for the barf bag, preparing for the worst.

           In the midst of the chaos, time seemed to slow down as I grappled with a life-altering decision. I knew my only chance for survival was to abandon the doomed aircraft. Summoning every ounce of courage, I snatched my parachute and threw myself out of the cockpit, embracing the possibility of a harrowing fate.

          The rush of the wind enveloped me as my parachute unfurled, providing a momentary reprieve from the impending disaster. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, though the gravity of the situation still weighed heavily upon me. As I descended towards the frigid water below, the reality of my predicament became all too apparent.

          The descent abruptly halted as I splashed into the tumultuous sea. Disoriented and tangled in my parachute, panic threatened to engulf me. Fighting against the water's resistance, I fumbled with my equipment, desperate to free myself before it was too late. The constriction around my throat intensified, suffocating me.

         The pain in my lungs grew unbearable as I fumbled for my knife, the seconds ticking away mercilessly. "Come on, Lucien, focus," I muttered to myself through clenched teeth. Summoning my fast-fading strength, my trembling hand found solace in the hilt of the knife, and with a swift, determined motion, I cut myself free from the entanglement.

          Gasping for air, I kicked my legs furiously, propelling myself towards the surface. Relief washed over me as I emerged from the depths, gulping precious breaths of salty air. My surroundings revealed an unwelcome truth - I was alone, far from land, and with no sign of friendly forces nearby. The gravity of my situation settled upon me as I heard the menacing hum of an approaching enemy plane.

          I knew time was of the essence, and I steeled myself for the dangerous journey that awaited. "They must have spotted me. Now, it's a battle for survival against all odds," I whispered fiercely. I quickly swam away from my parachute and dove beneath the waves. Holding my breath, I swam as far as I could before coming up for air.

          The cold water sapped my strength, but I forced myself to keep moving. After what felt like an eternity, I saw land in the distance. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived. Before I could make it to the shore, I noticed shadows in the water.

          "Damn it, they're here," I muttered. I was ambushed by the Japanese who had been following me the whole time. Bullets whizzed past me, and I dove back under the water, frantically swimming in zigzags to avoid their fire. My lungs burned for air, and my muscles screamed in protest.

          "Gotta.. keep.. going.." I gasped as I surfaced again, gulping down air before diving back under. The shore was tantalizingly close, but the enemy was relentless. I knew I had to think fast or I wouldn't make it. Forcing myself to stay calm, I formulated a desperate plan.
I let the current take me, hoping to drift out of their line of sight. With luck, I could find a place to hide and regroup.

          "They won't take me that easily," I vowed, steeling myself for the next wave of challenges that awaited me. Pushing my body to its limits, I swam parallel to the shore, trying to put as much distance as possible between myself and the enemy.

          Every stroke felt like a battle, my muscles burning, but I couldn't stop. I finally reached a point where I felt it was safe to surface again. Taking a cautious breath, I scanned my surroundings. The enemy planes were still circling, but they seemed to be moving away from my position.

           I took a moment to gather my strength before making the final push toward the shore. With every stroke, the coastline grew closer, but so did the fatigue. My vision blurred, and my limbs felt like lead, but I couldn't afford to give up. Not now.

          "Just a little more.. you can do this," I whispered to myself, a mantra to keep me going. Finally, I felt the sandy bottom beneath my feet. Crawling onto the beach, I collapsed, my body heaving with exhaustion. Relief washed over me, and I allowed myself a brief moment to believe I was safe.

          But the illusion of safety shattered as I heard voices shouting in Japanese. My heart sank as I looked up to see enemy soldiers emerging from the trees, their rifles trained on me. "No.. not now," I whispered, trying to muster the strength to stand.

          Before I could react, the soldiers closed in, grabbing me roughly and dragging me to my feet. I struggled weakly, but it was no use. They had followed me the whole time, and now I was their prisoner.

          As they marched me away from the shore, the reality of my situation hit me like a ton of bricks. I had survived the crash and the ocean, only to fall into enemy hands. My fight for survival was far from over.

          "They won't take me that easily," I vowed silently, my mind already racing with thoughts of escape. I had to survive. I had to make it back to Lylian.