Hell over high water

"I think...whatever this is...human or not....I-it might just be someone trying to scare us! Some sort of....sick joke! We all got strange letters with tickets didn't we?! Maybe this is a trap!" Clare took a deep breath to calm herself.

"I think we should...we need to defend ourselves, take weapons, stay all together at all times, have someone stay awake while the rest sleep....At least until morning, and find out what really happened to the captain..." Clare grew pale as she remembered all the blood and the severed arm.

"I-I want to think we can defeat this...whatever it is...."

 

Pem answered in a little more than a whisper. "Clare I perfromed an exorcism in the wheelroom. The body of the Captain rose from that bloody puddle and spoke. Yes we need to defend ourselves and no one should be alone any longer. That is part of the reason I dragged our violin playing friend up here. But don't be fooled, there is something evil on this ship and it isn't human. Ask Cain what happened if you don't believe me."

Pem lowered his voice even further. "Can I trust you with a secret?"

 

Clare looked up at the reverend and nodded, still a bit pale. "P-please."

 

"By now you've heard I have carried out exorcisms, but there is more. Most people in my curious calling have also been tasked with tracking down certain texts. Usually those that could allow even an average person to call upon the fallen sons of God. This has taken me to many ... less than reputable ... places. Most of the times the people are just the children of the wealthy looking for a cheap thrill, but occasionally you find someone with a real interest in the subject. The voilin player, Armel Ackart, is someone I've seen on more than a few occasions. I don't believe he is the cause of our trouble, but he knows more than he's saying."

 

"What are you saying?" Clare whispered. "That this is the work of some...umm..." She was at a loss of words, or more like she simply didn't want to say it.

 

Pem nodded. "I think Armel is in danger. If we keep him safe, we might just make it out of here alive."

 

"I'm...I...I don't feel so well...."

 

"Clare? WHat's the matter?"

 

"N-nothing. I think I just need some air..."

 

The Reverend reached into his pocket and took out his well worn rosary beads. "Here take these, just in case."

 

Clare took the beads, clutching them tightly. "Thank you, Reverend. I'll be right back..." She stumbled past him, keeping her hand close to the wall as she walked out.

 

"Yes, Ms. Bequem. I'd like to go back to our room now," Mouse said. She was tired, so tired that her eyes could hardly hold themselves open any longer. She longed for the comfort of the bed and walked with Ms. Bequem. The others did not notice them leave.

 

They walked hand in hand to their room. She handed Mouse her nightgown and patted her on the head. She looked at the bed. She wanted nothing but to sleep, that's all she wanted but she knew she had to think first.

"I'll keep the door open, but I'm going into the study." she said. Giving her a goodnight kiss. She walked into the study, lighting a candle and closing the door half-way. She needed to think.

 

Clare stood at the deck, looking down at the sea. She'd just discharged her dinner into the sea and it still looked dark and wild, like it was calling whoever it looked at it to come and die.

She felt a bit better now, the cool breeze making her feel like she was shaking from the cold and not fear. Suddenly, there was a change on the wind, like it was whispering into her ear, whispering, whispering...

Clare jumped away from the rail and quickly made her way back to where everyone was, but the whispering followed her. On her way was a glass case with hatchet in for emergencies. Tearing the lower part of her dress, she bandaged her hand and broke the glass to reach the hatchet and hold it close to her, the whispering didn't stop, but Clare felt safer.

Clutching the rosary beads tightly, Clare made her away again to Reverend Pem and everyone else. "Our Father who arth in heaven, thy kingdom come..."

 

Still steering the ship, Cain carefully edged away from where the thing had been not too long before. Trying to get his mind off the horrible things that were happening, he busied himself with the task of steering the ship. It actually wasn't too bad, thought Cain, although he had no idea where he was going. All he was doing was looking for land. But all he could see was the angry, vicious ocean all around. The communications were all disabled, so there was no way to get word out to anyone else.

"Mordecai," Cain said, not taking his gaze off the ocean, "do you believe in ghosts? Or do you think the things we're seeing are demons? Could there be...good ghosts on this ship?"

 

The reverend walked off with the young woman without answering Roger's question. The boy rubbed the scab on his chin and looked around at the others. The woman and little girl headed for their room, and part of Roger wanted to follow them, but he stayed put.

With a small groan, he turned and looked up at Dana. It was too quiet now - he wanted to say something, but didn't know what.

