Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

“Something wrong?” she asked.

Jack shook his head and broke away his stare. He plonked himself down onto the lounger and lay back with his novel in hand. “Sorry. It just feels like we’ve met before.”

“Ever been to Leeds?”

“Not lately,” Jack replied. “You ever been to Birmingham?”

“Nope.”

Jack opened up his paperback. “Guess I’m just imagining things.”

“I’m Claire by the way.”

Claire…

Jack didn’t answer the girl, so she took another turn to speak. “Wait, don’t tell me my name sounds familiar as well?”


Jack laughed and suddenly felt silly. He was probably frightening the poor girl with his odd behaviour. “We must have met in a past life. I’ve just been having one of those days, you know? I keep getting…I don’t know, déjà vu, or something.”

“Yeah, I get that sometimes. Think it’s just the mind playing tricks.”

“Yeah, probably.”

A member of staff came over: a brunette with dark hair and eyes. She asked if either of them wanted a drink. It was exactly what Jack needed and he ordered a double scotch, handing over his room card for payment. Claire ordered something called a mojito.”

“What’s one of those when it’s at home?”

“It’s rum, lime, sugar, and some other stuff. Think it’s Mexican or Cuban. I don’t usually drink much, but I guess one won’t hurt. ”

“Have you been to either of those places?” Jack asked. “Mexico? Cuba?”

Claire laughed. “Nope. I had a mojito in Spain last year and thought it was nice. You ever been anywhere interesting?”

“Not lately. Unless you count Tipton?”

The waitress came back with their drinks and Jack eagerly took a swig.

“You really are having one of those days, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I woke up this morning just feeling really…odd, I guess – nervous, even. Maybe I’m shook up from a nightmare I had or something.”

Claire took a sip of the mojito and was about to carry on with the conversation, but someone appeared between them. Jack recognised the lad immediately.

“Conner?”

The lad looked down at Jack with a surprised look on his face. “The hell are you?”

“My name’s Jack. Have we met?”

It was obvious the lad was confused, even though he masked it with aggression. “You don’t know me, mate. How’d you even know my name?”

“I don’t know,” said Jack, and left it at that.

Conner turned his stare at Claire and told her to get up. “The lads are waiting downstairs. Let’s get go-”A violent sneeze interrupted his words, followed by another.

Claire stood up and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. “You still got a cold, honey?”

“Yeah,” Conner said, sniffling. “Me, Steve, and Mike haven’t stopped sneezing for the last hour. I feel well, rough, innit. My eyes are itching like fuck, as well.”

Claire wrapped an arm around her boyfriend and started leading him away. “Okay, let’s go get some food inside you. I’ll look after you.”