Hiya, this is an idea that follows on from a thread I made on the discussion forum, as I thought it might be fun to have some writing prompts!

The prompt is a one-word one, as I find those to be the most versatile and interesting.

The word I picked for this thread is 'vessel'.

I'm going to post my interpretation of the prompt below this as a 'chapter 2', so that my submission doesn't sway anyone's ideas on what to write, and hope you guys will get involved with your own takes on the prompt by adding new chapters/story paths below! Credit to SepiandDust for the general idea of how this is all set out :)

• Riot45

I woke with my cheek pressed against the hard floor, my head aching and my body stiff. For a moment, I just lay there, staring up at the pale blue sky. A few clouds drifted overhead, and birds moved across the distance, their calls mixing with the sound of the wind. It was almost peaceful until the surface beneath me shifted. I moved instinctively to catch myself, and my hair fell across my face as I slid slightly with the movement. I pushed it back, took a slow breath, and waited for the dizziness to settle. The air smelled strongly of saltwater, and I could hear the steady sound of the waves nearby.

I slowly sat up and looked around. There were ropes secured along the deck, metal railings, equipment fixed in place, and small pools of seawater where the waves had splashed over the side. I had no idea where I was or how I had gotten there. I tried to remember what happened before I woke up, but nothing came. I looked toward the horizon, then back across the deck. That was when I noticed a woman standing a short distance away. She looked to be in her forties, with weathered features and a serious expression. Her clothes were practical, suited to working around the water, and she watched me carefully without approaching.

"Good, you're up," she said. Her voice was low and slightly rough, with a noticeable country accent. She glanced briefly at the equipment around us before looking back at me. "Let's start this mission. We're on a vessel." I frowned, still trying to make sense of her words. "What mission?" I asked. She looked at me for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember?" I shook my head slowly. She gave a small shrug, seemingly unimpressed. "Well, I don't have time to babysit, so toughen up." With that, she turned away and started walking across the deck, leaving me sitting there, confused and struggling to understand what was happening.

The woman turned around and looked dissatisfied back at me as I struggled to get up. I stood, brushing my pants off and trying to hide my embarrassment. She flipped her head back around.

"Are you going to come or what?" she said, exasperated.

I nodded and walked toward her. She stared out at the sea, looking at something only she could see. "What are you looking at?" I asked, squinting.

She pointed to a small hill in the distance. "That."

As I stare at the hill, trying to make sense of it, I don't want to ask her about it. I'm too ashamed to admit that I don't understand what I'm seeing. We stand there in silence for a moment, the strange hill looming ahead of us, when suddenly a man steps out from somewhere behind us. He looks to be in his mid-twenties. He has stubble on his chin and slightly rough, messy hair, but aside from that, he is good-looking. Without realizing it, I think I've stopped looking at the hill altogether. My eyes are fixed on him instead, studying his face as though I should recognize him. He notices us and immediately looks toward her. "Oh, Rose, you're up. I was so worried about you. Olivia here said we shouldn't take you into the room because you were throwing up." His eyes narrow slightly as he looks at Olivia, as if something about what she said doesn't sit right with him. Olivia simply shrugs, then walks away without saying another word. I think her name is Olivia from what he said.

The man watches her leave before turning his attention back to me. He studies my face for a moment, and whatever he sees there seems to make him uneasy. "Wait... Rose, are you okay?" he asks, stepping closer. "This isn't you. What did you see on that other ship? You haven't said a word about it." His voice becomes more concerned when I don't answer. I don't know what to say. I don't even know what I'm supposed to say. I don't want to make a fool of myself by admitting that I have absolutely no idea who he is, so I keep quiet. He reaches for my shoulders and gives me a gentle shake, desperation beginning to show in his eyes. "Tell me," he says. "What happened?" I stare at him, searching his face for something familiar, anything that might unlock the memories trapped somewhere inside my head, but there is nothing. Just an empty, terrifying silence.

"I can't remember anything," I finally whisper. "I don't know who you are. I don't know who I am, or what I'm doing here." I swallow hard, my voice trembling as I continue. "It's only because you called me Rose that I think... that's my name." The moment the words leave my mouth, his expression changes completely. He looks shocked, almost as though I have said something impossible. He takes a small step back, staring at me as if he is seeing a stranger standing in front of him. "You don't remember me?" he asks quietly. There is something in his voice that makes my stomach tighten. Hurt. Confusion. Maybe even fear. I don't know who he is, but judging by the way he is looking at me, whoever Rose was before this moment, she knew him very well.