Capsized (Metaphorically): A THQ Fanfic

CHAPTER 1: Won't Be Mist

Duni smiled brightly up at the towering frame of the cruise ship. The young man was giddy with excitement, and what was better? His friends had finally decided to give in and come with him. Well, more like he forced them to, but Duni was adamant on believing what he wanted to believe. The man turned to his friends, opening his mouth to share a comment on how joyous the occasion was that they were all together here in one place, but:

"Can we leave?" It was more a demand than a simple request. Duni scowled at Richard when the words left his mouth, and he felt his excitement fading away as his green eyes scanned over his phlegmatic friends. Dashlie was scrolling through her phone and chewing on gum, Don was staring up at the scaffolding of a nearby building, a glint in his eye that reflected he wished the building would collapse on him, and DDawn was giving Duni a look that could kill. None of them seemed to appreciate the kind gesture for a vacation Duni had granted them, and frankly, he wouldn't stand for it.

"Excuse you!" snapped the man, gaining the attention of the others. "I put my money into this trip in the hopes we could all get along and have a nice time!"

"But you didn't even run this by us when you told us!" Dashlie retorted, slipping her phone into her shorts pocket. "I had to clear my schedule because of this, you're keeping DDawn from his work, Don had to find someone to house-sit and take care of his dog, and... Richard, what did you have to sacrifice for this? What do you do? Did you have to cancel your plans to cry into a bowl of dry cereal every morning?" Dick glowered at the woman, and she stuck out her tongue.

"Okay, then, I'm sorry!" Duni said, moving the subject along. He gripped onto the handle of his suitcase and scoffed a sigh. "I'm sorry I put all this money into an expensive cruise trip and none of you are thankful for it!"

"That was mainly a mistake on your part for inviting us..." Dashlie remarked. Duni had had enough of her attitude — everyone's attitude, really — and he stomped his foot.

"Hey! Okay, I know you may not want to do this, friends, but I am ordering you that you have to! It doesn't matter if you want to go home, what matters is now: and what is going to happen now is that we are going to get in line to board and head to our rooms, okay?"

The autumn, beach breeze brushed through the group's hair and tickled their skin. Dashlie took the piece of gum out of her mouth and stuck it under a nearby railing. "Fine," she said, "but don't expect me to have a good time."

~~~

Everyone gathered on the outside starboard as the ship prepared to set sail. Duni bounced from one foot to the other, the sound of the waves crashing murmuring in his ears. He turned to his friends to see if they were enjoying themselves yet, but to his dismay, he saw no thankful grin pointing in his direction. Their disinterested faces were almost enough to ruin his mood, but he wouldn't let that get to him. Instead, he decided to reel in their interest with a tale...

"Have you heard the news?" he said.

"You're moving out?" Don inquired, and Duni flashed the shorter male a strained smile.

"No! These seas are haunted!" The group gave the man deadpanned expressions, and he huffed a laugh. "Seriously! Well, mainly this boat, not the seas, but still!" A seagull's song was heard in the distance, and the wind whistled through the unamused silence that passed through the five friends. Then, collectively, the other four groaned, leaving Duni to frown in disappointment. Fortunately, though, one of his friends stepped up and sighed in defeat.

"Okay, Duni, I'll play along," said Dashlie. The woman crossed her arms and leaned against the side of the ship, shrugging. "What's so weird about this place?"

"I'm so glad you asked!" Duni exclaimed, and the others groaned once more. "Well, apparently, rumor has it that one autumn night, while this couple was out on their honeymoon, the husband was murdered... or he fell off the ship, I can't remember..." The others exchanged glances and rolled their eyes. "Either way, the wife was so heartbroken that she killed herself" -the man gasped insensitively for dramatic effect- "and now rumor has it that both their souls haunt the ship, forever searching for one another but never finding the other..."