Chapter 5

Dreams have always been an enigma to me. I'm no stranger to bad dreams hell, even good ones make their impression whenever they show up. But when it comes to 90 percent of them, yeah I can't remember them to save my life.

Maybe if I ate more yogurt I'd remember them more. Then again, I'm not sure if I wanna remember the other 90 percent, especially if 75 percent of them might have been nightmares. 

Fuck... maybe that's the reason why I don't remember almost all my dreams. Can dreams be so fucked up that my mind basically represses them to save my sanity? Maybe, but then again I've had some really bizarre fuck fests of dreams and I still remember them, if not vaguely and I'm still have most of my discs on the shelf. 

Oh, yeah, if it isn't obvious I'm awake now, hence why my thoughs are not all half-baked.

I've been awake for awhile now, but my body is feeling too tired to actually move a single muscle. However, it doesn't take long for the gears of my mind to begin their twisted morning ritual of reminding me that I have, most likely, a busy shift at the studio.

Look on the bright side: You just have to deal with four big shots and then you have a day off. Besides, you have time to kill before work, not to mention having a beautiful girl hugging you under sheets is always a bonus… Wait... since when did I-

The feeling of a warm and firm embrace is not lost on me as my hazy eyes are able to gaze upon a woman that looks way out of my league. Her soft oval face mixes beautifully with almond shaped amber red eyes and creamy bronze skin. Some of her short snow blue hair brushes up against shoulder, feeling really nice and comfortable.

She looks familiar… wonder where I saw her before….

That's when my wandering eyes finally link up with hers, no expectations, no hostility, no weird vibes, just this intense eye contact that makes me wonder how long has it been since someone is actually giving me their undivided attention and nothing else.

Huh, this is really cozy.

How much time has passed since discovering myself being wrapped in a supermodel burrito? Hours? Seconds? It definitely feels like both, which sounds dumb, but time is just as crazy as dreams in their own special way.

Certainly is a nice 180 compared to my 'stranded in the middle of the ocean' dream. Definitely not one of the best dreams thrown at me.

My ears pick up an unsettling sound of what I can only imagine as a drawn out creek creeping through the walls. Man, that's one way for the neighbors to finish.

That's when gravity strikes without warning, nearly taking my weary self to roll away. An alarmed cry is evicted from my throat, knowing that physics is about to give me a rude awakening.

Well that's way to fully wake up!

Adrenaline wastes no time kicking in, nearly causing me to wake up! I can only hypothesize that it's an earthquake, which should be impossible since I have the rare honor living in the Southeast Pacific. Tsunamis are more likely, and, again, impossible based on where I live.

Fortunately, my idiocy is short-lived as I there is no violent rumbling of the earth beneath my butt, just a few hard rocks nearly swaying my body in whatever direction it desires.

Almost like… I'm on a ship…

I can no longer subconsciously ignore the bizarre image of what my eyes painted for me: A dimly lit azure hue in a closed off room with a familiar vibe to it rather than my safe cocoon of an apartment.

Thankfully, guardian angels do exist. Turns out that sanctuary of a hug tightens around me, almost like a python doing its trademark move of coiling it's lucky victim.

 This is WAY more intimate contact with a woman than I'm comfortable with!

Heck, she might not even be comfortable with this from the start! 

But hey! At least I'm not freezing anymore! Body heat and a blanket can go a long way to get rid of hypothermia. 

Body heat… and a blanket…

Please tell me she's not naked...

Given the amount of bare physical contact I'm feeling against my body, its safe to assume that this woman has taken donating body heat to the highest level!

This is where things go from awkward to downright terrifying!

I've seen enough shows where protag-kun is punched, kicked, or even stepped on, for even less. But this? This is far from the cringe trademark accidental boob touch. This is a chick sporting her birthday suit while warming me up!

Why do I get the feeling she didn't do this willingly? Oh crap… now I wish I was back in the ocean…

My desire to wriggle away from her and huddle up in whatever corner is countermanded by every muscle writhing me petrifying my unlucky butt on the spot.

As much as I hate to admit this, I'm at the complete mercy of this woman. And to make matters worse, heart pounding roleplay is out of the question.

"Peace." Given that's no hostility in her voice makes a little easier to comply, still I wish she would cover herself with that blanket before sprouting up. "No harm will come to you."

As long as I cooperate. She left out that part. 

I'm not surprised if she doesn't notice my nod, given I don't put in much of an effort to respond to her.

Any warmth flowing into me is disrupted as my captor and the blanket withdraw with a sudden gush of wind produced by the flopping rough fabric.

Despite my best efforts my peripheral vision, of course, captures her wrapping herself in the blanket. All I can do now is hope she didn't notice before steeling myself to face her yet again.

Although she has traded her birthday suit with a pretty elegant black blanket, it might be difficult to pay attention to what she has in store for me given how the hormones are brewing once again. Man, women can be very scary.

I mean there are worst ways to go out, but still... not really feeling like facing the music.

"You seem to be faring much better." The way she's scanning me- is she waiting for me to respond? "Are you not?"

Oh, shit! Stupid spotlight!

"Yeah! Y-yes!" Geez I sound like a fucking virgin. Thankfully, obvious questions begin cooking and I'm eager to set them out before her.

