It was chilly outside. Nevertheless, the party people were everywhere. Neon lights lit the island as clubs continued to operate 24/ 7.
It's indeed an island that never sleeps!
Amidst the jovial atmosphere, inside one of the luxurious yacht docked in the island's busy port, a horrendous crime was about to happen.
Outside, the yacht seemed unsuspicious. In fact, it was an elegant sea vehicle painted in white lined with blue and gold that seemed to shimmer under the moonbeams peeping through the cottony clouds. "WIND SOARS" were perfectly calligraphed in front of the yacht while a winged mermaid with her hand pointing towards the horizon gracefully sat above it.
'This must be it' I thought as I approached it.
My heart was filled with worry and fear as I stood in front of the yacht waiting for Peter's call. I tossed the cigarette butt in the water and lit another.
I quit smoking a long time ago, but because of this deplorable situation, I said hello to an old habit to calm myself.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
I checked my wristwatch. It's 11: 59. I could hear my heart throbbing loud and fast as my brain automatically counted down.
.....
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
.....
Bang!
I heard a muffled gunshot masked by the splash of the waves.
Before I realized, I fell into the bitterly cold sea with a bullet in my right shoulder.
I swam for my life.
I coughed as I drank some saltwater and my body trembled due to both the icy water and my gunshot wound.
I couldn't feel my right arm, so I struggled to cling to the wooden ramp.
With all my might, I battled with the waves thinking of my family.
If I wanna save them from this lunatic, I must survive!
With that in mind, I used all my strength to climb the ramp.
I was lying exhausted and weak with my eyes shut when I heard a person clapping.
"Hello, Bradley Garcia Anderson! Long time no see! I'd say you're still one hell of a fighter," Peter said as he stepped on my gunshot wound.
I puffed air not to scream and give him the satisfaction of winning.
He grabbed me by my injured arm and dragged me inside the yacht.
"Dress your wound, Anderson! Eat. Get some rest! You need your strength to receive the presents I prepared for you!" he said with a diabolic smile before slamming the cabin's door close.
I heard some metal clanging. He locked the door outside!
I looked around the room. It was a luxurious cabin. It was decorated with blood-red wallpaper designed with flowers in gold. The furniture was also covered in red velvet with gold rims and posts.
I looked to my right and I saw a golden table full of food and a bottle of red wine.
I smirked.
"Is he thinking of the last supper?" I uttered.
'But he's right. I need to gain my strength to fight against his lunatic games,' I thought as I approached the four-poster bed.
On the bedside table were tweezers, a scalpel, alcohol, pain reliever, and gauze bandages.
I took off my jacket and a blood-stained white shirt.
Then, I poured some alcohol onto my wound. I made a small cut using the scalpel before I started tweezing the bullet on my shoulder.
The pain was unbearable and beads of sweat fell from my face.
I stuffed some bandages in my mouth to muffle the screams I made.
After 10 minutes, I successfully recovered the bullet and slid it in my pocket.
Then, I drank the medicine on the table.
My eyelids felt so heavy due to my exhaustion, wound, and blood loss, so my body gave in when my back touched the velvety bed.
I didn't know long I was asleep, but my body jolted to the cold, sharp thing on my neck.
I woke up to see Amanda straddling on me with an army knife on my neck.
She looked so different from her usual look.
Her hair was in disarray. Her eyes were sunken as if she didn't sleep for days.
"Amanda... what are you doing?" I asked after I gulped trying to stay calm.
She smiled like a crazy dog.
"Master asked me to punish evil people like you," she said as she pressed the knife harder.
I could feel the sting in my flesh being lacerated.
I knew that no matter what I tell her, she won't believe me as she looked high on drugs by the way she spoke and moved.
I pushed her hard before I rolled out of the bed.
"Amanda... calm down," I said while dodging her stab.
She went crazy like an animal. Slashing everything that touched the blade on her hand.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!" she yelled as she jumped towards me.
"Noooo!" I yelled.
"Enough!" Peter, who suddenly emerged at the door, commanded.
Amanda froze with the knife pointed at me in mid-air.
"Sorry master!" she said terrified.
"You're a bad woman! I told you not to frighten our guest," Peter said with a cold look in his eyes.
Amanda immediately ran and fell on the floor in front of him pleading for forgiveness while kissing his feet!