A Coldness Sets In

Haven - Sentinel Island

While the mind may choose to warm itself in positive thoughts, the body didn’t have the same luxury to be able to choose what to focus on. The cold had been increasingly creeping into the hole and bringing with it merciless despair. As the night grew nearer, the temperature plummeted exponentially.

Gonyaul, at this point, was curled up tightly in ball up against the side facing north. He was shivering noticeably from the consistent frigid space and the chilling sea breeze that would occasionally slip down into the hole, swirl around and steal some body heat. Even with full coverage with fabric and an insulating layer of mud, Gonyaul had goose bumps. His lips were a light shade of blue.

The fact that he had not eaten in a while wasn’t helping. His body didn’t have the fuel to help warm itself. Fasting was a pretty common occurrence growing up; however, this was an entirely different matter altogether. Gonyaul could feel his blood sugar failing and it cause a nauseous sensation. In addition, he was parched. His body was signaling its discomfort to warn him of its need. At least he was so dehydrated and hungry that the need to go to relieve himself was nonexistent.

Gonyaul tried to keep his hands warm by jamming them up under his armpits.

This experience was testing his threshold for patience and resolve. And it was then he noticed salt water was slowly rising from the floor. It added insult to injury, water all around but none to drink. The water was cold on his feet, but there was no where to hide himself. He would have to stand now, laying down or sitting would get him wet and that would be very problematic. As he rose, he instantly missed the warmth from being tightly huddled into a ball.

Gonyaul hugged himself as best he could and continued to physically endure the suffering. He wondered how long it would take before the water would go back down. He could feel the onset of exhaustion, but he couldn’t rest until the hole was dryer.

If they wanted to ween out any fight in him then their tactics were working. If they ever did come, they would find a Vaux fighting hard to control his trembling body, teeth chattering and running the risk of getting sick.