Book Sunday #OurAuthorGang

 Today's recommendation is a YA novel by Lorraine Carey

Jonathan's Locket

Dive into a thrilling blend of history, mystery, and the supernatural in this captivating Young Adult novel. Set against the backdrop of the historic Wreck of the Ten Sails off Grand Cayman, author Carey masterfully weaves fantasy, suspense, and paranormal intrigue into a story that will keep readers hooked.

When a local teen discovers they can connect with Jonathan, a restless spirit lost in the infamous shipwreck, an extraordinary journey begins. Bound by courage and compassion, the teen must navigate a world of hidden dangers and otherworldly challenges to help Jonathan find peace and finally cross over.

This award-winning novel, which earned the Readers' Favorite Silver Award in 2014 and was a finalist in the Wind Dancer Film Contest, is a must-read for fans of historical fiction with a supernatural twist. Prepare for an unforgettable adventure where history comes alive in the most unexpected ways!

Chapter 5

The Wreck

All were on deck now, and orders were being given from all directions. It was a moonless night and the sea was as black as pitch. The sound of the waves thrashing against the ship rose above the yelling of the crew on the Convert.

It was now the wee hours of the morning, on February 8, 1794. Instead of the crew getting a good night’s rest, their distress gun was fired.
Captain Lawford came bounding out of his quarters. Dressed in only his trousers, he raced barefoot onto the top deck.

“What in land’s end is happening here? I heard the distress gunfire!” he cried.

“Aye, Captain, there be breakers ahead!” shouted Seaman Thompson from up in the crow’s nest. “The fleet is getting ahead of us now. They are all firing off their distress guns.”

Lawford grabbed the telescope from the seaman standing next to him.

“Damn, this can’t be the Grand Cayman reef! I thought we passed that an hour ago. I charted this course myself so that we would avoid that bloody coral reef!”

He shouted orders for all of the men to report on the deck. Before any of the men had time to react, a voice alerted them to a whole new danger.

“Pirates - there be Pirates!” shouted men from the Britannia, which was close on their starboard side. All of the ships began to move closer, trying to protect the Convert.

The crew aboard the Convert flashed their lanterns. All they could see were ships clustered together...too close together.

They heard the sounds of the crash before they saw it. Splintering wood and screams of terror echoed over the water. It was as if the reef had sliced right through the ships, like an axe slicing through wood.

“Take cover, men!” shouted Captain Lawford, just before the Britannia rammed into the Convert.

When the ships collided, it hit the Convert hard into the windward reef. The ship began to lean on its’ side, ready to split.

The remaining ships crashed into one another in an endless pileup. The deafening sound of screams mingled with bodies splashing into the water. Many of the seamen were now jumping into the water, clinging onto pieces of the ship that floated nearby.

“It is Poseidon coming to take us to our watery graves!” shouted one of the men in the water.

Despite the chaos, Captain Lawford still shouted out orders. They were largely ignored, since every man was out to save himself – all but one, of course. There was one seaman who had to save his dearest friend.

*****

Dear God, please let me get down to Jonathan in time.
Peter did his best to hold onto anything he could to make his way down to the hold. The ship’s hull had been hit hard and would be soon flooding with water.
Peter threw open the cargo door and raced down the steps. He was already knee-deep in murky water. The trunks were swishing around, banging into one another. “Jonathan! Jonathan, I’m coming!” Peter yelled, as he sloshed through the water. Jonathan popped the lid of his trunk open and began yelling for Peter.

“Peter, what is happening?”
“We have hit the reef on Grand Cayman, Jonathan. All of the other ships have slammed into each other. We are all going down. You’ve got to get out of that trunk - now!”

“No, no...I’m afraid!” cried Jonathan. “I can’t swim!”

“It doesn’t matter now, my son. Just hang onto me and we’ll grab a hold of whatever we can find until we are rescued.”

As Jonathan tried to sit up, the chain of his locket got caught in the latch of the lid. He desperately tried to untangle it, but it had formed a small knot that refused to come undone.

Peter was still holding onto the trunk when a huge gush of water came and swept him away. He had been pulled down through the hold. Jonathan couldn’t see exactly where he was, but there was a small crack that he could see out of.