Dana chewed his lower lip, looking around thoughtfully. That awkward silence fell over them once more.

Suddenly, something smashed. The boys jumped and turned to see the young woman pull a hatchet from a broken glass case. She came to join them, mumbling what sounded like a prayer.

Roger turned back to Dana. "C'mon," he said, and began to walk away.

Dana followed closely. "Where are we going?"

"We can't fight this thing empty-handed," said Roger, "There's gotta be something we can use."

Dana glanced at the reverend and young woman over his shoulder. It was a bad idea to leave the group, he knew. But, he kept quiet and followed Roger.

He stayed close until they reached the dining room. There, he stopped.

Roger stepped inside and beckoned the older boy to follow. He saw no problem with entering this room - everyone was gone now, so there was no reason for this ghost or whatever to come back. He explained this to Dana, and the blonde boy slipped into the room.

The place was a disaster. Tables and chairs had been knocked over, and broken dishes and food covered the floor. And there was that message on the wall - the one Roger still couldn't understand. He tried not to look at it as he sifted through all the stuff on the floor.

After a moment's hesitation, Dana joined him, poking around the mess like a rat in a garbage dump. He couldn't help but glance back nervously every now and then, to make sure that it was him and Roger and no one else.

He was coming to his senses now - or, starting to. It might not've been real, but it was pretty damned serious. He just hoped the first mate turned the ship around so they could go home.

We told him to turn it around, didn't we? He's turning around - he's going back, right?

 

Mouse changed into the nightgown and slipped between the sheets of the bed, her eyes heavy as her head hit the soft feather pillow. She thought of the vision of her mother, thought of how real it had seemed, and shuddered. The thing on the ship had tried to kill her. And before that it had spoken to her...

Dear child won't you play my game? If you want to be safe, best be with the one who can make you dance.

"The one who can make me dance," Mouse said, drifting off to sleep as the first heavy drops of rain began to tap against the glass of the window pane next to the bed. She fell into the depths of unconsciousness then and dreamt of her mother.

 

Pem nodded. "Yes I believe there are ghosts both good and evil, though I couldn't tell you why the Almighty doesn't gather them to their eternal judgement. But I also believe in demons. The fallen sons of God. Whatever possessed the Captain was no ghost."

 

Clare came stumbling back into the room, still holding the hatchet and the rosary tightly in her hands. "Where...where is everybody?"

 

Cain nodded, the reverend confirming some of his worst fears. Shaking his head, Cain yawned.

"I'm getting really tired. Would you...mind taking over? I'll sleep here, or at least rest, but I don't think I'll be able to steer anymore..."





Well everyone, I'm tired, and I'm going to bed. Don't have too much horrible fun without me. You can control Cain, as long as he acts in character. Night.

 

Pem helped the first mate over to the wheel for a second chance at steering. "Get some sleep Cain, you've earned it."

 

Clare walked up to Cain and Pem. "Wait. Where are those two other guys? And Ms. Bequem and the girl?"

 

Cain looked up his eyes weary and bloodshot. "They went to bed."

 

She sat at the desk and lay down her head.

First comes first. She thought.

The lights. They went off because there was obviously some problem with the electricity. That really wasn’t a common thing, especially on a new ship. She thought to herself.

The arm. Someone was obviously on the ship. Some had to of pulled it out. Someone with a tool or with their bare hands.

She didn’t want to think of what the Reverend had said to that boy. She frowned and continued on with her thoughts.

The same person obviously wrote the message in the blood. Maybe through fear they heard those voices. Maybe.

She opened her eyes as a chill went through her spine. She grabbed a shawl from her chest, putting it over her shoulder when she noticed a woman to her side.

“Uhm, can I help you?” she said, getting up and walking back towards the door. She noticed the woman was transparent and her skin seemed duller then it should have been, as if all color had been sucked from her.

The door closed behind her and she managed to succumb a scream.

“You’re not real!” She yelled, closing her eyes, her nails dug into the palm of her hand. “You’re not real!”

Her body shook as the room began to chill. She could hear the icing of the glass. She slowly opened her eyes. It was gone. She ran at the door and struggled to open the door. It wouldn’t budge. She began to bang on it hysterically. She didn’t care if there was no logic, she was locked in a room with something that might hurt her.

 

"Come on, " said Reverend Pem as they ran towards Ms. Bequem's room.