Next chapter things are really taking a turn for the worst for our wrestlers, let's see if I can make thing a whole lot better. (not)
Following Randy's trial Beth came to an abrupt stop, they had walked into a dead end. Turning around and shining her flashlight behind her Beth saw that the guys were sweating even in the icy temperatures.
"Now what, I was following the trail." Beth said directing her question at Randy who had put down the heavy raft and was panting for breath.
"Don't know what to tell you, but man I need a break this think weighs a ton." He said as Ted and Mike nodded as well. John had already slid down the wall and was sitting on the floor.
"What could have happened?" Mickie asked coming to stand beside Randy as he too took a seat in the hallway.
"My guess something moved them." Mike chimed in as he bent forward and placed his hands on his thighs. They all looked at one another and knew that if that were true they could be anywhere in the ship right now. They had been down stairs and round corners.
"Great, anyone got a plan?" Ted said not sounding in the most optimistic of moods as Mickie shook her head.
"We split up and find the way. Leave the raft here and come back for it when we know where we are going." John said surprising everyone as they all turned to look at him like he was an alien who has just landed on board.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea mate." Randy said now resting his arms on his upraised knees as Mickie sat down beside him and cuddled in close, wanting to share his body heat. Randy placed one arm around her and could feel that she was still shivering beneath his embrace.
"No maybe not, but it will be the quickest way that we will get out of here. Plus we can't carry that much further." John said and all the guys nodded, they were done in as it was and they could be miles from their destination yet.
"Ok so we split up into pairs, no one goes off alone." Beth said with definition on the alone part, not that anyone had any intention of getting lost on this ship again.
"Teams then, Beth me and you." John suggested as Beth shook her head slightly, but not wanting to voice her concerns out in the open.
"Why don't we draw lots, that way if something happens its no one's fault." Beth said looking at John who gave her a small frown, but they all agreed. Beth picked up one of the stalks that she had collected on their travels. She had picked them up so that whatever was following them did not find the trail and follow it to. It had obviously been in vain as whatever they had been running from had already been there. Snapping the stalk into three separate lengths from long to short so each length had a pair she shuffled them and held them out for each person to pick. Ted came forward first and got a medium length stick. John them picked and got a long stick. In the end John was with Mike and there were two sticks left. Mickie came forward and picked a stick, it was medium in length and paired her with Ted.
"Means I am left with the short stick." Beth said opening her hand to display the stem and she nodded at Randy.
"Hope that wasn't some kind of dig." He said playfully as she came over to him and looked at the others.
"We don't have a flashlight Mike pointed out as they all moved towards their partner and John looked around the immediate area.
"I guess that will be our first port of call then." John said as Beth moved off towards the left hand turn.
"You guys go down there its lighter that way at least you will be able to see for a while." She suggested as she passed her flashlight down the right had corridor and the beam got swallowed up by the darkness. She swallowed slightly not liking the feel of that direction but she knew it had to be done. Also she wanted to keep John away from danger as much as possible, she had a bad feeling about this and right now she could only be grateful he had got paired with Mike.
"Should we retrace our steps?" Mickie asked moving back along the passageway as Ted moved to follow her. He looked behind him as Randy replied.
"Yeah ok, ten minutes everyone, you're looking for a sign that says Aft docking bay, its blue and is about head height on the wall." He said remembering the sign which he was fairly certain could not have been moved. Everyone nodded their understanding as they went their separate ways.
Mike and John managed fine until they moved into an adjacent corridor. It was like a tunnel, the walls felt like they were closing in on them and the light was fading fast.
"You know I don't think it could be this way." Mike said as he felt forward and came up empty. Stopping suddenly as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye, he clutched onto John.
"What is that?" he asked pointing to the black shape that was directly in front of them.
"I don't know." John said moving forward, it was strange but he was not getting the creepy vibe from the image like he had done when they were being pursued earlier. Getting closer he now realised just what it was.
"It's our reflection. Look." John said waving his hand as the black image did the same. Mike let out an audible sigh of relief as the room began to cool.
"Ok that's not good, can I suggest getting the hell out of here." Mike said feeling the chill as John darted right pulling Mike along with him. Hitting something hard John gave a yelp of pain. Not thinking too much as he could feel his fingers begin to freeze he reached out and found that he had crashed into a door.
"There is a god." He said pulling open the door and rushing inside, Mike following close behind him as the door slammed shut. John stopped and looked around the light in the room was non-existent, but he recognised the smell well enough and now he wished he had never found that door.
Mickie and Ted walked back the way they had come, reaching the turning Mickie chose the opposite direction to the way they had initially come. Ted followed her hoping that this wouldn't take long. He had been away from the others far too long before and he knew alone this place was very dangerous.
