Cruise from Hell

[Skylex499]

In a word, the sign looked sketchy. "Free detour of the Cayman Islands! Enjoy the majesty of blue paradise!" It was scrawled in heavy blue marker on a dingy old sign where a lanky man of thirty in a straw hat encouraged the group to step right up. His hair was matted but appeared light brown and his skin a deep pink. His lewd eyes watched the rich punk-kids clearly thinking of a quick way to make a fast buck. They were sheltered and knew very little about the outside world. That much was obvious. "Kids! This detour will only last till nightfall when you'll be dropped here to this port immediately--just in time to go back to your fancy-schmancy cruise. This detour will show you the REAL ins and outs of the Cayman Islands." He flashed a grin at them.

The students of St. James Private Prep Academy huddled away, casting skeptical looks at the man and his huge ship on the dock. The ship almost matched the prestigious cruise ship that they had come on--The Royal Blue. However, this vessel looked more built for cargo. "Seriously? Who would ever go on that dingy thing? Sure, it's big but it looks like someone could be murdered on there," one girl shuddered, adjusting her bra strap. A hand flew up before anyone could protest anymore.

"You may all be cowardly but I for one would like to explore the Cayman Islands up close. Come on! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Think about what we'll tell our grandkids!" Sean, Captain of the Soccer team, chimes in with his charismatic charm. A few people nod before an empty-headed and busty cheerleader, Claire, steps forward. "If Sean goes, I'll go!"

In the blink of an eye, more students hands went flying up eager to take the detour around the Cayman Islands and follow their popular classmates.

Finally, without further ado, a young lady--Avery Stratford-- stepped forward. From a wealthy family with a great deal of resources, few people would dare cross her path. Her long black hair and fiery hazel eyes seemed to only appraise the world and make quick judgments. Known for actively disdaining the working class, she was surprised that a few of the more poor students had been allowed to come on the school cruise. "I'll go too!" She decisively nodded, stepping onto the platform. When another young man stepped forward, she scowled at the student with animosity, rolling her eyes. "Please do NOT tell me that you're coming as well."

**This thread is closed. Please feel free to enjoy, however.

 

[FireyIce]

Michael Roberts gave her a bitter look. "I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to," he said with a hint of protest. It was no surprise that Avery wouldn't be keen on him coming along since he was one of the "poor" kids that was going to St. James Prep. He was average looking for being eighteen with the others. The wind gently tossed his blondish brown hair across his face. He continued to go up the steps as he pushed up his glasses, feeling that they hid his blue eyes a little bit.

Michael had a complex history with Avery which felt like it was never going to get better. When he first arrived at the school when he was a Sophomore he made the mistake of asking her to a dance. When she didn't know who he was, that didn't help. Then when she found out he was only at the school because he was a scholarship recipient, it seemed like she always looked down on him.

"Besides," he pointed out, "Sean even made the case when he said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

 

[Skylex499]

"Think about your parents. Wouldn't want to burden them with the funeral costs, would we?" Her reply is light and laughter resounds amongst the group. Feeling a little guilty, she extended a hand to him reluctantly.

"But if you absolutely insist upon this opportunity, we have no choice. Come on." The man with the straw hat appraised them before pointing them in various directions.

"Two individuals in each suite, please! What are your names? Yes, ah--Avery? Go board with that nice young gent there." He pointed at Michael as she pouted deeply.

Sean, the chiseled soccer team captain, put a tanned arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, sweetheart, at least you know he won't try anything on you. Wrong team, as we know." More laughter resounded as a sympathetic young blonde, Rebecca, gave him a look of pity. Ever since he had asked Avery to dance, he had come on her radar or "hit list" so to speak. The next year, he had asked Rebecca to the school dance and the mousy,shy girl had been so close to saying 'yes' until Avery had spread a rumor that Michael didn't like girls. Regardless to say, Rebecca had quickly decided not to go at the last minute.

 

[FireyIce]

Michael was still a bit annoyed that Avery had started that rumor. He had hoped that as the years had progressed that it would be forgotten about. However, that was not the case. Avery also made it seem like it was her own personal crusade to crush his reputation. Michael had never understood why.

