The Mariana Trench: A novel of suspense and supernatural horror

by Matt Shaw

  ‘You’ll be pleased to know I don’t snore,’ Yolanda said if only to break an uncomfortable silence.

  Jennifer laughed. ‘I’m not sure if I do. Hopefully not.’

  Yolanda shrugged. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small packet of ear-plugs. ‘This isn’t the first time I’ve shared a room with someone,’ she said. ‘I’ve learned to pack accordingly.’

  ‘Ah smart. I didn’t think of that.’

  Yolanda laughed. ‘Neither did I on my first trip. I soon learned though…’ She added, ‘There’s a fair few in the pack so if you find yourself in need, you’re more than welcome to take a pair.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Both women started to relax in one another’s company with each passing moment. A relief to them both that they weren’t stuck sharing a room with a selfish asshole. Of course it didn’t mean they would be best friends for the duration of the expedition but, at least it was a positive start.

  The group had been shown to the cabin area first. They’d been told to drop their bags off and then meet back up with the Commodore. Chris had told them they’d have plenty of time to unpack their belongings later but, for now, he wanted to give them a tour of the submarine. John didn’t need the tour but waited with Chris regardless just so he could hear the reactions of the group as they looked around “his baby”.

  Jennifer had felt pretty uncomfortable boarding the submarine so wasn’t sure how she would cope with being stuck in it for a whole month. Her plan was to dump the bag as instructed, look around and get a feel for the place and then - as John’s offer - spend the night and make a decision in the morning. Part of her knew she would get used to how cramped everything was and how warm the air felt down there but another part wasn’t sure if she wanted to get used to it. As she watched Yolanda, and heard the enthusiasm in her voice, Jennifer couldn’t help but wonder whether she was going to be the only one who’d pull out at this stage.

  ‘Have you been on a submarine before?’ Jennifer asked.

  Yolanda continued to unpack as she answered, if only to get out of Jennifer’s way, ‘No. I can’t say I have. It’s pretty exciting though, isn’t it?’ Jennifer just smiled in response and, despite having just met her, Yolanda could tell it wasn’t a genuine smile. ‘You’re not so sure?’

  Jennifer pulled a face. ‘I’m not sure how I am feeling at the moment to be honest. It’s a little…’

  ‘Claustrophobic?’ Yolanda asked.

  Jennifer nodded.

  ‘I felt the same but, to be honest, we’ll get used to it. Anyway it’s only for thirty days or so and…’ With more enthusiasm she continued, ‘This is the chance of a life-time! This won’t come around again.’

  Yolanda was right. This was the chance of a life-time. If Jennifer passed this up, she knew she wouldn’t get the chance again and never mind being part of a team which was getting so much press in both the “real” world and the “scientific” world… This was the chance to see something very few people would ever get to see for themselves. If she walked away from this, she would forever regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but the regret would come. Jennifer sucked in a deep lungful of air. She needed to do this.

  Yolanda still sensed Jennifer’s unease and reassured her, ‘It will be fine.’

  *

  NOW

  ‘I can’t do this.’ Tears streamed down Yolanda’s face. Whilst she studied for her degree in marine biology, she had worked as an assistant to a vet. Back then, it had seemed like a good idea as not only did she like animals and want to help them but it also gave her insight into their biology too. Working as an assistant to a vet was one thing and this was entirely different. She said again, ‘Please, I cannot do this…’

  ‘You’re the most qualified here,’ Victoria said sternly. ‘You think I want to do this? We do not have a choice. If we don’t; she dies.’

  ‘We’re all dead anyway.’

  ‘Not yet we aren’t and we aren’t just about to roll over and give up. Now pull yourself together and help me,’ Victoria continued. The way she spoke made her sound as though none of this bothered Victoria but, in truth, she was shit scared. Whatever was happening to Becca was entirely new to her. She’d never even read about something like this happening. The only reason she was going to cut her open though - with Yolanda assisting - was because, if she didn’t, she knew Becca would die from whatever was going on internally. Even now, with every minute arguing with Yolanda, Becca was edging closer and closer to death. Victoria calmed herself down. Talking sternly to someone on the verge of hysterics wasn’t going to do either of them any good. She inhaled a couple of deep breaths and - in a calmer manner - said, ‘We need to do this and we need to do it now.’

