VINDICTIVE

Episode 16

For a while I just sat there. Staring into her empty eyes. Unable to rip my gaze from their harrowing grasp.

My body demanded breath like I myself was about to die. I could have died. Who ever that was could have just as easily killed me. I could have. That could be me over there, gone. I need liam. I need to find liam now.

Why did he leave me all alone?! Where in the hell did he go?! Feeling indescribably helpless, all I could do was curl up. Knives clinked as I brought my legs to my chest, my dress dragging them. “I wanna go home!”

I sobbed. “I just wanna go home!”

In silence I continued to sit. For the moment relatively safe. If i just don't move or do anything I should be fine. I'm sure help is on the way, someone must have called for help. And if I just wait here they'll find me…

They'll find me. The ship groaned again from below.

A deep sorrowful creaking, grinding groan. As I sat, my eyes caught a glimmer of movement. The woman's blood, which had pooled beneath her, began to move. Streaming to her left. Rolling ever so slowly between the tiles along the floor. Why would it-? My fingers gripped at my dress with the realisation.

“No, no, no, no, no are we sinking?!” As if on cue, the lights flickered on in the hall before immediately fizzling out again. My imagination flooded with Images of being stuck in here as the room filled with water gave my body the motivation it needed to move. Using the stove for leverage I pulled myself up, standing on two very unconfident legs.

“Damn it Jules common” I grunted. “Stop shutting down, you can do this” Liam isn't here, I'm on my own.

Lifting my skirt high from the floor, I took slow careful steps. Hissing in pain when stepping on the odd chunk of broken plate. Cursing myself for having taken my heels off. They may have hurt but they would be alot less painful than this i'm sure. If I could just get-

My eyes immediately fell to her feet. Wearing matching black shoes.

As I finally approached her, I knelt down at her side. With respect in my heart, I gently closed her eyes. Laying her on her back with care. “I'm so sorry..” I whispered breathlessly. With a trembling hand I untied her laces. Slipping them off her feet. “Sorry” Guilt racked through me as I put them on but it's not like they are of any use to her. “Thank you” With my feet now properly protected I stood once more.

For a moment I hesitated. Pausing in the doorway. For safety I grabbed the biggest knife available on the floor. Gripping its wooden handle tight while I took my first cautious step into the hall. The hooded man, nowhere to be seen. “Maybe I can call liam. He should have his phone. I think” Instinctively, my hand went to my hip, reaching for a phone that obviously isn't there.

I groaned at the damned reality of this dress.

This stupid, pocketless mass of fabric. My phone is still in the room from this morning, along with the rest of my stuff. “Ugh” Either I find my phone and call him,

or maybe if I'm lucky that's where he went and is waiting there for me. Just expecting me to read his mind as usual. “If we get out of this, I'm going to kill him”

To my suprise, the lights flickered on. Releasing a sigh of relief from me but nonetheless, an uneasy feeling fell over me like a thick blanket. The air completely choked with the tense atmosphere. Not only is the ship possibly sinking, but now there's a mad man running around killing people. Why? Why would someone do that? Why now? And why did he spare me? Turning left I headed for what I believe to be the direction of our room. All these halls look the same. My fingers grasped the knife handle, ready to strike any second.

The farther I walked the more It occurs to me just how empty this ship is. Since leaving the party there were a handful of people laying in the halls and of course the woman in the kitchen but now, there's no one around. No screaming, no running, no panicked shouting. I may As well be the only one on here. Surely someone else must be around here somewhere, this ship was packed with people just this evening. Now it's like.. everyones vanished. But yet along the walls, there is still blood. The only evidence of people currently.

I paused at the sight of one such mark, a clear bloody handprint smeared along the wall and around the corner where it just... ended. No sign of an actual body around. A cold shiver racked up my spine. It has to be that masked man. He has to be taking everyone somewhere. But why did he leave me? Why did he just kill that lady and leave her with me.

Passing by the spa, I paused a moment.

“Hope the girls are alright” Lost track of them after the ceremony. I can only pray for their safety but with the literal grim reaper roaming the halls I just don't know how high the chances are. With the back of my hand I wiped a bitter tear. “Stop it. Everythings going to be fine. Were going to find liam and-“ from around a corner came haunting footsteps, pacing closer and closer. I held my knife out, shaking and afraid I’d have to actually use it. The shadow of this person swept along the wall and just as he came around the corner

The lights blacked out, ripping a scream from me.

With my vision compromised I simply wiped the knife around wildly. “Get away, get away.!” I sobbed.

“Leave me alone!” The figure managed to dodge the blade and grabbed my wrists. With a grunt from him, I was pushed against the wall. Hands held above my head. I shut my eyes completely awaiting the veil of death to simply take me. “Julie, calm down!” ?