Michael took Avery's hand with some reluctance as they made their way to the suite. Maybe he would get a chance to figure out why she hated him so much before the tour would start. He caught a quick glance at Rebecca as they walked. He had thought about how his life might had been different if they were dating.

Michael opened the door to the suite and escorted her in. When they got in he decided to ask the question that had been on his mind for so long. "Avery," he said with a bit of confidence, "why don't you like me?" he asked. "Is it seriously because I'm not rich and spoiled?" He was hoping for an honest response from her.

 

[Skylex499]

It was a slap in the face to hear the word, 'spoiled'. She wasn't spoiled, simply a lady of elegant tastes. Starting to pull out make up from her purse, she looked up briefly. "I don't like you because your people parade in front of New York City condemning the 1% and demanding that wealthy be shared. And then poorer people like you come into our schools on a charitable system of merit and they still feel the need to complain. How is that fair?"

Plopping down on the bed, her eyes meet his in a challenge as if begging him to answer the question. However,behind her stare, it was clear that it wasn't her only motive because she also thought of creative ways to make his life miserable.

A knock on the door startled them both as Avery turned sharply at the sound. It was the timid Rebecca knocking on the door, shooting Michael a timid glance. "H-Hi Michael, I'm sorry didn't mean to bother you two..." Her eyes drift to the floor. "I was hoping you'd want to explore the deck with me?" Her wide blue eyes look so hopeful as her fingers tremble.

 

[FireyIce]

"Have I complained about being able to come here to get a better education?" he asked as she finished stating her reasoning. "No, I haven't. Do my parents make millions of dollars a year? Again, no they don't. They managed to pull in a descent amount, actually." He couldn't help with staring back at her as their little intimidation game danced in their eyes. "My family may not be in the 1%, however, they have worked for their lives and have other things to worry about than crying about those who don't work and want the money your family has. I'd say a six figure combined salary every year isn't bad since they've earned it."

He knew what he was going to say next was going to have a huge amount of negative repercussions from her. Though he knew that he still felt compelled to say it, to answer her question with a final statement. "Believe it or not, Avery," he stated, "some of us actually work hard and study hard to focus on doing well. I have a lot more to worry about than someone like you who only cares who she should be fucking or blowing next to not look like a prude."

Michael looked over at the door as there was a knock there with Avery. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. He never thought that he would ever say anything like that to Avery and he never thought that Rebecca coming in to ask him about going to look around the deck would be the perfect way to not get any backlash. "Sure, Rebecca, I'd love to." Michael walked over to her. He held her hand gently as they walked out the door. As they were leaving, Michael turned his head to see Avery and gave her a stern stare as they left. "Please, Rebecca, feel free to call me Mike if you want to," he said as he closed the door.

 

[Skylex499]

As he began listing reasons why his parents were hard-working folk, Avery began to imagine the sweet comeback line that she was devising. Didn't Michael realize that owners of businesses were the only reason that people like Michael's parents had jobs? The logic of his superiority about having parents that worked baffled her. And why did he think anything below a seven-figure income was respectable? It was enough to make anyone shudder. If he were nicer, she might have actually felt pity for him in a twisted way. Then, Michael dropped the bombed on her when he said the next words, sexually laced and condemning.

The girl saw red. HOW.DARE.HE?

It was hard to breath. Her emotions were a messy jumble. Leaving her purse on the bed, she strode over to the other side of the room, fingers trembling as she raised a hand to slap his cheek.

Midway, as her hand was suspended, Rebecca came in, definitely cutting through the enormous tension in the room as she timidly asked. She was a mousy little thing and though hailed from wealth, she was very sweet and modest. It was obvious that she was disappointed when she learned that Michael didn't like girls. Avery couldn't help but notice how Rebecca shyly smiled when Michael took her hand. Seriously, that Plain Jane? The negative thoughts towards the both of them were pervasive.

"Don't bother coming back coming back to this room after your little walk, you are not welcome! Get out!" She threw a fiery look at the both of them instead of saying good-bye. Rebecca's face paled a little.

When the door closed, she slumped back onto an armchair in the suite burying her face in her hands as the tears rolled down without relief or reason. How could Michael think that of her? The presumptuous half-wit! Just because she had gotten offers for sex didn't mean she had ever entertained them seriously. That is, since that time two years back, when everything changed. She had never told a soul for fear of the judgment from her peers about being harassed by a lowly coach working for the school.

