Chapter 1

S.S Agek

"Lucy, will you please pass me the punch?" asked Simon impatiently.

"Don't be so petty, Simon." replied the girl called Lucy, handing Simon the container. Their hands touched briefly, then Simon snatched the container.

Simon had dirty blonde hair and a rather athletic build. His blue shirt seemed to reflect the sunlight, and he was lying on his sweatpants.

Lucy, however, had black hair, and she was wearing a jean-patterned jacket, and was wearing khaki shorts.

"Just give it to me the first time I ask…"

Simon and Lucy were both eighteen on a summer cruise ship called the S.S Agek. Simon's birthday had been three days ago. They were sitting together on the front deck of the boat, eating lunch.

"How many islands d'you reckon we've passed, Simon? This cruise has been on seas for four days!" exclaimed Lucy. The same thought seemed to have occurred to Simon. How far were they from Delaware?

"One, two…seventy-four," estimated Simon. Lucy giggled. She got in to a small fit of laughter. Simon bit into his sandwich, then stared. Lucy slowed her laughter, then said quickly,

"Look behind you." Simon turned. He saw a young boy, probably of eight or nine, was mocking everything he did.

"Really?" asked Simon. "Not that amusing." Lucy blushed. She sat still for a moment, then said,

"It's nearly tomorrow." Simon gazed at her.

"It's only 2:30."

"We'll be crossing the International Date Line soon." Lucy added.

"Ah," he said stupidly. Simon got to his feet, then said,

"Well, I'll go take a nap, then." Lucy called out as he walked away,

"Sweet dreams!" Simon walked down the slick hallway to his room. He flung the door open, collapsed on the bed and fell asleep without even taking his shoes off.

He dreamed a strange dream. Simon dreamed that he and Lucy were on a strange island, with some other young man and woman. Simon asked Lucy if she would dance with him. Lucy responded by kicking him in the shins, blowing raspberries at him and said,

"Why? James already asked me! He also made me these!" Lucy began tossing jewelry, shirts and pants at him. Simon tried to argue that he didn't know who or where James was. The other girl came up and told Simon,

"She's right, you know. Maybe you should give her your TV and bedroom." Simon then tried to explain that he didn't have his own TV, and he didn't have a bedroom on this island…

Simon woke with a start. He had a sharp pain in his head. He had fallen off of his bed, against the wall. Simon shakily stood up, He had broken out in a cold sweat, and he felt awfully feverish. Simon stubbed his toe on something as he stumbled toward the door. Simon became aware that he was walking on the wall of his bedroom.

"Whoa," he stammered. What was happening? Was he still dreaming? No, he couldn't be.

The ship jerked violently, and Simon was thrown to the wall. There was a shattering of glass, a human scream, and he jumped to his feet. The ship was tipping. Simon's first thought was to get to Lucy. He ambled across the wall, pried open his door and climbed through it. Simon broke into a run as he scrambled down the hallway before gravity turned against him. He had reached the deck. The wind screamed around him.

"Simon!" cried a voice. Simon turned to the tipping of the boat. He slipped on some water that had begun precipitating moments ago. Simon grabbed a floorboard to keep from slipping. Then he saw Lucy, clutching the edge of the ship. He wanted to help, but he couldn't…

"Simon, look out!" screamed Lucy, and again Simon turned. A wall of salt water stung his eyes, and knocked him off of the floorboards he was desperately holding onto. Simon tumbled backwards off of the soaked deck, rolling all the way down, and he could feel his own consciousness fading—

Then Lucy was there.

"Simon…" she said. Simon saw a frothy wave the size of the boat rising over them.

"Lucy…"

Simon grabbed Lucy's hand, because it was the last thing he would ever feel…

Simon and Lucy felt the water wave break over themselves, salt water filling their mouths, and everything was gone.