“Peter! Peter, where are you?”

Jonathan prayed that Peter had been able to swim to safety. His trunk had begun to slam into all of the other trunks; he could feel water dripping onto his face. Jonathan pulled and pulled at the knot in the chain, but nothing worked. The more he pulled at the chain, the tighter it pulled around his throat.

Jonathan’s body trembled, as he closed his eyes one last time.

I know I will be with you, mother. Please look after me.

*****

As water overtook Jonathan’s small body, his trunk was pulled through a gaping hole in the ship. His trunk landed at the bottom of the sea, nestled underneath a large crevasse deep under the reef.

A large sea turtle who happened to be in the area circled the chest. It seemed to take on an iridescent green glow that lit up the waters with its shimmering light.

Chapter 6

Grand Cayman 2012

“Mrs. Wallace, this is Mrs. Banks, deputy principal at Island High School. Your son, Brandon, did not show up at school today.”

Mrs. Wallace paused a moment before answering. She knew exactly where her son was. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Banks, I believe I know where he is. I will call his father right now.”

“Brandon has already missed nine unexcused days this year,” scolded Mrs. Banks. “With his grades, he cannot afford to be missing so much school. Please bring him in tomorrow, along with your husband so that we can discuss the matter.”

“Yes, ma’am,” answered Mrs. Wallace, in a solemn voice.

Mrs. Wallace was already at work at Island Gems Jewelry and was not prepared to start her day in such a way.

As soon as Mrs. Wallace hung up the phone, she dialed her husband’s work number. She dreaded telling him the news.

“Franklin, Brandon skipped school again.”

“Damn that boy!” Mr. Wallace shouted in reply. “I can’t leave the port right now.” Mr. Wallace had gotten a promotion to supervisor at the port a few years ago and spent most of his time at work or on call when he was at home. This is about the time Brandon began to have some behavior issues.

“You know where he is, Franklin.”

I will talk to him tonight,” confirmed Mr. Wallace.

“We need to do more than just talk,” she said.

“He’s a seventeen-year-old boy. He needs to get his act together. Trust me, Jenna, when I am done with him, he will know that I mean business!” said Mr. Wallace, angrily.

*****

“Hey, Jason, did you see that spotted eel?” Brandon asked, excitedly, as they emerged from the sea.

“He must have been at least six feet long!” Jason answered.

They sat at the edge of the shore and removed their snorkeling gear. The early morning sun shone down and illuminated the crystal blue water. Brandon shook his head of dark wet curls, like a dog shaking out his wet fur. Jason on the other hand, was busy pulling back his sandy blonde hair into a printed scarf.

“I can’t wait to get these pictures up on the computer and check them out,” Brandon said. “Want to come up to the house?”

“I’d better not. I should get home and clean up before my folks find out I skipped school with you.”

“Suit yourself,” Brandon said as he walked away. He shook his head, knowing that Jason wouldn’t get into trouble if he got caught. He wished his parents were as lenient as Jason’s.

*****

Brandon walked along the shore toward home. He gazed out at the turquoise waters, feeling the breeze on his face. As he kicked his toes through the white powdery sand and watched the palms swaying back and forth, he thought of his childhood. Brandon and his dad would go fishing and diving almost every weekend. That changed a few years ago when his dad had gotten the promotion. Brandon yearned for those days and hoped his dad would come around again. When he thought of those days, he knew that the sea was his heaven.

As he reached home he sat on the back deck of the large cottage and tried to take it all in. He was grateful to live right on the beach where he could have the sea right there under his nose.

All of a sudden, Pirate, the family’s five-year-old Labrador Retriever came bounding out and began licking the salt water off his face.

Brandon knew he had to get out of his gear fast and clean up before his parents got home or he’d have hell to pay.

Lorraine Carey

https://authorlorrainecarey.blogspot.com/

Lorraine Carey is a reading specialist and an Award-Winning Author. She was living in California until fate whisked her off to Grand Cayman. She currently lives in Florida. Her love for paranormal stories began at a young age, and is no stranger to the paranormal, having encountered unexplainable events that are woven into her stories.