Free Goddess of the Sea by P. C. Cast

now.
    â€œBrace yourself!” the colonel yelled.
    CC just had time to wrap her hands into the netting and brace her feet firmly against the floor when the world exploded. The plane slammed into the ocean with an obscene metallic scream, as if it knew its life were coming to an end. The white froth of ocean spray could be seen through the holes in the sides of the plane. But the C-130 didn’t stay down. CC could feel it lift, a temporary respite, before they met the ocean again with an even worse grating jar. They skipped several times over the surface of the water, like a broken, bloated stone. Each time the plane met the ocean, passengers and cargo were flung forward. CC saw a major get hurled against the front bulkhead when his seat belt snapped loose. She watched as one of the huge cargo pallets pulled free at the same time and came crashing against him, pinning him to the metal wall.
    CC glanced over at Sean and then looked quickly away. Rag doll-like, his body was still strapped against the seats. Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, his limbs flailed in limp response to the jarring of the plane.
    Something sharp hit her left shoulder. She didn’t feel any pain, but when she looked down she saw that her flesh gapped open and a line of blood had started to spill down her arm. Then there was a final wrenching, and the plane settled and did not rise again. CC could see the bright blue of ocean water through the holes in the plane.
    The colonel was the first to react, but CC could see that all of the pilots except Sean and the major were struggling to their feet.
    â€œOut! Out! Let’s go!” he barked, making his way quickly to the area over the wings. Then he started shouting orders.
    â€œAce, T-Man, Kaz, get those rear doors open!” The two captains and one lieutenant scrambled around the loose cargo, hurrying to the rear of the plane.
    â€œSarg!” the colonel yelled at her. “Out—now!”
    With shaking hands, CC unbuckled her own seat belt, amazed that she was able to stand. She noticed that already the plane was tilting down at the head.
    â€œThe major is dead!” the master sergeant yelled from the front of the bay. He was kneeling by the bloody body of the major, still trapped against the bulkhead.
    â€œLeave him,” the colonel said as he lifted a slot and pulled out a neatly folded bright orange thing that CC guessed must be a life raft.
    â€œThe door to the cockpit is blocked!” The master sergeant had moved from the major’s body to the area that should open to the front-most area of the plane. But another cargo pallet was wedged within the opening, effectively blocking the door.
    â€œThere’s an exit they can use in the cockpit,” said the colonel. He motioned for the master sergeant to get to the back of the plane, then he caught sight of CC still standing there. “Move, Sergeant!” He turned and headed to the rear of the plane, expecting CC to follow him.
    CC meant to go to the rear of the plane and toward safety, but instead she found herself climbing over equipment and cargo until she was standing next to Sean’s body. CC swallowed, trying hard not to be sick. There was blood everywhere. The two seat belts had kept his body from being hurled forward by the impact, and the pillowcase, now totally soaked with blood, was still wrapped securely around his head. His face was turned away from her, and all she could see was the strong line of his chin and neck. His skin was no longer golden brown. It had turned the chalky color of ash. CC forced herself to place two fingers against the spot where his jugular vein was. No pulse. His skin was already cool beneath her fingertips.
    The plane heaved even farther down at the head. Now CC could see that the ocean was lapping around the gaps in the side of the plane.
    â€œSergeant!” the colonel’s voice bellowed from the rear of the plane. “Where the hell are