Blood Moon Rising

Seraphine stared at the piece of paper in his hand unable to process anything else. Meanwhile, his two best friends squealed in joy as they read the contents of the letter out loud. Dear Mr. Seraphine Vanadir, We're enlightened to announce that you've won our yearly lottery. Congratulations! on winning a free 2 month relaxing trip organized by Travel Company WIC, for upto 4 persons to the "Island of Mysteries" to collect your tickets please pay a visit to our travel office and get more details regarding your prize. Regards, Your Star Travel Team, WIC organizations. "Hey Sera! Snap out of that daze yo." Seraphine's attention returned back to his two friends who were currently taking their bags out and packing. "Wait guys, so you think we should go?" Seraphine finally spoke getting both of his friends head turned towards him, "I mean... weren't we going to go apply for jobs?" "God Sera, Shut up. You won a free trip, we're tagging along with you and we're going there, no but's or if's." Nino, Sera's and Vikter's eldest friend spoke up from his crouched state. Now when you mention it. Seraphine has been living with Vikter and Nino ever since they got out of the Orphanage together. The trio share a room in an apartment and have been together since high school. Seraphine was still a student, while Vikter worked at a local bar and Nino worked as a local tutor. The three didn't make that much but it was enough to pay the rent and bills. Now that they got a free vacation trip for 2 months, Nino and Vikter were ready for it- heck, they had already started packing. "Alright. I'll go visit the office. You guys start packing up." With a sigh Sera shoved the letter in his jacket and headed out towards the Office. On his way to the office, Sera thought back on how his friends have always been there for him through every up and down of his life. They both work so hard, an expensive vacation like this is much needed for the two. It'll be a good experience as well since trips to Islands are always adventurous and you get to learn alot from them. Nino was the one who spent most of his time in libraries and reading various genres of books so he had been beyond excited after learning their destination was "Island of Mysteries". An Island situated to the North of Ostia. Seraphine smiled thinking that as a change in their lifestyles, this trip was most needed so he didn't think much as he signed on the agreement papers and returned home with the tickets. °°° Vikter was standing on the railing watching as the coast of Ostia became a mere splash of shadows against the landscape of rising currents. Home was far away now, but the smile on Vikter and Nino's faces were wide meanwhile, Seraphine was inside the cabin, blocking any view of the water from his sight. Due to his fear of the ocean, thalassophobia, as long as he doesn't see the sea, he'll be safe from any anxiety or panic attack. This trip was going to be a challenge for him but he wouldn't go down without a game. He'd fight back his fears and overcome them. A soft knock on the door averted Seraphine's attention from the Comic book in his hands. "Hey. I thought I'd check up on you. Nino is currently flirting with a girl so I left him to that. Couldn't bear the embarrassment." Vikter chuckled as he slid inside the room. "Where's the Survival Kit that I got from the thrift shop?" Sera asked as Vikter poured whiskey for them. "I don't know. Must be somewhere here in our luggage." The cool liquid burned against Sera's throat as he gulped it all down in a single chug of his drink. "Nino? This comic I'm reading, is about a group of friends who get stuck in an apocalypse. Like the Japanese light novels, Alice in Borderland and Sword Art Online, Who do you think will survive amongst us if we existed in either worlds?" The red-headed male twirled his drink in the glass playfully as he laid against the bed lazily. "Well...Vikter's strong point is his strength, I can crack codes or riddles and you're a pro at games. So I'd bet on you." Nino laughed lightly as he buried himself under the comforter and Sera returned to reading his comic book again. Later, Vikter had returned to their shared cabin big enough for four with dinner. The trio had seafood and went to sleep after a few drinks. They weren't allowed to tell anyone else about their trip. Growing up in an orphanage, Seraphine didn't have any family except for his friends who were like older brothers to him. Nino and Vikter also didn't have parents but rather troublesome family members. So naturally, the trio had no one to tell about their prize. Stars scattered across the night sky gleamed against the crashing waves of the sea. It was a moonless sky and a sleepless one for Seraphine. After dinner he had turned and tossed around in his bed for minutes but all in vain as he just couldn't fall asleep. Maybe because his subconscious was aware of their current state, boarded on a ship, floating above the sea. Staying away from the docks and not allowing himself to lock anywhere else than the sky, Sera sighed and tried to count the stars to tire himself. Twenty-one Twenty-two... Damn why are there so many stars tonight? He was lost in his thoughts to an extent that he didn't pay attention to the sound of footsteps nearing him. Twenty-five...wait... wasn't that one the twenty fifth one? I think I messed up the counting again... Sera was now too focused but a sudden hand on his shoulder caused him to jerk as shivers to ran down his spine and he gasped. With heavy breaths he saw a girl with bangs and short hair, watching him with a confused expression. "I called you three times. You didn't respond so I just thought of getting your attention by touching you...I didn't mean to scare you though." The girl spoke in a monotonous tone. Sera calmed himself and questioned "What do you want from me?" To this the girl rolled her eyes at him and deadpanned, "I don't want anything from you, instead the captain just announced that the waves get stronger at night so its best to return to our cabins." With that she turned around and headed back to wherever she came from. Seraphine mentally scolded himself from getting scared too easily by just a touch. With a quick prayer to the Goddess of Oceans, Seraphine returned to his cabin as well. He had hoped to sleep well tonight but no one knows what awaits him and his friends tomorrow.