Unexpected Help

Victory

Before long, I see myself falling into a deep and dark abyss of nothingness. Strain my eyes as humanly as possible, I am still unable to see anything. The evil guffaw slowly fades away.

Just as I am to hit the bottom, I feel myself being hauled up with a force so brutal that my breath hitches. Soon after, a bone-chilling fear grips me and sheer hopelessness engulfs my whole being. Dejectedly, I surrender to my fate, steady my breathing and close my eyes.

Whatever will be, will definitely be. I am no fool and I know that everything happening is beyond my control. At this point, I have lost all desire to fight. I just need to rest. All my hopes have already been shattered, what is there to live for really?

"Come on! Wake up damnit! Oh God, please do something. Captain, she is going into hypothermia and we can lose her any minute. We will not be able to reach the land in time."

Huh? What am I hearing now? What is going on? Where am I? Something in that man's voice tugs at my heartstrings. It awakens a desire to fight in me that seems so foreign.

I try to open my eyes but my eyelids are so heavy it is unbelievable. The other voices are muffled and I can barely make out what they are saying. Surprisingly, that one voice is as clear as day. Not wanting to disappoint that one voice, I will myself to open my eyes.

However, try as I can, my eyelids refuse to budge. Frustrated, I take a deep breath, gathering as much strength as I need. To my dismay, instead of prying my eyelids open, my mouth does. Not in a good way though, because it is forced open by a coughing fit.

"Thank goodness, she is coming to. Quick, help me turn her so that the water does not choke her."

After what seems like an unending coughing fit and a hell lot of puking, my eyes decide to open. The bright light forces me to shut my eyes. A frustrated groan leaves my throat and I am instantly bombarded with questions.

"Hey lady, can you hear me? If yes, just squeeze my hand. We are going to get to the mainland soon. Just try to stay awake. Please."

The same voice again. It is intriguing and a bigger part of me wants to see who the voice belongs. Tentatively, I open my eyes and this time, I take my time to adjust to the bright light.

Looking around I see that I must be in a cabin of sorts. Then I slowly turn in the direction of the voice that pulled me out of that dark abyss of nothingness and boy am I surprised! The man is downright gorgeous.

"Hi there. You are awake now. Thank heavens. For a moment we thought we lost you there. Luckily we had a nurse on deck. She did all she could to resuscitate you. We are heading back to the mainland so we can get you properly checked. In the meantime, do not fret, we will talk when you are better."

I mumble a small 'thank you but he quickly puts a straw in my mouth. Perplexed, I just stare at him without opening my lips.

"Drink up, it's just ginger and lemon tea. Cara suggested it. The nurse. It is hot but she says you have to drink it."

I just keep staring at him without making any attempt to sip it. My mind is reeling at this moment. How did I end up aboard a ship or is it a yacht? I have no idea and neither do I have the strength to ask. I feel so cold and almost numb. Even though I know that a hot beverage would do me a world of good right now, I still am not sure if I can trust these people.

"Cara! Please come and help her. Let me turn up the heater. You are shivering too much."

A caucasian middle-aged lady comes in and I just stare at her. She sits down and holds my hand. Before she speaks to me in a motherly voice. Something in me tells me I can trust these two people. Cara gives off a very warming presence.

"I am Cara my dear and this here is my boss. He was standing on the deck when he saw you being hurled into the water. It was dawn so, he could not see the person who threw you. Luckily, he loves diving so he always has diving equipment at hand. Long story short, he pulled you up. I am also a nurse by profession and we always keep emergency medical equipment. I hope that just sums it up."

All this while, I kept looking straight into her eyes and she is not lying. I see sincerity and I have no reason to have my guard up against them. Slowly, I begin to sip on the hot beverage. It is not pleasing to the taste but I will myself to carry on.

No one says anything at all but the silence is quite comfortable. I do not think I am ready to talk just yet. The events of the last night are still haunting me. Even though o have been denying it all this time, I am now quite sure that something or someone is after my life.

I do not know what to do or say. In the presence of these two, I feel secure and I do not feel that eerie and dark presence at all. Yes, I have been trying to be logical all this while but, the truth is, darkness has been surrounding me all along.

My hope is I do not get these two good souls tangled up in my darkness.

Therefore, I vow quietly never to tell them anything. After I finish the ginger tea, I feel a lot better. Cara does not say anything. Instead, she leaves quietly and returns with a bucket of steaming hot water.

A waft of eucalyptus invades my nostrils. She places the bucket close to my bed and assumes her position. I look at her questioningly and she smiles.

"Oh dear, you are the inquisitive one aren't you? The eucalyptus oil in hot water will help soothe your chest. It will also help keep the cold at bay. Until we can get you admitted into a hospital."

"Thank you. Both of you."

I cannot believe how croaky my voice is. It is barely audible but I guess they both heard me. Because even the 'Boss' turned and flashed me the warmest and most gorgeous smile. It seems to stop the time and I shamelessly gaze at him.

"Let me go prepare a soup for you dear. Just rest. I will be back before you know it."

Cara leaves and I am left with Boss. Suddenly, I feel extremely hot. I most certainly know that it has nothing to do with the heater. It is because 'Boss' is still holding my gaze with equally as much intrigue.

Unable to keep up, I drop my gaze and he chuckles. Something tells me this is not the last I will be seeing him. I have so many questions but my voice is not yielding. Therefore I put it aside till I can. As if he can read my mind, he begins to talk.

"My name is Michelangelo and I am here for business. I also have another important task outside the business. That is why I was scouting even the waters. I plan on solving that puzzle before I return home."

What an evasive introduction? But who am I to question? I simply smile and nod whilst doing all I can not to stare. Even though I am lying here almost incapacitated, I cannot deny the effect his warmth and stunning good looks are having on me.

Who knew that I would escape my nightmare and land straight into the care of such a greek god? This is unexpected but very much welcomed the help. At least I get to be watched over by a handsome man. I smile to myself as I close my eyes.

Before I know it, I am already drifting off to sleep. The evil laughter begins again. I try to shut my ears with my hands but it is futile. It is so dark that I cannot see at all.

Suddenly, a cold bony hand clutches my neck and squeezes the air out of me. I can neither scream nor pry it off my neck. Just before I pass out, I feel a warm hand clasp mine and instantly, the bony fingers release my neck. But something that evil entity says as he leaves me, gives me hope.

"Darn it, Vicki! How did you hook up with him?"

Just like that, my tormentor vanishes and I also jolt up with a start. Strong hands are cradling me and a soothing voice calms my flailing nerves.

"I am here with you. Please calm down. Breathe, just breathe. Good. Inhale and exhale. I am here."

After a lot of deep breaths, I finally calm down. My mind is in chaos. Does that mean that the person that the evil entity fears is Angelo? What? I have already shortened his name? Is that not too intimate.

"Thank you, Angelo. I am Victory. Vicki for short."

"Rest Vicki. You will tell me all about it when you are well. I will be here with you. Do not be scared. The nightmares must be because of the ordeal you just suffered."

"When will we get to land?"

"In a few hours. Just relax dear. Do not sleep if you are scared. But just empty your mind and try to relax. After suffering such a blow, it is not surprising at all to have bad dreams. But I will be here watching over you. If I see that you are restless, I will just wake you. Alright?"

I nod and heave a sigh of relief. At least am not all alone. Help came unexpectedly but when most needed. I may be a scientist, but what has been happening to me lately, transcends all logic and science. I need to unravel this. But to do this, I have to be strong.