AN: Hey guys! I have finally updated. I apologize for the wait!
First of all, I want to say thank you to all those who have submitted a character. All characters you have submitted will feature in the story, but only a handful will have major roles.
For all those with major roles within the story, please look at the bottom of this page. If your character is not there, DO NOT WORRY, they will make a cameo appearance at some stage in the novel. Every single contribution was amazing and I want to point out that my basis for choosing them wasn't because some were better than the others. I had to have a contrast of different characters and also characters that would fit well into my story.
This chapter has been written while I was ill and while I have been busy. So please don't criticise too heavily. My next update will follow by the end of the week.
Thank you for all your patience.
…
Prologue II: On Board Hopes Odyssey
Under the blood curdling sky, crows fled the naked trees in response to the high pitched squeals and loud continuous sobbing from made by a group of humans. They mourned like a choir at the gravestone of their dead acquaintance, friend or even a relative, I wasn't sure. However, what I was sure of was that I could clearly see a name craved into the marbled slab. "R.I.P, Kasai Ichijó".
Who was he? I did not recognise the name nor did the name trigger a memory or thought. It was just a random name. My dream zoomed out from the emotional, yet mysterious scene as I thought it was approaching the climax… but unfortunately… I was wrong.
The dream was like a slow-motioned movie, a camera rotating, constantly revealing new scenery. I could feel the tension rising as the camera continued to turn. What I was about to see was horrific, unexplained and dark. The camera went on and on and on and on… until… I saw…. Me…
Me coated in fresh, warm and lively blood. I was dripping from head to toe as if I just stepped out a blood bath. It was me… Perfectly alive and unharmed, which must mean it wasn't my blood… but another person's blood! I looked emotionless. My eyes appeared tired, grey; almost demonic. I stared right into the lens of camera… right into my own dream.
"MURDERER!" a lady's voice shrieked. Suddenly everything went black.
…
I slowly opened my eyes and through a dazed perspective and saw the ceiling fan spinning round and round. I must have woken up by the shock of dream. The visual images remained concrete in my mind for a few seconds, only to be taken over by very unfamiliar surroundings. The flashes of lightening caught the corner of eye from outside a large rectangular window portraying the sea. I breathed a sigh of relief when realised that I was not coaxed in blood. It was only a dream. The lightning was continuous yet I couldn't hear the thunder or even the rain for that matter, even though it stammered against the window.
While sat on my bed, I stretched my arms and rotated my neck in attempt to physically break me out of the half-asleep state, but I was irritated by something gritty grating the back of my neck and shoulders. I examined it with my hand to find... sand.
Sand… What the hell? The last thing I remember was waiting at the harbour at sunset; I was nowhere near any beach or even any sand. From that point, in my confused state, I whipped the covers off from my single bed to notice I was dressed in only a white vest and underpants. I brushed my golden brown hair with my hand only to find more sand that descended to the ground like a puff of dust.
Why was I covered in sand and partially naked?
Anyway, I got out from my bed and finally appreciated I was in my own cabin in Hope's Odyssey Cruise Ship. I found my clothes hung over a leather padded chair beside an oval coffee table. As I put my attire on, I embraced the visuals of the room. I had a small kitchen utility that consisted of a small sink, hot drink making facilities. Inside my bedside drawer I found a battery charged torch, a rain coat and a black pen with some stationary. Atop of the bedside drawer was an old fashioned phone.
They were three doors in my room. The large rectangular window was centred between two of them. One I assumed led to the en-suite bathroom. The second, facing opposite, led to the balcony outside. The last door must lead to the outside of my cabin. Hoping to find a mirror where I could take closer look at the sand on my body, I eagerly approached the bathroom.
*rattle rattle*
The door was locked. Damn! I have no card key. I've never recalled needing a card key to enter your own bathroom… But then again I've never been on a cruise ship before. I suppose a card key is waiting for me in the reception. I best check the time…
That reminded me! My phone! It wasn't in my pocket nor was it lying around in my room. Mum will go ape if I don't contact her!