Where am I? How did I end up in the sea? Who's this body I'm inheriting? Why am I here? Are you guys pirates? And most importantly, what happens now?

Do I even want to know the answer to that one? I get the feeling if I do ask that, my chances of not becoming shark food will get slimmer.

The expression she wears is not openly hostile, but given that's anything but friendly or warm, is all I needed to know that this chick is by no means a buddy. 

Don't relax yet, dude. One wrong move and you'll face the music.

The way she's sizing me up, she might as well freeze time itself! And given that this is another world, I wouldn't rule that broken power out.

Not to mention her aura itself, as frightening as it is, it brings an odd sense of power and clarity. That is if it doesn't try to literally blind you, because this ethereal and subtle illumination is enveloping every curved of her form.

This must be what to feels like to be in the presence of someone who likes to take charge and people wouldn't have it any other way.

Right before they completely demolish you without restraint or hesitation.

"Wh-where am-" Man even making the first move is hard right now. "What is-"

A loud haunting creek shuts me up as the door opens and another familiar face enters. 

"Athairnor, our passage is clear, but our sails have been withered! I must request-" 

Oh yeah! I remember him! And hey at least Archer looks just as stumbling mess as I am. Naked women tend to do that, even if they do have something covering them. 

"You shall have it, Ghilintrhos." Athairnor calmly replies. 

"U-uh, you do not even know what-"

"Are you not in need of more hands tending to the fins?"

"I-I umm... yes! I'll gather more of our troupe to aid the crew."

"Do it, but be overzealous. Remember: We are wardens aboard this vessel and must be on guard."

"Right!" About time I get his attention. "What of him?" 

When Athairnor gazes back at me, I can feel the lump in my throat. Having complete strangers decide you fate will do that. 

"That remains to be seen. For now, see to the fins."

"With haste!" 

And then there are two in the room.

"I have no doubt have questions." Time is released by her suave words. "Truth be told, so do I. But I fear now is not the time."

"Then… what happens now?"

Her brows narrow. "The choice is yours. You are welcome to stay here and rest if you so choose. But be warned: this door can only be open from the outside, meaning you will reside here until fate deems it otherwise."

Well that's not ominous...

I've never been good at hiding my distaste for stuff, so my career as a poker play was long out the window. Thankfully, that hard gaze softens, at least somewhat. 

"But if you are able. Then I must ask for your aid." Man talk about sounding much more reasonable now. "Dull as it might sound, it is a task truly invaluable."

Before I can even ask what sort of work I'll be doing, my mysterious warden swirls away towards the door and I'm very very grateful that the blanket covers her form all the way to the feet.

Wait, that's a cloak!

Oh crap... she did something high class for me, now I'm forced to do... whatever dull invaluable task for her

After casting aside that excruciating scenario, I decide to return my attention to the woman about to depart out of my little piece of purgatory.

Only…

"These are for you!" Her throw comes without warning and my clumsy reflexes cause me to drop one of two of what turns out to be my new clothes.

Gee… I guess I shouldn't be surprised since they're no washing machines in this world… still, couldn't they be less scratchy please?

She looks a little too compassionate right now to be some sort of ruthless girl boss. "I know it's not ideal, but it will preserve your forbidden fruit."

Huh... never pictured my junk being called forbidden fruit. Man... modern smut could really use an update.

I half expected her allow me at least the basic courtesy of privacy. And after seeing the red on her cheeks she averts her eyes, leaving me to hide the goods more efficiently.

The clothes feel a little loose, and a little itchy, but at least I'm not chattering my teeth like a woodpecker, so it's the small things that count.

"Well come then." Why is this chick sounding a little too nice? What's she hiding? "Your aid is needed now more than ever."

I don't like being locked up in a closed off room as much as the any sane person, but every step I take towards the door leaves a rather nostalgic sense of anxiety strangling my chest from the inside.

Just like being thrown to the wolves on my ever job in retail.

So, obviously, the femme fatale keeping me under her spell, is most likely going to barely cover the basics of the menial job I'll be performing, before leaving me at the mercy of trying to figure it out for myself!

Just because I'm a fan of admirals and ships doesn't mean I know the how to fix one!

Then again, and this is just me throwing spitballs, its more likely she'll use this as an excuse to make me walk to plank for incompetence.

Maybe that's why she's not sounding like a total jerkoff. Clever player…

At this point, I'm preparing for the eventuality of that grim fate and trying to strategize some plan to counter it.

I'm sure I can pull it off. Whatever I might cook up.

"One more thing."

To hear those three ominous words while your captor turns to look you dead in the eyes is never a good thing. 

Just rip the band-aid off already!

"The trials we have endured these past few moons have withered amany aboard. And some within my troupe are more... unruly than others. So heed my words: do not do anything to provoke them. Understand?"

I respond with a nervous gulp and a meek nod.

A low hum follows. "Well, then, all should be well." 

I swear she's messing with me. She has to! It's all fine now, but wait until my guard's down, she pop up out of nowhere, maybe probe at my defenses before finally dealing the decisive physical and psychological blow upon me.

Maybe the ocean would have been more merciful. 

Her hand barely nudges the door open, squeaking just for a second before turning to me. "Stay close."