Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

Jack ran.

As twisted, confusing memories came back to Jack, the layout of the ship became familiar. He now knew that the corridor leading away from High Spirits would take him down some stairs to the Lido Restaurant. Claire would be in there along with some other people. There was no way he should be able to know that, but he did. He knew it for sure.

As Jack fled further down the corridor and eventually down the stairs, he discovered he was right. Set into the wall were the double doors of the Lido Restaurant. He skidded to a stop and waited outside, wondering whether or not he should go inside. Things inside the restaurant hadn’t turned out so well for him last night – or tonight? I’m living the goddamn same day all over again.

Or had he dreamt it all? Was it all just some freaky premonition, or was he actually repeating the day? The more he thought about it, the closer to insanity he verged. Neither answer was comforting. He made a decision and barged through into the restaurant.

The same people were in there from before. They were not yet fully riled-up as the commotion in High Spirit had only just begun, but they were beginning to look anxious. Jack didn’t waste time speaking to any of them. He immediately turned the latch on the frosted-glass doors. Then he dragged the nearest table over and placed it as a barricade.

“What are you doing?” asked the burly chef he’d met before and yet, at the same time, hadn’t.

“We need to make sure this door stays closed,” Jack explained. “There’s been an outbreak.”

The assembled group panicked, but it wasn’t enough to stop them standing around uselessly. Jack remembered how the people had previously refused to help him when he needed their assistance.

“Claire!” He shouted out at the crowd, not seeing her but knowing she was there somewhere.

The group parted and she came to the front. “You’re that guy from earlier?”

“Yes, I am. I’m a police officer and I need your help. We need to get every table we can in front of this door. We’ve got about ten minutes before people start trying to smash their way in.”

“What people?” the chef asked, looking at Jack like he was a madman.

“The infected passengers. Whatever is wrong with them has made them psychotic.”

“You’re the one’s that’s psychotic,” said Claire. Jack was surprised at her opposition. “You were acting like a weirdo earlier as well. Going on about déjà vu and knowing Conner’s name without him even telling you.”

“Yeah,” said the chef. “I think you need to sit down, sir, while we get security. Whatever is going on out there may just as well have been your doing.”

The chef moved towards the doorway and Jack stepped in his way. Jack was the smaller of the two men, but he knew he could easily take the other guy down. Still, he would prefer to avoid any fighting if possible. He was trying to help these people, whether they deserved it or not. Something bad was coming their way.

“Step away from me,” Jack told the chef calmly yet firmly.“If we don’t get this door secured, people are going to get hurt.”

“Is that a threat?” The chef was inching closer, his body language clearly hostile.

Jack sighed and put his hands up in supplication. “No, it’s not a threat. Just please trust me, okay?”

“Sorry, I can’t do that, sir. Please move aside.”

Jack kept eye-contact with the man and said, “No.”

The chef made a grab at Jack, but was quickly surprised to find himself being twisted into an armlock. He hissed with pain. “Let go of me!”

“I can’t do that,” said Jack.“I need that door barricaded, right now. Claire? Start dragging tables over here. Anyone that fancies being useful should help her.”