A flashback rolled in her mind of gym class in sophomore year. She had come back from swimming in the indoor pool and was taking a shower. When she got out, her school uniform was missing. Nervously, she called out for her friends to end the prank and return the clothes to her. Then the girls' tennis coach, Mr. Clark, walked into the deserted locker room. No one bothered to stay late at the gym on a Friday evening. In his thirties and married, he had always given her the creeps with his stares and penchant for "accidentally" checking in on the girl's locker room. "Missing your uniform, Miss. Stratford? May I can help." His hand roughly whipped off the towel that she had wrapped around herself protectively. His husky body pinned her against the nearest locker as he growled in her ear. "This will go easier if you don't scream. That's it, baby, don't make noise."

In a fit of hysterical psychosis, she ran over to his bag and pulled out a white dress shirt and a pair of scissors ready to ruin his attire. Then, a much sweeter plan for revenge came over her as she pondered his situation. Destroying someone's reputation was a lot more valuable than a few clothes. She couldn't wait.

Meanwhile, on the deck, Rebecca stared up at Michael pointing out the different island masses near the shore, her heart leaping in her chest, voice soft. "Michael? What was wrong with Avery-- do you think?" She looks down hesitant. "I know it's not my place b-but I wish you two would get along. I'm sure she's a sweet girl deep inside." Those were very noble words coming from Rebecca since it was known that Avery was never kind of the shy girl, calling her unsightly--once even making a comic book about her plainness.

 

[FireyIce]

Michael was glad to catch some fresh air as he walked out onto the deck with Rebecca. He was surprised that she was willing to hold his hand. The fact that Avery started the whole gay rumor in the school didn't help where everyone thought he may as well have had leprosy. He looked over at Rebecca as she asked her question. "Avery and I have a complex relationship. She wanted to hit me because I pointed out she was a slut," he said. "And I only said that because she made the comment that I'm poor."

They continued walking and looking at the scenery and ocean life. "You do know that she was the one who started the whole gay rumor about me right?" he asked as they took a break from walking. "And she only started that rumor because she wanted a good reason to why she rejected me two years ago when I asked her out." He took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "If there's any sweetness in her, then it'll take an ice pick to get it out of here."

 

[Skylex499]

"A slut?" Rebecca flinched back. Fidgeting with her hands, she took a deep breath. "Mike, I don't like to gossip--not at all! You mustn't tell a single soul but a few years back, I was coming back from a jog when I saw her with Coach Clark in the locker room kissing--naked. My goodness, I was so scared so I ran out quickly before they saw me so I don't know how far they went Even when she made that ugly comic about me, I was tempted to tell but I didn't." Her eyelashes fluttered. "Please don't tell anyone--she might not be a slut but made a bad decision in the moment. Of course she would be sensitive about you bringing it up."

The two of them stopped near the bow of the ship as the wind blew her blonde curls. "You like girls then, you mean?" She seemed genuinely startled. "I mean, I wanted to believe so badly that you could...maybe...like me. But Avery told me that you only asked me because you thought I was desperate to go. Going with a gay man would be better than going alone. But that wasn't true, was it? You truly wanted to go with me and I pulled away. Gosh, Mike, I'm so sorry! I truly am!" Cradling her head into your chest, she embraced him warmly.

 

[FireyIce]

Mike was a bit taken back that she was interested in him. He had learned at his time there who the powerful families were. There was no doubt that Rebecca's family could buy just about anything and not even blink. Hell, she probably got in just by her name alone. "Yeah, well, a rose is a rose is a rose," mike stated. "She started that rumor and it definitely wasn't true." He let out another sigh as he felt her lean her head into his chest. "Small school, big rumor, obviously that wasn't going to help me out at all." Mike held her a bit tightly as they talked, letting the wind blow.

 

[Skylex499]

Their beautiful moment was interrupted when a man tapped Michael's shoulder gruffly. He was second-in-command of the ship asides from the captain that they had seen on the shore. "Follow me, you two!" It sounded more like an order than a request.

