OCEAN WITHOUT DIRECTION

Chapter Seven

"Never hide things from hardcore thinkers. They get more aggravated, more provoked by confusion than the most painful truths.
- Criss Jami

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I wake up in the middle of the night, groggily swiping my eyes with two fingers. As I begin to pull myself up, an anchor of weight pulls me down again.

My eyes widen as I recall last night's events, Zack. I look to my side and relax as my sight lands on a sleeping Liam. I'm fine, I'm alive, and I'm safe within his clutches.

As I scoot slowly to the side Liam makes an incomprehensible sound and turns around underneath the covers. Covers in which he somehow managed to slip under last night.

My feet land softly on the carpeted flooring and my eyes dart around the room worriedly. Silence, except the light snores coming from the bed.

The only clothing I can manage to find is the white gown I wore last night, and I slip it on.

My bones hurt, my muscles feel weak and my face stings from the amount of salty tears fell onto it. Managing to zip up the dress I slip out of the room without a sound.

Am I regretting this already? I begin to think as my room door begins to fall out of view. My foot steps are almost silent as I walk down the staircase and I aim for the kitchens.

Somehow I have this nagging voice in the back of my mind that something is here, Other than myself.

I turn the corner and race to the kitchen knowing that I am not alone.

'faster, faster' my conscience tells me. As I round the corner once more, the doors of the kitchen come into view and I let out a sigh of relief.

Slowing down I push the door open and flick the lights on. Light barricades the room and swiftly I pull open the fridge and spy an apple.

Taking a bite, the door leading in opens and closes. Pausing I look up and see the one and only Liam.

"You left me, to come and get a midnight snack?" His accusing voice almost covering the amount of mirth glazing his eyes.

Smiling cheekily I take another bite and moan teasingly "you couldn't possibly blame a starving woman." He shakes his head and rounds the prepping table taking my Apple in his hand.

This time he moans teasingly and I roll my eyes. Suddenly the door opens once more, this time in walks in Zack looking just as smug as a few hours before.

"Hello sweetheart" he whispers seductively and I instantly shrink back. Liam whips his head around and glares at his brother. "What do you want!"

Zack chuckles "only to talk brother, calm down" Liam glares and covers my body with his.

As the silence lengthens a male voice finally pipes up. "Did you want to know why your friend Liam here was so upset with you, sweetheart?" I peek out behind Liam's arm and push him away.

Zack takes that as a 'yes'. "You see..." He begins taking a seat on the prepping table and plucks the apple from Liam's grip.
"My brother here thought that you were playing him to get information for myself. Think about that, I'm related to a gullible fool" Liam glares, I stare.

"Anyway after that I played along to get more of a reaction out of him. I told him many lies that you and myself were having an affair. I knew that he admired you so thinking I could get him mad, I did just that."

My lips are parted in shock. Zack commented to Liam that we were having an affair and he believed such an absurd thing. Looking to Liam to see him already staring back at me, all I can do is glance back at the puppeteer.

"After that my brother said that I was lying, pulling you out of that room. And you willingly following just proved my point."

Okay I'm confused.

"But wait" Zack pauses his story. "Liam and me only met that night" he chuckles.

"Sweetheart, we all knew who you were before you knew us. We have quite a history together."

My eyebrows draw together and Zack sighs in frustration. "We have an arranged marriage sweetheart."

Suddenly I don't feel too well. Arranged marriage?

That can only mean one thing, Liam knew, Zack knew, their parents knew. My only living family knew and didn't bother informing me.

Gripping the table I sit down and wipe my face with my hands. Liam thought that I was using him, my soon to be called husband almost raped me, and Liam wants me instead. This is too much information to process.

My head is spinning crazily and as I look up I see both men gazing down at me. "Look can I go somewhere else and think about this?" They nod though I see one of them hesitate beforehand.

I exit the kitchen now losing my appetite and head into an empty room, not caring where it was. The darkness was reassuring, the silence was heartwarming and the ticking of the clock in the room was calming.

I'm confused, and hurt. This was not how my cruise was supposed to go, it was drinking martinis in the sun. Dancing into the night, and eating delicious foods I wouldn't have back home.

My gown is drooping down the stool and u realise soon that I'm in a resource room. As I stand to leave and head back to my rooms the door opens and I look up.

Zack.

He seems to be everywhere I go, everywhere I am and everywhere I seem to be.

"What are you doing here?" My voice wavers, I'm being cautious around every male that has even the slightest similarity to him.

He shrugs and walks circles around me. "You know sweetheart, you are quite beautiful. You know that right?" I give him silence. He stops on my right arm side and reaches up to push a strand of hair away from my neck. Only to reveal the love Mark he left below my collarbone.

"I would love to marry you....but you're just too. What's the word. Poor, to marry me. I need a wealthy woman. Who will give me pleasure when I need it and when I want it." I'm trembling.

"I guess we'll just have to get rid of you then" my brows raise in confusion as he pressed on the nerve on my neck and instantly I'm dead weight.

He doesn't bother catching me as my head hits the floor and I'm instantly seeing darkness.

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And this is why I don't like people....

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