I frantically looked around the room, but was taken aback by some of my cabins interior. There were a camera and monitor fixed onto my cabin walls. Gosh! They've seen me nearly naked! Surely they are only their for break-ins right?
But that belief was countered quickly. I shuddered to the camera that swivelled round locking onto me as if it was some sort of predator locating its prey. I began to feel more nervous. The doors were locked, my phone was missing, and sand has appeared out of nowhere. I was clueless to what was going on.
Precisely two seconds later the monitor crackled and tiny pixels vibrated like a swarm of angry flies on the screen. A black bear-shaped figure appeared on screen.
"Jinkentsu Muhai the other fourteen students are waiting for you into the reception hall located on deck number 3. Please make your way at your own convenience, but I suggest you hurry and meet your fellow passengers as they getting a little bored, Upupupupupu!"
My mind dwelled further into mystery. The childish voice seemed to stick in my head. How can a child sound so sophisticated? Is it even a child, or has someone hacked into the ship's devices? That would explain why the rooms won't unlock.
Either way I need to get a move on. My only way to unravel these mysteries is to follow instruction and meet the other fourteen students…But wait!
I was told they would be a total of fifty students. It says right here in my invitation let… oh wait, that didn't seem to be in my pockets, either did my medication. We must be segregated into groups for the ship tour.
I grasped the silver handle, pushed down and then…
*click*
I stepped out onto a firm royal blue carpet patterned with small golden anchors. The ship seemed to have the colour scheme of shades of blues, creams and yellows.
*BANG!*
"Egh!" I jumped. Yet it was only the door.
I had to get a hold of myself. I was on deck two. Ok! Now I need to get to the reception hall.
I followed up the curved stairs to deck three. As I did, the storm outside seemed to cast a dark eerie feel inside the ship. Ceiling light's flickered just like they did in horror movies; and I could finally hear the thunder booming and crackling. It was loud and domineering!
I reached another passageway but only to have my mind fuelled with paranoia as several cameras seemed to respond to my appearance by locking onto me. I could feel acidy fluids surging up my body as the ship gave a gentle yet unpredicted rock. Seasickness was surely kicking in, or was it just anxiety? I managed to control the uncomfortable bodily urge of projecting sick as I reached deck three.
At the top of the stairs, a big sign was jolted onto the wall. Turning right led me the dining room, kitchen and observatory; whereas straight ahead leaded to the reception hall.
Following the sign, down one more corridor, I finally reached double doors that were opened by just a small fraction. I looked above the door and plate of gold with 'reception' carved in was centred on top. I heard a muffle of voices, meaning a bunch of eager and apparently bored students must be waiting to greet me. I swallowed all of my anxiety and without hesitation getting the better of me, I pushed open the doors.
The motion of time seemed to slow down. The narrow gap expanded, and the hall lights came like a flare to my eyes…
My heartbeat was steady, but on edge. My eyes adjusted to the receptions furniture of royal blue chaise lounge sofas bordered with golden frames. The walls were cream with faint golden stripes and further along the walls developed into containers inhabiting various aquatic creatures. Golden pillars were positioned precisely in the room enforcing the neat and exotic style.
But what took me back the most were a group of students. These were no normal students. Their artistic appearances oozed out varieties of complex personalities. Their mixed facial reactions, body postures and initial first impressions gave the atmosphere a heavy dose of awkwardness.
I managed to regain confidence as my nerved began to whither. Courage fuelled through blood. In the room embedded with just silence and tension, I finally spoke.
"Hi everyone, my name is… Jinkentsu Muhai!"
With that, my words shattered the silence like a gunshot to a glass wall.
…
Author list;
The hazel-eyed bookworm
Shibehus
Komaeda1234
Xxpandaheroxx
LadyGlitchy
Khronovision
unicorn246
TheRoseShadow2 (with 2 characters)
FreezeThunder
The Legend of Zelda Fangirl
FourthMind
shyjoker
15lives
Saint River 2.0
FINAL NOTE: There is a STRONG possibility that some of the minor characters will in fact become MAJOR characters. So please stay tuned and wait and see what happens.