Rebecca still held Michael's hand as they were led away by the captain's first mate. Taking them down a few flights of stairs, they encountered a strange cellar used for storage. Packed away in boxes were powders and opiates of the most potent drugs available on the market though Michael couldn't know it. "These are souvenirs!" The man pointed out gruffly. "We will take them and sell them when we arrive at the Cayman Islands. I need you to organize them. Blue boxes on the left, red boxes on the right. Don't look inside." When he left, Rebecca stared at him in disbelief.

"That man asked us to come separate boxes. We paid for a fun cruise, not to do his dirty work or labor. What could they be selling that's so great anyway?" Her hands began to tug at the tape at the top. "Should we open it, Michael?"

 

[FireyIce]

Mike looked at the guy as he ordered them to go down to the basement. His first thought was if they were in trouble or not. He was a little bit surprised when they were told to separate the boxes. He waited until the man had walked away. There was definitely a lot of boxes for what were suppose to be "souvenirs" he thought to himself.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," he said to Rebecca. "But, I am very interested to see what they do have to offer," he helped pull the tape off, opening the box at the same time. He was somewhat surprised to see that it was drugs in there. "Hey, Rebecca," Mike stated, "maybe you should go upstairs and let them know you aren't feeling well. When you do let someone know that these are drug dealers and try to call someone." He had a hard time thinking of how much there were. This was mainly a cargo ship, so of course there were going to be a lot of crates. But if they were all filled with drugs, he thought to himself, this may not be a good idea. "I'll stay here and do work so no one gets suspicious," he told her.

Before he watched Rebecca go he pulled her over to him. He knew that more than just his reputation would be on the line for what he was going to do. "One last thing," he said, "just to prove to you that what Avery did state was a rumor." He leaned down and kissed her deeply, pulling her closer to him. He knew that she could make his life, even after high school, a true hell that Avery wouldn't even be able to rival. After the kiss broke he told her to go upstairs to try to let someone know what was going on. As she left he continued to work on sorting the boxes, acting none the wiser in case any of the crew came back.

 

[Skylex499]

The kiss was deep and prolonged as Rebecca's heart leaped in her chest, happily. Her hands gripped his shirt, pulling him closer. It was a great risk to kiss such a girl from wealth but he didn't seem to care. Smiling as they pulled back, she nodded. "Yes, I promise to let our classmates know. Maybe someone can help us." Pulling out her Iphone, Rebecca sighed as she realized that the phone had lost signal. Worse come to worst, they could always run away when they arrived on shore to get help.

Peeking her head into Sean's room, she came in, rushed, explaining everything as he laughed heartily. "Becca, Becca, Becca, selling stuff like that is normal out in the Caribbean. This is THEIR lifestyle. Maybe if we just cooperate with them, they'll drop us back safe and sound." Rebecca pleaded with him until he checked his phone noting the eerie lack of reception before pulling out his tablet. Then a gunshot went off. The Captain with the straw hat and his stout first mate were standing on the doorway to Sean's suite, the first mate holding a pistol pointed at the ceiling.

"GET OUT NOW. Drop the tablet, pretty boy. Shouldn't have been pokin' yer err, nose in where it don't belong!"

A few more of the crew members, all crooked looking fellows, a few with accents, came at the doorway, chuckling. "Looks like these rich kids have just had them dreams crushed, boss. This ain't no vacay but a business! And they gots de fat pockets!" The following cackle was ugly.

The Captain grabbed Rebecca's arm roughly. "AND you were trying to worry your poor classmates, dearest! Wonder what the punishment for that is."

Rebecca let out a scream, praying against all odds that he could hear her from the underground cellar. "Michael! Please help!"

 

[FireyIce]

Michael heard what he thought sounded like a gunshot. He had never been in this part of the world so he wasn't sure if it was common or not. He continued to work until he heard more footsteps overhead. He stopped working for a moment and looked out the door, noticing that a lot of the crew were going to the suites. "Shit," he whispered to himself. He was looking around, trying to find a way to hide without being discovered. There was a lot of commotion going on and then the next thing he heard was Rebecca screaming. "Fuck," he said a little bit louder. He knew that he wasn't as strong as some of the other students, but he figured he had to do something. He just hoped that what he was going to do was smart rather than stupid.