  Yolanda tried to calm herself. She could feel all other eyes drilling right into her soul as they watched the two women arguing about the necessary procedure. Just as Victoria had to visibly calm herself, do too did Yolanda. She took in a couple of deep breaths. Slowly, she let them out before nodding. She would help.

  Victoria let out an audible sigh of relief. She could - and would - have done the procedure without Yolanda if she had to but, she knew it would be better with someone there on hand, to help out if need be. She turned to the Commodore and said, ‘We need her on one of the tables in the canteen. I can’t do this in the cabin.’

  Nate stepped forward and said, ‘I’ll help move her.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Chris said.

  Victoria stood there a moment, collecting her thoughts, as the two men hurried off to move Becca from out of her cabin and through to the canteen area. After a few seconds she quietly spoke to Yolanda, ‘Remember - whatever happens - if we don’t do this, she will die. We don’t have a choice.’ Given the state of Becca, and the scope of what was needing to be done, Victoria was fully expecting to lose her on the “operating table”. Under these circumstances, the chances of survival were slim. She knew that. Everyone did. There was still a chance of survival though and, no matter of slight that was, it was better than just standing by and watching Becca fade away. ‘Okay?’ she pressed.

  Yolanda wiped her face clean from tears. ‘Not really,’ she said honestly.

  Victoria smiled sympathetically. ‘Makes two of us.’ She nodded towards the direction the others went and said, ‘Come on - the sooner we get this done, the better.’ As soon as she finished speaking, she followed Chris and John. Yolanda hesitated for a split second and then followed along.

  Chapter Four

  BEFORE

  With precision, the razor-sharp knife sliced the skin away from the flesh with ease. Carolanne Rosenberg smiled to herself before peeling the last of the skin away. Once it was completely separated from the body, she laid it out flat on a black tray just as she always did. A few minutes in the oven and it would crisp up nicely, just the way she liked it. With the skin off and ready to go into the oven, she turned her attention back to the rest of the chicken as John entered the galley, with his chosen team of scientists following close behind as he gave them the guided tour with Chris.

  ‘And this is the galley,’ John said with as much pride as he’d had for the rest of the rooms he’d shown off too. ‘No expense spared. We’ve filled the cupboards with as much food as you could possibly want, catering for all tastes. We have all the gadgets and gizmos a chef could desire in order to help them prepare the best food and drink you’ve ever tasted.

  Carolanne laughed. ‘No pressure then.’

  They had been introduced to the chef the previous night, at the same time as meeting the rest of the crew before they parted ways so the crew could come and board the sub. As John and Chris continued through the galley, Carolanne smiled at them and, in turn, they smiled back with a little nod of “hello”.

  ‘Probably the most important member of the team,’ Chris said, half-jokingly and half-serious. ‘So you might want to be really nice to her.’

  ‘Oh stop,’ Carolanne said, still with a grin. ‘I haven’t spat in anyone’s food yet.’
>
  ‘Yet?’ Nate was quick to pick up on that.

  Carolanne gave him an innocent flutter of her eye-lids and Nate couldn’t help but to laugh. One by one, in single file, they left the room and Carolanne to her cooking. With the knife still brandished in her left hand, she turned back to the chicken. The carcass was one of three chickens she’d cooked up for their dinner later that day.

  Carolanne set the knife down to the edge of the chicken’s breast and slice the first strip of meat away which, as was the chef’s right, she ate for herself. Perfectly moist, she thought. As she went to slice another piece off for herself, just to be sure it was definitely cooked properly of course, Nate leaned back into the galley. He watched as she ate a second piece of meat.

