Shoot the boat forwards

I resisted the urge to jump out of the boat - that was suicide. I grabbed my arm, feeling the power well up inside me once more. I shot the force out in a cone, attempting to shoot the boat forwards. The boat lurched forward, too slow, too late. It just wasn't enough.

She grabbed my arm, her hand glowing, and I suddenly felt a store of power untapped.

I latched onto it, channelling it and forcing it outwards. The boat shot forwards, and the container just fell short. It slammed into the water, sending out waves from every direction. I focused harder on the power, keeping the boat abrest of the waves, surfing it deeper into the ocean.

The boat gradually slowed down, and we both collapsed. She let go of my arm and immediately vomited, and I struggled to not do the same. I felt drained as the shock wore off. Our powers had somehow combined, but it still took everything out of me to push the boat away from the container.

It felt like I had channelled my powers through her. Like I had sucked up all of her and used it for my own.

I tried to speak to her. I tried to look where we were going.

Instead, I passed out.

I dreamed of the stars, each twinkling out in succession, until there was but one left. Then that too went out, leaving the sky encased in darkness.

She shook me awake.

"Where are we?" I asked, attempting to get up. I soon discovered that I was too exhausted to move.

"I don't know," she replied, staring out into the distance. There was no land in sight.

"What happened back there?" she continued, looking at me. "It felt like you used me, somehow. Like you took something from me."

"I think... I think I somehow used whatever power you have and channelled it into my own."

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Does that mean if we found enough people, we could channel an even greater force?"

"Possibly," I replied. "Not like there are many people left though."

We sat in silence for some time.

Waves rocked the boat. The smell of salt and seaweed permeated through the air.

"We're going to die out here," she said simply.

I wanted to comfort her. I wanted to tell her that everything was going to be alright. But we had no way of knowing where we were, and the ocean held horrors even more terrifying than what lurked on land. I could barely move, let alone use my power.

If only there was something I could have done. If I'd made some other choice, some other decision.

I looked at her. If I'd just left her to die, I wouldn't be here right now. I could have used whatever this power was to fight the aliens. Maybe I could have made an actual difference. Instead, I just prolonged her death, and caused mine.

There was a rumbling beneath us. She remained silent, though I knew she could hear it too. I realized I didn't even know her name.

Did I regret my decision? I really didn't know.

Something was emerging from the water.

I slowly lifted my hand, putting it on her on her own. I gave her a weak smile, and she suddenly lurched forward, hugging me tightly.

She seemed ok, all things considered.

Then the beast's jaws opened up all around us, and snapped shut.