VINDICTIVE

Episode 14

Another wash of comfort covered me like a blanket as he stroked my hair absentmindedly. “It just all was so... different from what I pictured that I began to doubt if we were really meant for eachother y'know?”

His arm tightened around me. “Thats crazy”

I laughed at myself. Snuggling into him tighter, “I know”

“So what got you so upset all of a sudden? I thought we were having fun at our crazy messed up wedding”

Shaking my head I banished Morgan's words from my mind. “Its nothing”

“Then let's go back in huh?” Abruptly, he stood. Holding a hand out to help me up. “I did pay a lot of money and effort into it after all. Unless you really don't want to in which case well throw it all to the wind and go back to our room” His eyes looked like I just ran over his pet. I can't stand when he makes that pitiful face. Quickly I took his hand, joining him as we headed back inside “No, No of course not.” I stammered. “Good, now-“ Taking the veil from my hands he carefully placed it back in my hair.

“Let's get back to the party.”

I winced as we approached the ballroom once again. The music, to put it simply was off the charts in volume.

Resisting the urge to cover my ears I looked to Liam who didn't seem to mind in the least. Has everyone gone deaf or something?

Liam grabbed my wrist, pulling me out to the floor. Swinging me around I proceeded to dance with him, doing my best to have fun. I smiled my best smile and danced all I could. But in the corner of my eye was that annoying bartender who shall not be named. He watched me and Liam carefully. Eyes empty of emotion, not for a moment did he stop staring as he prepared the drinks that surprisingly are still in high demand. What is his problem?

The dancing around us became increasingly sloppy as people drank and drank with no apparently no limit.

I bit my lip, nervous for how this will end up for the rest of the night. There's no way this is going to end well.

“Hey Liam!” I shouted, trying to get his attention.

He pretended not to hear, curling an arm around my waist he pulled me close and continued to party. Shouting out loud with everyone around us. “Liam!” I called again, nudging his shoulder. “Listen to me!”

His eyes were blazing with anger as they snapped to meet mine. “What?!” He barked. The world went black.

All around me came blood curdling screams as the ship's floors shook violently, rumbling from below.

The loudest bang I've ever heard followed by the teeth grinding screech of metal. My ears ran incessantly as I looked around, struggling to see in the darkness. Moments later The captain's voice called out. “Everyone stay calm, well sort this out. Will someone get some bloody lights on?!” When nothing happened he shouted furiously.

“Then use that! It's better than nothing!” With that someone managed to get the strobe lights working.

They flashed on and off in a much slower pattern.

Revealing the horror that surrounds me.

Everyone had been thrown to the floor as well, some not moving. I reached out to Liam when I realized he was nowhere to be seen. “Liam..?” I gasped. Gritting my teeth through the pain in my left arm. “Liam?!” He was just here. Seeing the bodies bathed in the sickening silver light over and over made me dizzy.

I managed to push myself up. The ship swayed, making it difficult to find footing. My mouth gaped open as I glanced around the groaning, squirming mass of costumed passengers. The ballroom floor sparkled and glistened with the glass and blood that littered the floor. My attention shot to my feet as a blonde woman wearing an orange and black cocktail dress lay beside me. Groaning in pain she crawled towards me, a gash in her leg pumping out blood with every heartbeat. “Please..help'' She whimpered, eyes delirious with desperation. “I- I cant. I don't know what to do I-“

My eyes widened when her trembling hand gripped my ankle, frightening me.“Liam!!” I screamed. Desperate to see his face. “Please” She choked. Blackness began to spill over her lips, dripping like syrup as it pooling beneath her. ”Stop please stop, no no. I can't!”

My sanity waned and panic flooded my thoughts, body drunk with fear I stepped back from her. Shaking my foot as I detached myself from her sorry grip.

“I-I'm sorry I-“ Backing further and further away my teeth chattered. Whether from cold or fear I can't tell.

My back thumped into a body. A hand gripped my shoulder “Julie, you alright?” He asked. I let out a shaky sigh, instantly turning around I buried my face in his chest, gripping his shirt in tight fists.

“I wanna go home!” My voice broke into sobs.

“Where did you go?!” I cried, thumping a fist to his chest. “What are you talking about?!”

Looking up, my heart nearly leaped from its confines.

“Morgan?! W-what the hell?! What are you doing here?!” He scoffed, annoyed.

“Well, I saw your obviously loving husband run off like a bastard. So I came to see if you're ok. Which apparently your not because you seem to be bleeding all over me.” I gasped in pain as he took my arm, inspecting it. I knew it hurt but i didn't realize it was that bad. Kneeling down, he looked up at me. “You mind?”

“Mind what?” I asked. Only to be met with shock when he tore a chunk off the trane of my dress. “Hey!”

Standing again, he began to wrap my arm. Cinching it tight with a grunt. “There. Now look, We have to get out of here and get somewhere safe. I don't know what that was but I think it's best if we-“

“No, there's no ’we’. I'm going to find liam”

“Julie-“ without another word I collected my dress and left, calling for my husband. There has to be a reason he left. A perfectly.. valid, legitimate reason that i'm sure makes sense in its entirety. He wouldn't just leave me. “Liam!” I called down the hall. ?