Michael laid low and started to scale around the corner of the cargo crates. The good thing is that there were a lot of them and it would be hard to find him if they came looking for him. He started to navigate closer to the suites as he heard more yelling and screaming. "What the fuck are they doing?" he asked himself. He noticed an axe next to part of the emergency box. Without warning he grabbed it and continued to look around to find out what to do next. He slowly made his way to the suites. Luckily, the side he was staying on didn't have anyone over there. He could continue to hear Rebecca scream.

He managed to get back to his room, opening the door quietly he saw Avery still in there. He lifted a finger to his mouth letting her know to be quiet. He walked over to her. "Avery," he said with some confidence, "these people are drug dealers. I don't know what they're doing with the others but we need to get out of here," he stated. He grabbed her hand and pulled her over to him. They made it closer to the door before stopping. "See the life boat over there?" he asked. He looked at her and could see the shock on her face as she heard more screams from many people. "Avery, get in the life boat and keep the tarp on it, got it? I'll either come back with hopefully others or myself and let it down. No matter what, when it starts to go down, head to land and get help, ok?" he asked as he looked into her eyes. He figured he might not get a chance to ever do this again so he took a chance and kissed Avery on the lips deeply as she was still quiet.

 

[Skylex499]

In shock at the kiss, she pushed him back harshly, remembering the ugly words he had used calling her a slut. She had dreamed of this moment in secret but this felt wrong. "You think you can kiss me just because I'm SO easy? What the hell! Michael!" It was too late as she saw him running back toward the direction of the screaming. "Micheal, stop!" She was torn between whether to investigate the source of commotion or to get in the lifeboat as asked. This could make great material for her social media page if she got it on video! Still, reluctantly she obeyed.

On the other side of the ship near Sean's suite, the stakes were high. The Captain held Rebecca by the neck, one tanned hand squeezing her breast under her blouse. Sean wrestled with the first mate for control of a knife as they rolled on the floor in a tangle of limbs. "Tell him to let her go, you son of a bitch!" Sean growled, pinning the first mate to the ground.

The Captain shook his head slowly, taking his hand off her breast to slip his hand into his pocket and pull out a pistol. He pressed the weapon to Rebecca's head. "Nu-uh-uh, rich boy. Stop struggling with my first mate or the lass gets shot and thrown overboard." Rebecca continued to squirm and scream. Then she grew silent as she noticed a shadow that seemed to be holding an axe. The girl tried to shake her head, willing Michael to go and leave them behind. No matter what Michael could do, Rebecca or Sean might still end up with a bullet to the head.

 

[FireyIce]

Michael knew that he had to at least try to save them. He didn't know where Claire was while this was all going on. He continued to try to hide, using the shadows to his advantage. He hoped that Rebecca wouldn't give away the fact that he was still there. He watched as Sean managed to pin the first mate to the ground. "Thank God," he thought to himself, only to find out a second later that the situation wasn't going to be resolved easily. He saw the pistol being removed from the pocket as the captain let go of Rebecca's breast.

He knew that if he acted it had to be extremely fast. There was a surge of adrenaline coursing through his body as he made his plan. He was committed now and he hoped that the situation would turn out for the best. Michael moved the axe to his left hand and held it across his body. As he ran, he raised it up a little bit, noting that the captain's arm was straight which is what he was hoping for. He swung the axe with a fierce backhand motion, hitting the captain in the head as he used his right hand to simultaneously grab the captains wrist and twisted it up, hearing the bones break. Luckily, the shot that went off was up in the air away from them. He could feel the blood splatter from the axe hit part of his face and body as the captain fell down, lifeless.

After pulling the pistol from the captain's hand he yelled at Sean. "Move back, Sean!" he said loudly as the first mate started to stand up. Without any warning, as soon as he saw Sean start to step back he fired several shots hitting the first mate in the chest, causing him to fall back down. He hurried over to him. "I have Avery hidden away safely," he said. "Where's Claire at?" Michael asked. As Sean told him that he didn't know he handed the gun to him. "I'm going to take Rebecca and make sure she's safe. Try to find Claire and get on one of the lifeboats," he told him.

Michael looked over at Rebecca and could tell some of the blood got on her as well. "Are you ok?" he asked as he held her. He could see that she was in shock as she barely nodded her head. "Come on, we're going to get you to safety, alright?" he told her as he escorted her through the shadows back to the lifeboat. He had her get in with Avery. Just as she was there was more commotion and gunfire from the other side of the ship.

