Sea Sick: A Horror Novel

“You’re doing the right thing, Claire. You want to have this baby because you know you’ll make a good mother. I think so too. But you don’t need to be with someone who treats you the way Conner does. You deserve better. You can do it alone, so don’t stay with him just because you’re scared.”


Claire was speechless. She still seemed terrified, but something in her eyes suggested that she was unable not to trust Jack just a little bit. She was probably wondering how he knew all of these things about her life.

“In about ten seconds, Conner is going to turn up and question you and me about why we’re talking. Then he’s going to ask you to come look after him and get hotdogs. I know this, and a lot more about what is going to happen today, which is why you need to stay in your cabin tonight. If you ever want to see Leeds again ,you have to lock yourself away.”

Conner appeared on cue and stared at Jack. “How you doing?”


“I’m good,” said Jack. “How are you?”

“Not bad.” The lad extended a hand out to Jack. “My name is Conner. Who are you?”

“Name’s Jack and I was just moving on.”

“Sounds like a good idea, buddy,” said Conner, letting out a sneeze immediately afterwards. He turned to Claire. “Come on, babe. I need you to look after me, I feel like shit. We’re all getting hotdogs downstairs.”

Claire glanced at Jack for a split second and he saw the shock in her eyes that his predictions had come true. He just hoped he’d done enough to keep her safe tonight. Because tomorrow is finally on its way. Jack walked away from the young couple and passed by the old man and woman kissing at the balcony. Despite getting sick of the sight of everything onboard that had been repeating over and over for what seemed like an eternity, Jack couldn’t deny that there were certain things he was going to miss. It was ironic that he had prayed for the day to end but, now that it was going to, he felt afraid to let it go. He’d begun to find comfort in the things he could predict with certainty. The unknown was now frightening.





1500hrs


As Jack moved around the ship, it became clear that Tally had set security on him again. If he even managed to succeed in stopping the virus, then he would have a bunch of jumped-up sexual assault charges to answer to once he reached the mainland. Wherever Tally was hiding, she’d have hell to pay if he ever found her. He’d trusted her.

Jack wondered again if Tally was the one behind the virus. It made sense that it was released by a member of the ship’s staff. Someone who could move about unhindered and knew the ship’s layout. A young Romany girl didn’t fit the typical cast for a terrorist, but then who knew what was going on in her head? Terrorists could change colour and religion over time, but they were all the same breed of whackjobs in the end. Hatred for humanity was not exclusive to any one kind of people.