“Will you help us find them?” I turned at his question to see the girl again. This time she was sharper and I could make out features. She couldn't have been more than ten years old. Despite how pale her skin was, she didn't look waterlogged like most of the others he’d described. Her hair was long and red, and she stared up with pale blue eyes that held a sadness I hoped we could lift for her one day soon. Despite her melancholy, her presence was calming. She was definitely a friendly ghost.
After taking a step forward she was gone again. Sully took my hand to guide me, and we followed her down the hallway. These halls were at least familiar to me so it made this a whole lot less terrifying. Or it would have if not for the dark entity we’d just met below us.
We stopped at the galley first and Sully pushed open the door.
“Ben? Lincoln? Ethan? Ryker?!” I yelled out again. Sully kept forging ahead with his hand outstretched, feeling along the space in the near darkness until he reached the pantry door. My heart stopped when he opened it and a body spilled out. My scream died in my throat at the sight of Ethan splayed out on the metal floor.
Rushing to my man, I dropped to my knees next to him. The poor guy looked more shaken than either of us. In fact it didn’t look like he was actually seeing us, his eyes glazed over and his gaze still faraway.
“Ethan?” I said louder than I intended. “Can you hear me?”
“Brea?” His voice was full of desperation that tore at my heart. “Is that really you this time?” His question had me wondering what hell he’d just gone through as his hands clasped onto my face, studying me as if testing for deceit.
“I’m here. I promise, Snack man,” I said gently. The nickname had relief washing over him and I was crushed in a hug. His reaction only had me more desperate to find all of my guys. One down, three to fucking go.
“Come on,” Sully urged. “We have to keep looking.”
“Ethan,” I said gently. “We have to go find the others and then we can hash stories out, okay? Or if you want we can get you back to the room.”
That shook him out of his funk. “Oh god, no,” he protested. “I want to stay with you guys.” He answered before I could get the words out.
“Then let's go. She's on the move again,” Sully said as he started walking.
“Who is?” Ethan asked wearily.
“Our ghostly guide. Just trust him,” I said. Ethan didn't argue. Instead, he took my other hand as they led us toward the med bay.
This time we didn't have to strain to listen, somebody was already tearing this place up. Even worse, it was so loud it was practically luring that evil demon from the bowels of the ship up here.
“Who wants to bet that's Lincoln based solely on the sound,” Sully joked quietly.
I laughed. “That’s not a bet I'm taking because he’s the only person that could cause this much noise.”
Sully moved forward and yanked the door open. The lights were on in here but we couldn’t go in further yet, the room in pure chaos. And it wasn’t Lincoln like we’d expected.
Ben sat in the middle of the room, curled in on himself with his hands wrapped protectively over his head. Medical trays, equipment, tools, and supplies all swirled around him. Thank god he was protecting himself because he was already black and blue with bruises as they slammed into him repeatedly.
“Stop!” I screamed but the tornado continued.
“Fuck this,” Ethan growled, rushing through like a linebacker and snatching Ben up like he was merely a child. There was no hesitation as he pulled his friend back to the safety of the hallway with me and Sully.
Poor Ben was shell shocked, pale and shaking, but he didn’t argue as Ethan continued to hold his hand and pull him with us. Ben’s terror seemed to shake Ethan out of his own. We were close, but not usually holding hands close. At least the guys weren’t with each other. But right now–seeing them rely on the other with no judgment–made me so fucking proud of them.
Again we were led further through the halls until we got to the laundry rooms. It sounded like the washers and dryers were all going at once, which was crazy because I didn't think that kind of electricity was running through this place yet. Nor did I expect any of them to still be working. They were recreating a museum out of this place not trying to make it functional.
“Ryker? Lincoln?” I yelled out. The guys all flinched but I didn’t care, we had to find the guys and it was deafening already in here. I’d be lucky if they even heard over the cacophony.
All the machines stopped at once, plunging us into silence. The temperature dropped enough we could see our breath coming out in puffs in front of us.
Part of me was ready to start opening each washer and dryer door to make sure my guys weren't shoved inside or something fucked up. I didn’t though. For one, they were far too small, and two, there was no way things could get that violent.Right?Even the thought had a shiver running down my spine.
Ethan, once again, moved forward, opening the door to the storage room.
“Ryker,” he breathed out. I rushed closer at the sound of my boyfriend's name. But he didn’t move as we came near. We both dropped down next to him and the first thing I noticed was his steady breathing.
“Is he fucking sleeping?” Ethan asked incredulously.
Ryker was a deep sleeper, but there was no way he was just sitting here, knocked out through all that. Right?