  ‘Caught you!’ he said with an idiotic grin on his face. Carolanne had caught his eye the night before, when they were first introduced. Recently divorced from his wife, she was almost the spitting image of her in looks. The personality was vastly different from their first introductions: Carolanne had smiled sweetly at him and said it was a pleasure to meet him whereas his wife used to just tell him to “fuck off”. Lonely and craving attention, he had a feeling he would be spending most of his free time with Carolanne who was, living in her own head, completely oblivious to Nate’s immediate crush. The suddenness of his voice, piercing the gentle hum of the submarine, caused her to jump which only made him laugh. ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.’

  ‘Aren’t you supposed to be following the others?’

  ‘I mean, probably? But I thought I would rather come and talk with you.’ He was half-expecting her to say something to that but, instead, she just stood there with raised eyebrows, as though waiting for him to say whatever he had on his mind. Immediately Nate felt his face flush as his heartbeat quickened. If he was to impress this fine lady, he knew he had to say something and - what’s more - he had to do so quickly. Or, as the silence between the two lingered, he could just stand there and look like a blithering idiot. Desperate to break the silence, he stupidly asked, ‘So what’s cooking?’

  Carolanne wasn’t stupid. When they met the previous night she thought he was friendly enough. It wasn’t as though they stopped for very long to have a chat but now, with the way he was acting here, she could tell he liked her. She answered him, ‘Steak.’

  ‘Steak? Nice…’ Nate shifted his weight on his feet as he looked around the kitchen, desperate for something to leap out at him which could be deemed as a “decent conversation piece”. His eyes settled on the chicken. He immediately felt stupid. Of course that was what was cooking. He had even caught her eating some of it. His face burned once more and he tried to make a joke of it, ‘So what cut of the cow is that?’

  Instead of answering him, Carolanne just asked him, ‘Do you always make small talk like this?’

  Nate stood there for a moment, unsure what to say. After a slight pause he shrugged and admitted, ‘I study earthquakes for a career… I don’t really get to talk to women that often…’

  Quick as a flash, and enjoying the tease, Carolanne asked him, ‘You study earthquakes?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So why are you at sea? Or is an earthquake the same as a sea-quake?’ She raised an eyebrow.

  Nate went to say something but stopped himself. He couldn’t decide if she was mocking him or genuinely being serious. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, once again, before he admitted, ‘I should probably go and catch the rest up…’ He waited for her to say something but, still, she just stood there watching him. When he realised she was done talking, he turned and left the galley. Carolanne laughed and went back to cutting the chicken up. She set the sharp edge of the knife against the flesh and sliced away another perfectly cut strip. Once cut away, the slither of chicken was set on a plate before Carolanne took the knife and pressed it against the meat once more.

  *

  NOW

  Victoria slid the point of the scalpels blade across Becca’s stomach. Becca wasn’t unconscious as they had nothing to knock her out with, given they didn’t think they would be doing such procedures. Instead she was being held down by Chris, John and two other of the crew. There was Billy Smith putting his weight down on her left leg and Nate on her right. Despite their best efforts at keeping her still, Becca continued to writhe around, desperate for the pain to stop. As a result Victoria was working even slower than usual, so as not to suddenly have Becca thrust herself against the blade of the scalpel, causing it to dig in further than necessary.

  Yolanda watched on, ready to assist Victoria in any way she asked.

  ‘Okay, here, take it…’ Victoria handed Yolanda the bloodied blade. Yolanda put it on a small tray, on the side, close to hand in case it was needed again. Victoria looked down to Becca’s stomach. Unlike before it was now perfectly still as though whatever was causing the movement earlier had simply gone away.

  ‘What now?’ Chris asked, curious to know what Victoria was thinking.

  Victoria glanced up at Chris. She didn’t need to tell him what she was going to do as it made no difference to the act itself and would only have him potentially question her. He would see what she was going to do when she came to actually do it. She took a few deep breaths in, just to steady her nerves. Then, before any more distractions, she pushed the tips of her gloved fingers down on Becca’s stomach. She gently pushed down, like working on a boil which was ready for squeezing, and jumped back when a black eel-like creature whipped its back-end out of the cut slit. Becca screamed in agonising pain as those who were holding her down struggled to keep her in place.

