Page 17 of Mark

“Starving. The guy I was sat next to ate most of my food,” I reply. “Is it okay if I open the window? I need some real air.”

He chuckles. “Knock yourself out.”

I do, letting the soft breeze blow over me as I consume my sandwich. I don’t even take in the views. I just sit back, eat my sandwich, and enjoy the silence and fresh air.

I must have closed my eyes at some point because the next thing I know, Xavier is nudging me awake.

“Jesus, I’m sorry,” I grumble, letting out a yawn.

He grins, stepping back from the door so I can get out. The ship is down by the dock and it’s bigger than I imagined it would be. The people I can see standing next to it look like ants in comparison. It’s bright white with sea blue at the front, and there are people already at the top, watching others make their way inside. It’s massive, with thousands of windows and balconies.

We’re standing at the top of the hill, where a chain fence blocks the path down to the boat. The ocean beats against the wall where tourists are standing at the railings watching.

I pull back to the present when Xavier replies. “You wouldn’t be the first person to sleep after a long flight. You definitely won’t be the last.”

“Do I need to pay you or did—”

“Freya, Freya,” I hear Mum call.

I turn to see Mum and Dad walking out of a building next to where we are. “Hey,” I greet, meeting them halfway.

“How was the flight?” Dad asks, kissing my cheek.

“Long,” I breathe dramatically.

“Here is your suitcase, miss,” Xavier calls.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. Thank you,” I tell him, taking it from him.

“Here is a tip,” my dad offers, giving him a fifty dollar note. “We know it was short notice so thank you.”

“You arsehole,” I hear someone roar, and I swear to God I’m hearing things.

Because that sounded a lot like the bane of my existence.

I turn, just as Mark gets shoved by a family member, knocking into my case. I watch it roll, and a scream tears out of my throat as I race towards it.

“No, no,” I cry, my pulse racing as I manage to grab the handle.

My eyes widen in horror as the zip gives way, the contents of my wardrobe spilling out into the sea below.

“Oh honey,” Mum whispers, placing her hand on my shoulder.

That’s all my clothes gone. All that is left in the zip side of my case is makeup, shower and facial stuff, a couple of bikinis, and my underwear. Everything else is gone, including my shoes.

I turn to the man who has it in for me and storm over to him, jabbing him in the chest with my finger. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “Blame Maddox; he is the one who pushed me.”

“No, you did this,” I growl, shoving him again. “What are you even doing here? Why are you following me?”

“I’m boarding a ship?”

“You have got to be kidding me,” I breathe, wondering if I’ll have to serve a prison sentence here or if they’ll send me home to live out my sentence. Because I am going to kill him. I’m going to feed him to the sharks and feel no remorse.

“I really wish I was, because going by the look on your face, you are going on that boat too,” he replies, and he has the nerve to sound annoyed by it.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You need to move before I kill you,” I grit out.

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