 

[Skylex499]

Rebecca's eyes widened at the sight of her noble savior. Heart racing, she leaped up as soon as the Captain hit the ground, his hand at a gruesome angle, screaming at the dead body. She had never seen nor imagined that Michael was capable of taking such quick and brutal action. God, it was even sexy come to think of it! What on Earth? Both of them were splashed in the blood of the Captain and first mate, both dead now. "Y-You killed them..." She whispered gravely, eyes wide. At Michael's command at Sean, she grabbed his arm frantically.

"Stop! Please, Michael. I'm okay, perfectly fine, just shaken. Claire ran off when she knew that the men were going to hurt me. She went in the direction of the cellar room where we were! Please, something bad is going to happen to her unless we do something!" Sean cursed at the news as he jet off at high speed in the opposite direction. The remaining crew members of six looked at each other frantically, hoping that he wouldn't arrive near their drug cargo. Nodding in a split second decision, they raced behind him. It was no secret that he was infatuated with Claire and would do anything to protect the girl, though she wasn't bright.

Rebecca felt her arm tugged on as Michael tried to usher her to leave--fast. Safety was crucial and time was running out. The remainder of the six crewmen were chasing Sean. His legs as soccer captain could only evade them for so long until he was captured--with or without her. At the lifeboat, Rebecca stopped in her tracks when she noticed that Avery was not there. A scraggly note was left instead.

"Sorry Michael, I had to help. Don't bother to ask--I took your lighter."

Rebecca stared at it puzzled, turning to Michael. "Why would she leave? At a moment like this?" Then she smelled smoke rising fast coming from the cellar and the truth hit her hard. Had the girl set the shipment on fire to take the focus off her fellow classmates? If the crewmates knew that their cargo was in danger, their attention would be diverted from stopping the teens from leaving their cruise ship. It was a huge sacrifice.

Before Michael could turn back appearing to think about going back to the cellar, Rebecca grabbed his sleeve, blue eyes filling with tears. "Michael, please don't leave. You'll die if you go back there! I need you right now and...and I know Avery's there but it was her choice."

 

[FireyIce]

Michael couldn't believe that all of this was happening. It was a lot to take in, especially since it was happening so quickly. "Fuck," he said under his breath. "What were you thinking, Avery?" He placed his hands on his head as he started to think of what to do. He could hear some gunfire go on. He thought about what he was hearing. There were a lot of rifle shots with only a few shots from a pistol.

"Rebecca, for the love of God, stay in the lifeboat under the tarp," he said as he looked at her. His eyes locked onto hers as he was firm with his tone. He was hoping that she would listen to him and not run off like Avery did.

As Michael turned around to go find out what was going on downstairs he saw someone burst out of his suite. To his surprise it was Claire. "Oh my god, where have you been Claire?" he asked. He listened as she told him where she went when she first started hearing everything and then how she ended up in his room looking for Avery. He grabbed her hand and took her over to the lifeboat. There was little doubt that she got along with Rebecca, but he didn't have time for them to argue with each other. "Claire, look, you need to listen to me. I'm going to lower you and Rebecca down. I want both of you to hold the seats since it'll be bumpy." He took a breath. "When it falls and hits the ground stay under the tarp and don't move. I'm going to go and check on Avery and Sean." Before either of the girls could argue he moved the lifeboat out a little bit then lowered it before it started to break off causing the lifeboat to fall to the water.

Michael started to head towards the bottom of the shift. Between the smoke, gunfire and fire, he barely heard the cough that startled him. He looked down as he saw Avery lying on the ground. "Oh fuck, Avery, what happened?" he asked. He noticed that she was bleeding. He pulled her back to what could be viewed as safety for a small time. Michael looked at the wound and saw where it was. His heart sank a little as he saw that the blood was dark, meaning her spleen had been hit. "Oh god," he said as his eyes started to tear up. "I can't believe what you did, Avery," he told her. He knew that there wasn't much more time before she passed away from the blood loss. He leaned down as she tried to speak. "I'm so sorry I yelled at you," he said. "I didn't mean it." He tried to put some pressure on her wound, trying to stop the bleeding as she continued to try to talk.