Dragon: Myth of the Bermuda Triangle

Chapter Five: Dragon

I've attached a video of the song the waiters sang for us during the last day of Mom and I's cruise on the Carnival Ecstasy! Give it a listen!

        The dining hall is at the other end of the ship. It's beside a lounge called the Stargazer Lounge, but to get there, Maddie, her parents, and I need to walk down a hallway that passes a game room. It's reserved primarily for adults, and Maddie tells me this.

"This isn't exactly a room for you and me to hang out in, Will. It's where adults like to play."

I nod and turn my head to the left. The outside shoulder of the hallway has a long window and benches. We're walking on a red carpet with different designs. I'm still nervous to be around humans other than Maddie, so I stick close to her.

We pass the game room and find ourselves in a circular section of the hallway. It's the last hurdle before the Stargazer Lounge and dining room. There's a small stage in it. A trivia game is occurring. The audience is adults, most of whom are holding wine glasses in their hands. Some of them are clearly drunk. I'll never understand human behavior.

The trivia show host is a tall man with endless tattoos on his arms and legs. His hair is long, blonde, and in a ponytail. He's a little scruffy-looking. He sees me and gasps. "Hey, it's the boy from the ocean!"

Me? I stop and point at myself.

The humans attending the trivia stop what they're doing and stare at me.

I shiver.

Maddie's mom and dad urge me to keep moving, and Maddie's dad says, "Yes, and he's starving."

"Oh, come on! Everybody is talking about him. He's the star of the Carnival Ecstasy," the host explains. Hopping down from the stage, he takes my arm. "We love ya, kid! How would you like to be the host for our Harry Potter trivia show?"

I don't know what Harry Potter is, dude. I'm sorry.

Maddie's mom helps me through the awkward moment. She pulls the host off me and says, "Leave him alone. The poor kid is still recovering."

"There's more to him than you think, lady," the host adds. "Why else would he be wandering around the Bermuda Triangle?"

Maddie's mother takes a peek at his nametag. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Ritchie. Just how much have you had to drink tonight?"

Mr. Ritchie bursts out laughing. "Have y'all never heard of the Water Clan of the Bermuda Triangle?"

I cringe. The Water Clan. My people. Who is this man?

Maddie's father is the next one to step in for me. "We're not going to ask you again. Leave the boy alone."

Mr. Ritchie smirks. "But he could very well be one of those dragons."

My body turns to stone. How does he know who I am?

Maddie's eyebrows crease. "Enough! Come on, Will." She grabs my hand and lugs me away from Mr. Ritchie. Her parents glare at him and follow us, but he still stares at me. What did I do to blow my cover? Why am I such an idiot?

***

"What a weird man," Maddie admits as we continue down the hallway.

Her mom wraps her arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry if he made you uncomfortable, Will."

I shrug. This is why I may never understand humans. However, that man knows something about me.