Blindfold (Book One)

21. Avow

Amelie's POV

I am standing in a room, dark, motionless, soundless...all alone.

"Hello?" I shout, as I listen to a rough sound of something heavy dropping to the floor. I can feel fear taking possession of me. I take one step forward, slowly...another...another...Suddenly, a strong, white light hits me, as if I was in a stage, it hits me and just me, the horizon still dark. I try to block it with my arms, as I look away and close my eyes. I can't continue walking, the light is too strong. I try taking another step forward, but fail, until I listen to something small, and metallic falling in front of my feet. I slowly open my eyes, my arms still trying to block the light on top of me, and try to focus and see what it is. I gasp...it is a knife, a knife covered in blood. Fear runs through me once again. I pick it up, and then another light appears at the distance...that's when I see Jim laying on the floor, his white shirt red, his body motionless. I try to shout, but no sound comes out my mouth; I try to run, but my feet are stuck, like if there were no life in them, like if I couldn't control them. Hot tears run down my cheeks, and then a blond, tall man suddenly appears standing aside Jim's body...Colin. He laughs an evil laugh, the most horrible and most evil laugh of all. He starts approaching me, getting closer...closer. I try to move, but I can't. I start feeling anxiety, desperation, fear, urgency. He gets closer and closer, a knife in hand. He gets to stand in front of me, and lifts his arm, bringing—

I gasp, and violently sit up in the bed. It is dark outside, the ship slowly rocking from side to side with the motion of the ocean, the light of the moon shining through the balcony window. I try bringing my breath steady again, as I am breathing incredibly fast, my heart beating at a faster pace too. I turn to my right side and realize that the sound of the wind coming through the window is because the door of the balcony is slightly open. I try standing up from my bed, but my head is pounding. I fall to the ground, and then step back up, my legs shaking. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. It was just another bad dream, I try to think. Since the day Colin Smith died, I've had several nightmares with him. I guess it was just the shock of it, and my brain releasing all the fear I had when he was still alive. I walk over to the balcony door, where the whistling sound is coming from, and close it carefully, followed by closing the curtains.

I turn to look at the clock sitting on the desk and read 4:43 am. Since Jim and I went to sleep at approximately 3:30 am, I just slept for a little bit more than an hour. I definitely don't want to sleep again, I can't sleep again, I'm wide awake. I turn on the lights of the room, since darkness was starting to creep me out, and decide that I will be taking a walk around the ship to distract myself and set my mind straight.

I jump out of my pajamas, tie my hair in a side braid, and simply put on a pair of jeans, boots, and a fluffy, big sweater.

Opening the door of my stateroom, I realize that there is no one in the hallway at the moment. Well logically, it is almost 5:00 am. I start walking forward, and then to the elevators, where I click the button down to Deck 5, The Promenade Deck.

"Deck 5," says the voice in the elevator. I get out, and and start towards the back side of the ship. Every bar, and the cupcake shop is closed, except for one of the discos, where you can still see some people drinking and dancing, and the Promenade Cafe, which is open 24/7.

"Hello," says the lady. "What can I get for you?"

"May I have a cup of coffee and a pink lemonade tart, please?"

"Of course," she says. The lady pours some delicious-smelling coffee into a cup, and then takes a pink lemonade tart from the tray.

"Thank you," I say, as she hands it to me.