Submarine Murder

Even though there were only 6 people on the submarine it still felt like thousands of people were on board. It was 1999 one hour till new years. Almost everyone was crazy. I mean I could understand it was the 2000’s. With a new century came new fashion, new trends, new celebrities and new technology. I was sure that I wasn’t the only one not fond of flip phones.

Empty cups were disposed of in a sink that from a far distance looked like a steering wheel. I sat on the edge of the dance floor and let the animated conversations wash over me. I didn’t exactly know who Michael Jackson was and I had never been to a buffet but despite my confusion I let the words cover me like a warm blanket.

I was 19 and only just figuring my life out. I was just learning how to maintain work and leisure time. Life was so confusing for me to follow. It was like a never ending map full of complicated signs and paths. I saw Mr and Mrs. Cello dancing wildly in the middle of the floor. Mrs. Cello in her mid 30’s had pulled out some of her best shoes and accessories. Her diamond earrings captivated the person who beheld them. Mr. Cello who was a plump man who spoke in a way that I would call a “distraction to public society.” How Mr. Cello and Mrs.Cello ever got married was a wonder. Mrs. Cello had really high expectations for a husband and secretly everyone knew that Mr. Cello was nothing more than a foul pig.

The other 3 people on the ship were the Captain, Ms. Rollestor and her son, Oliver who was nothing but a vile troublemaker. I would doubt that one day Oliver would be called a threat to society because he already was. Hiding his mother’s 50 thousand dollar ring and then purposely lighting the house on fire to kill his supposedly “loud” dog. It took minutes for the Rollestor’s 90 million dollar estate to be burned to ashes. I suppose the reason Oliver ended up being a gangster was because Ms. Rollestor who was a single mother who did NOT have a heart of gold. She was filthy rich because she had a father who spoiled her at the age of 50 with lavish gifts and thousands of dollars everyday. The only reason Ms. Rollestor came on the submarine was because she was bugged by her father to find a husband who could surpass her demands.

Or was it something else?

I drank my whiskey and watched Oliver beat up his mum and the Cello’s smoke cigarettes. I finished my whiskey in a gulp and the drink burned my throat. I then drank 5 more cups before I chucked my wine glass in the basin and staggered up to the captain.

“Howdy!” I remarked. The whiskey fumes must’ve really gotten into my head because before long I was moaning Believe by Cher.

“When we getting back?” I asked in a slow and calm voice, swaying slightly.

“We only have oxygen for 10 hours now. We arrive in an hour so I suggest being prepared.” The captain answered in a way that was blunt and brute. He looked like he didn’t want anything to do with me. I suppose it was because my breath stinked crazy like rum and whiskey. Since I was drunk I took no notice of what he said.

I went to my room and took some medication. I immediately felt much better and stared out of the window. We were so deep. I slept for about half an hour before I woke up in a startled manner. That’s when I checked my watch and saw the time. 2:35. We were about to arrive in 5 minutes. I ran to the ballroom to see Mr and Mrs. Cello dragging their feet and the Rollestors were somewhere unknown. I bounced to the quarterdeck and opened the door to find the captain unconscious. His head was drooped and there was blood everywhere. His pockets were turned and a rusty knife was on the floor. What was I to do? I checked his pulse to feel nothing. I had just been with him almost 50 minutes ago but what could have happened. There was nothing I could do about that but I had bigger things to worry about like how we were going to land.

I had no experience with submarines. I was only a student studying computer science at the University of Chicago. I was nothing special but I was the only person not drunk. Who knows where the other people were. I grabbed the steering wheel from one side and yanked it sideways. I had no experience with this but I did know that you could make the submarine reach the surface at will. I pressed a yellow button and suddenly a siren went on. Was that for help? I immediately pressed it again to make everything quiet. I then picture back to when I was in the room. Even though I was heavily intoxicated I still remembered the red button in the corner that the captain pressed to make the submarine ascend. I immediately reached for it and hit it with all my might before tilting the steering wheel. Suddenly I felt the submarine pull towards the surface of the ocean.

Finally we were above the water. I checked my watch. 4:00 pm. I then turned the steering wheel forwards to find a bay with ships and cargo. Even though I didn’t know if it was the dock I had to land here it was our only hope of survival. I then phoned the police on my rusty flip phone and waited intently in the seat, scared to move. I sat there and wondered why the others hadn't noticed the ship was suddenly still. I abruptly noticed a silver earring just like the one Mrs. Cello had. I fished it out and inspected it. Interesting.

It took 1 full hour for the police to come to the dock and inspect the murder scene.

“Sir I don’t want to alarm you but if you don’t have some other evidence we’ll have to lock you up.” muttered one of the 4 police officers.

“Aren’t there security cameras?” I questioned cautiously. I felt very uncomfortable and angry. I was the one who saved the submarine. Why should I be punished?

“There aren’t- What’s that?” the short police officer asked curiously. He picked it up and touched it.

“A SECURITY CAMERA!” I screamed with happiness.

A police officer named Joe played back the footage to see a person with dirty jet black hair stab the Captain before a woman in a sparkly dress and silver earrings handed him money before they both rushed away.

The police immediately searched the submarine as I felt so relieved but confused. Why had Oliver killed the Captain? Why did Mrs. Cello pay him? I wonder in the silent darkness. The police never found them and how they left was a mystery. All I knew was that I had just escaped twice in one day.