Three days later...
The power on the ship had long been cut off. The world cruise liner drifted aimlessly across the limitless expanse of the ocean, a ghostly wreckage riddled with claw marks, gaping holes, and scratches. Some floors had even collapsed.
"In just three days... I wonder what will become of this ship by next week," Zilong muttered to himself as he monitored the wraith—or demon, whatever you chose to call it.
The wraith moved sluggishly, scanning the area for hidden treasures—namely, humans. Zilong watched from above, hidden in a secluded cabin, his focus razor-sharp. The wraith grasped the leg of a corpse and dragged it across the deck, seemingly indifferent.
The ship was enormous, providing plenty of space to hide from this towering abomination. To the wraith, this was all just a game.
Suddenly, Zilong spotted a survivor in the distance—a middle-aged man hiding under a long chair. Zilong could only see him because the chair had holes, and he was watching from above.
The wraith stopped right in front of the man's hiding spot.
"Gotcha!" it sneered, grinning as it peered under the chair. The man bolted from his hiding place, terror etched on his face as he sprinted down the corridor.
"Here we go again," Zilong thought, shaking his head.
*Boom.*
The wraith hurled its massive, terrifying scythe. The weapon sliced through the air with a whistle, decapitating the man instantly. Though headless, the man continued running for a few meters before collapsing on the wooden floor, staining it red.
The wraith laughed, a twisted grin spreading across its face as it dragged the headless corpse away by the leg.
"Zilong, what's going on?" a voice called out behind him. Zilong turned to see a dark haired girl with blue eyes filled with a mix of worry and hope. It was Emma, the engineer's daughter.
He had encountered her in the first few hours of running after escaping the wraith. Knowing she was the engineer's daughter, Zilong had searched frantically for his own sister, fearing the worst but holding onto hope that she was still alive somewhere.
"I haven't seen your brother anywhere," Zilong said, shaking his head. Emma's face contorted with worry. Her brother was out there, as was Zilong's sister, Ava.
"How long do we have to stay here?" she whispered, not daring to speak louder.
"I don't know," Zilong replied honestly.
For the last three days, it had been a game of cat and mouse, running and hiding. They dared not sleep, fearing they would be killed or eaten in their sleep. As morning approached, Zilong and Emma had already moved far away from the abomination, finding temporary refuge in a space cluttered with kitchen appliances. Somehow, they still needed to eat.
"Eww, I don't like tofu," Emma whispered, holding a white, dough-like substance.
"Put that in the bag," Zilong said, looking annoyed. "We're going to be on this ship for God knows how long, so please put it in the bag."
Emma reluctantly placed the tofu in the bag, while Zilong's senses were on high alert. He couldn't feel any bloodlust nearby, but his body remained tense.
During the day, the wraith stayed inside the ship, so Zilong decided this was the time to rest. He watched Emma at the other end of the kitchen, then suddenly, a scream pierced the silence from the other side of the room.
Emma jolted upright. "That's my brother!" she cried, running to the door.
Bam!
She pushed it open, and a revolting stench filled the air. This kitchen led to a corridor that opened into the main space where the gala had been held three days ago. It looked like the wraith was performing some kind of ritual there. Emma hurried toward the sound. There was a door leading to the ship's inner parts, where the engine was stored. Zilong followed closely, it would be disastrous to leave their food supply behind.
They climbed down a hatch, and Zilong's eyes widened. A small crack in the ship's bottom allowed water to seep in. It wasn't a problem now, but it would definitely be one in a week or two if they were still on board.
"Zilong, is that you?" a familiar voice called out, warming his heart. He turned to see Ava emerging from the steam-filled area.
"Ava, you shouldn't run toward strangers! What if—" a young man with black hair and pale skin began, stopping short as he noticed Emma.
"Whoa, sis?"
The two twins were finally reunited, and Zilong had found his sister. His heart swelled as he hugged Ava, who, stunned, hugged him back. "We don't have time for touchy moments," Emma pointed out. "We have a huge, killer monster on the loose."
Zilong ignored her. "Are you hurt? Did you injure yourself? Are you hungry?" he fired off questions, checking Ava for any signs of injury.
"Stop, I'm not a child anymore," Ava said, flustered.
'Maybe I'm overreacting. She's fine; she can take care of herself,' he thought.
"This won't work anymore," Zilong said, turning serious. "We need to devise a plan, or we'll be dead by next week."
The others looked at him, confused. "Do you have one in mind?" Jacob asked.
---
They discussed a plan...
---
"Well, well, what do we have here?" a sinister voice hissed from behind Zilong. "Who would've thought a bunch of rats would be hiding down here?" A huge, gleaming scythe appeared in Zilong's peripheral vision, slicing through the air.
"Ava!" Zilong shouted, pushing her away.
"Arrgh!"
A blinding flash of pain shot through him as the impact hurled Zilong backward. He crashed into a massive pipe, clutching his stomach where a large gash had opened on his chest. His vision blurred, his hands trembled, and blood flowed from his wound.
"Zilong!" Ava screamed, tears in her eyes.
"Just run... don't let my death be for nothing," he said weakly. "Stick to the plan..."
---
*Boom!*
---
A massive explosion rocked the ship, causing it to tremble. "Emma," Zilong smiled weakly, "take Ava and run!" The air felt heavier; he was slowly losing the ability to feel pain as blood continued to pour from his wound. The explosion must have widened the crack; water was now up to Zilong's torso.
"Wow, I never imagined my death would be so epic," he chuckled.
The monster wasn't in a hurry to kill them; it attacked only one person at a time, moving slowly, as if savoring the emotional torment it caused. Emma had already moved Ava to safety, while Zilong lay against a pipe in the lower deck, cold and alone. Yet, strangely enough, he didn't feel fear, only pain.
It was... almost tranquil.