I awake in a panic, sitting bolt upright and gasping for air. I'm pouring with sweat and I push my hair out of my eyes and off my face. My mind has been racing through memories of that fateful night that Frank raped me. His words "It's your fault, you made me do it" ring in my head clearly. I look around and see I'm alone, the sheets beside me untidy. My head pounds, I definitely hit the sauce way to hard last night. Scrambling out of the sheet tangled between my legs and wound round my body I edge to the end of the bed. I look around the floor for my clothes; all that remains is that scrap of material dress I wore at dinner last night. Last night? I'm trying so hard to remember what happened, someone has obviously slept beside me, or maybe with me, but who? This is so embarrassing!
I pull on the dress and it slides down my body, as before it really is very indecent. I run my fingers through my hair to make myself more presentable and try the door. It clicks open easily and I step into the corridor, it's cooler than the bedroom and I can smell the strong scent of the freshly polished floor.
I creep up the corridor not sure of what I'll find, my head is still spinning and I'm feeling quite faint although I suspect that is because I've barely eaten since I stepped foot on this damn boat. I clutch my palm to my head and steady my self by reaching out for panelled wall to prop myself up. Struggling to breathe, I begin to double over and below me see the floor move, swirling around me and making me dizzy than I felt back in the bedroom.
"Carla" I hear though the voice is muffled.
I try to look up but I just can't.
"Carla are you ok?" I hear further, the voice concerned.
I feel sick, suddenly my hand slips from the wall and I slide down onto the floor. My head hangs forward almost hitting the floor and I feel a sweaty hand grip my arm and give me a gentle shake. I groan uncomfortably and close my eyes hoping it will help. My eyes open and close slowly and I sway where I'm sat. A hand gently cups my chin and lifts my head up; through blurred sight I see it is Steve. Suddenly I push my palm flat against the wall, I'm not comfortable and I just want to get away from him. Flattening my other palm against the wall I try to stumble to my feet but I continue to slip on the floor and Steve keeps his tight hold on my arm.
"Carla!" I hear again but this time I recognise the voice, its Peter
Steve's hand has found it's way onto my barely covered thigh and is making its way further north and under the silky material, it makes me tense and my breathing rapidly increases.
"Whoa mate get off her!" he continues and I just about manage to lift my head to see him push Steve away although my vision is still blurred so it's hard to tell.
"Peter" I mumble slowly as he kneels in front of me.
"Yes baby, I'm here," he says as he examines me closely and holds my head in his hand.
He recognises the signs, he knows I was drip fed that poison last night and he was powerless to help. Tears form in the corner of his eyes and he's so disappointed in me, I just can tell.
"I'm Sorry" I mumble but it's croaky and barely audible.
He shakes his head a runs his thumb back and forth affectionately over my cheek.
I feel a chill and both Peter and I glance up; Steve is hovering over us, wicked glint ever present in his eyes. He reaches down and in one foul scoop grabs me by the arm hauling me to my feet. My knees wobble and I can barely hold my weight. I fall back but he pulls me back up again and holds me in front of him, I fall back against him but he continues to keep propping me up.
"What do you think you're doing?" Peter yells at Steve, picking himself up from the floor as Steve begins to drag me away.
He's not interested at all and my legs reluctantly take each step. As we reach the top deck Peter is on our tail, the air is fresh and crisp and the sun bright in the sky but the heat is unbearable. I figure we can't be far from Lanzarote now.
Steve stops instantly at the stern, as he sees Peter he flings me forward into the railing and the impact is heavy. My head has hit it pretty hard and I fall to the deck. I'm heaped at his side as Peter stops in front creating a cool shadow that shelters me. The dizziness has not faded and my mouth has run dry. They stand tall confronting each other, they're voices muffled and I can make no sense of their exchange. I try to sit up but don't have the strength, I gasp for air as my head becomes worse and the pounding has turned to an increased pain. I reach my forehead to clasp it in my hand as I do I feel a wet substance to the top left hand side. I pull my hand away and it splattered with a faint trace of blood. I hold my shaking palm out in front of me, the arguing ceases. I hear a thud and Peter is on his knees in front of me, tilting my head back as gently as he can he pushes my hair back and runs his finger along my hairline. I assume this is where the blood is coming from. I slump and Peter wraps his arm around my waist, my eyes flicker and glaze, the sun blinds me and before I know it all goes black.