Abhorrent Practices - Book 1

Chapter 7.3 - Downtime (Scene 3: Waking Nightmare)

Alyss's eyes opened slowly. Her head throbbed and her tongue felt dry. Perrick was sitting by her bedside, his large hands cradling a bowl of what smelt like barley soup. There was something she had to remember; something she had to tell the others. She struggled to raise her head, and tried to focus on Perrick's face. His eyes were dark with worry.

"The Captain," she murmured, her lips barely moving. "I need to warn him." She slumped back into the pillow behind her head and closed her eyes.

Perrick placed the bowl on the floor, and leaned over Alyss's body. She was looking better today, but her face was still gaunt and drained of colour. He placed a hand on her forehead, and breathed a sigh of relief. Her temperature was finally beginning to fall.

"Do you think you can eat?" he asked.

Alyss rocked her head, first to one side, and then the other. The movement was slow, and hurt her head.

"There's a monster," she said, screwing up her face as her saliva soured in her mouth. She tried to clean her tongue against her teeth. "On the ship."

Perrick didn't react. She'd expected him to run to Naylor, or tell her she was mad. Instead he continued to stare at her, the concerned look on his face hardly changing. Had she imagined it all? Dreamed it?

"Marla," he replied quietly. "You saw Marla. She saved your life."

Alyss grimaced, trying to concentrate; trying to remember. No. She'd been told Marla was a preen, Skrawl's partner. The thing she'd seen was nothing like Skrawl. It had been tall, a swaying column of gelatine, coral pink and with an inflated balloon of a head.

"I need to warn the Captain," she repeated, struggling to sit upright. Her head span, and she reached for Perrick's arm, in an attempt to steady herself. She doubted if she could stand without help.

Perrick moved closer and arranged the pillows behind her back. In spite of herself, she eased back against them and looked around her cabin. Nothing had changed. Her trunk was still where she'd left it, pressed up against the wall, beside the vanity.

"Okay," he relented. "We'll tell him together. But rest first. See if you can eat something."

Perrick leaned over, reaching down for the bowl he'd placed on the floor, his tall frame twisting awkwardly on the tiny stool by Alyss's bedside. She heard the spoon clink against the bowl, but she wasn't interested in food. Her mind was clearing slowly, and she was starting to take stock of her surroundings. The air in the cabin was rank with the smell of stale sweat, and she wondered how long she'd been lying there.

"I need some fresh air," she said.

Perrick nodded and went to the door, throwing it open wide. Alyss squinted against the sudden burst of daylight pressing on her eyes, but the cool air wafting into the cabin was refreshing against her skin. She breathed deeply.

"Is that better?" Perrick placed the soup bowl on the vanity and moved closer. For the first time since they'd left Brael eight days ago, he was able to inspect her in daylight. Alyss recognised the self-reproach in his eyes. At that moment, he'd have done anything for her.

"Turn around," she said, swinging her legs over the edge of the cot, wincing as her bare feet touched the cold, wooden boards. Perrick returned to the open door, and stared at the deck outside. His shoulders sagged.

Alyss tried to stand, but quickly realised her legs were still weak. Gripping the the stool with one hand, she dragged it towards the vanity and sat down heavily. She gazed into the mirror fixed to the wall above the dresser.