  ‘What the fuck was that?’ John asked.

  All of them were staring down to the gash. Whatever it was had disappeared back up inside of Becca just as quickly as it had revealed itself.

  ‘Did you see that? What the fuck was it?’ John asked again. Panic oozing from his voice.

  Victoria couldn’t answer him. No one could. Without a word, she pushed her fingers up inside of the gash, in the direction the creature had gone. She winced in pain as something bit her, and pulled her hand back in a flash only to scream when she saw that whatever bit her was still attached. With a crack of her arm, she whipped it off her bleeding fingers. The creature, snake-like, landed on the floor and immediately slithered towards a gap beneath the kitchen sides.

  ‘Don’t let it get away!’ Chris demanded.

  Jennifer jumped out of its way, unprepared and unwilling to try and stop it from getting away from them. Nate released his grip of Becca’s leg and, with a quick step after the creature, he stamped his full weight down upon it.

  No one said anything. They were all just standing there, staring at the squashed mess left behind from Nate’s raised boot. Whatever it was, it was dead. With all eyes drawn to the crushed body, no one noticed Becca’s stomach had started to ripple once more.

  Chapter Five

  BEFORE

  Before, the DSV Limiting Factor, a single person submersible took approximately four hours to dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench. Fifteen foot long and nine feet wide, the DSV had a titanium hull that was three and a half inches thick in order to withstand the immense pressures at the ocean floor. The submersible was built to dive for sixteen hours at a time but, allowing for things to go “wrong”, it could stay submerged for a further ninety-six hours in an emergency. Ninety-six hours was a long time to sit and wait, knowing death was coming for you. After all, when you were resting on the lowest point of the planet it wasn’t exactly an easy job to get you rescued. In truth, if you were stuck down there then you probably weren’t coming back up despite the best efforts of those who waited upon the salty surface. That’s ninety-six additional hours to simply sit there and listen to how your friends can’t get to you. Ninety-six hours to slowly suffocate in what will forever be your tomb. It was a cheerful thought and one best avoided when undertaking such a journey yourself and try as she might, Jennifer just couldn’t push the thought from her mind. What if they got stu
ck? What if something happened and they couldn’t get back to the surface? John had explained they too had emergency oxygen supplies to use up, if needed. He also explained there was more than enough oxygen in his submarine to see them through the expedition but, Jennifer couldn’t help think oxygen would be only one half of a solution if they got stuck. What about a spare engine if this one went wrong? What about another sub waiting on the surface to go and collect the passengers if this one broke? But then, how would that work? They couldn’t exactly just open the hatch and swim across to the other submarine. They would be crushed within an instant due to the pressure. So many thoughts swimming in her anxious mind. Thoughts which, for some reason, were only really setting in now she was actually onboard the submarine.

  ‘You look worried,’ Yolanda said as she walked into their cabin and saw Jennifer sitting there. ‘You okay?’

  Jennifer nodded. ‘I’m good. Was just lost in thought thinking about my family.’

  ‘Ah. Say no more.’ Yolanda was all too aware that thirty days was a long time to be away from those you loved. Especially when there were no guarantees they’d be able to communicate with them from the bottom of the ocean. One thing to be in space and bounce calls off various satellites but quite enough to call up from seven miles deep. Yolanda made herself comfortable on her own bed. She looked up to the frame which supported Jennifer’s bed directly above her. Yolanda had used a piece of sticky tape to put a photograph of her own family there so they’d be the last thing she saw before she drifted away to sleep. As she stared at the photo, a smile on her face, she said to Jennifer, ‘Well just a few more hours and we’ll be taking the plunge.’ There was a mix of emotion in her voice: She was both apprehensive and excited. She, and the others onboard, were going where most people would never get to go for themselves. By morning, when they set off, she would become a part of history. She smiled. Not many people can say that.