"You think it was just one wrong turn?" Ted asked as the ship groaned again, her metal cooling and bending as night took a firm grip on the Queen Anne.
"No I don't think we are that lucky but we have to start somewhere." Mickie said as they came to another T-junction. Mickie looked left the right but saw no difference in the two options. Maybe we could split up just for ten yards or so just to see where these lead." Mickie suggested as Ted looked kind of dubious.
"Ok but just until we go out of site then turn round." Ted said knowing that if he could see her she would be ok. Plus they had felt nothing ominous for a while and getting out had to be the most important thing.
"You bet, if you go leaving me now I might just die of fright." Mickie said as she turned right and started moving down the corridor. Ted paused for a moment and watched her go, the light here wasn't bad he could still see, and Mickie's flashlight stood out a mile. Turing now Ted walked down the left hand passage way. He was checking for sign's on the wall. Or any clue that told him he was going in the right direction. The scream that pierced his ears tore through him like a knife. Spinning around he saw Mickie's flashlight jump and bounce around. Her cries echoing though the corridor. Without thinking Ted started to run.
"Not again, no you're not taking another on." He said to himself as he ran at where Mickie had been standing. Her flashlight was on the ground the space where she had been empty. Ted stood and listened for any sound but all he heard was the sound of his own heart beating.
"No! Mickie" He cried knowing that she had gone just like Cody and he had not been able to save her. Putting his hands over his eyes and holding in the tears that wanted to fall down his face Ted took in a deep breath and raised his head once more. Opening his eyes blackness looked back at him, a darkness he had never known before, the fire that burnt within him now slowed his heart and stopped his breathing. He did not cry he did not struggle. Ted knew this was his end and after losing not one but two of his friends he felt like this was a just end for him.
Leaving the body on the floor with now only three more souls to collect the dark being that had haunted the Queen Anne for over a year headed towards the sound of voices, knowing its time of exile was nearly at an end.
Beth and Randy moved down the corridor but saw nothing, literally, it was a dead end, another corner room. Knowing they had gone the wrong way they turned around pretty quickly. Beth was making her way back along the hallway when Randy's hand came down on her shoulder. Stopping abruptly Beth tried to even out her breathing as Randy's hand remained where it was as he forced her to face him. To Randy's surprised Beth's eyes were closed, he frowned at her when she didn't opened them or make any move to say anything.
"Beth look at me, what's wrong?" Randy said turning the grip on her shoulder to a softer touch, thinking that he perhaps scared her. Not hard under the circumstances and now Beth's eyes opened slightly.
"Sorry I just couldn't be sure it wasn't you." Beth said and again Randy looked confused.
"Me what's me, I'm me." He almost babbled. Randy had just about had enough of this place, kit was time to get out of here, but he also had to know what Beth had meant.
"The demon, the soul collector whatever the hell this thing is, I'm sure it has swapped bodies, and the only place it had to go was in one of us." Beth said as realisation hit Randy.
"Is that why you didn't want to go with John, because you think it might be him?" He asked as Beth shook her head quickly.
"No I know it's not John, he was with me Mike and Ted when Maryse was killed." Beth said and Randy saw immediately where this was going.
"So you think it's me, great, well I can tell you now Beth, it's only me in here, believe me there isn't enough room for anyone else." Randy said and Beth almost smiled at that but she chose to get it out there while he was listening.
"That only leaves Mickie, she was alone in that room, came out not a scratch on her." Beth said and Randy shook his head fiercely and forced Beth to look at him.
"No she came around the corner the same time as I did, she didn't know Maryse was there any more than the rest of us. I would know if that hadn't been Mickie kissing me and it was her. Why are you so sure this thing has switched, it could still be in Stephanie." Randy said as Beth started to move forwards again, not like the feeling of standing still in the dark.
"Because it's what I would do, you know if it was me." Beth said and now it was Randy's turn to worry. Following the blonde back out into the hallway where they left the raft Randy finally asked about the eyes.
"Why did you close your eyes, you know before." He said and Beth turned to him and gave him a small knowing smile.
"Because the eyes are the windows to the soul, or so I have heard I was just taking precautions." Randy was about to reply when a scream echoed around the ship. The sound of which neither wrestler had heard before.
"Mickie" Beth hissed as Randy shot passed her he had almost disappeared onto the darkness as Beth came out of her paralysis and followed him.
"Randy! Stop come back!" she called as she ran as fast as she could to catch up. In the end though she needn't have bothered.
John new the scent of a shower room when he smelt one. The vague damp smell that settled in the walls. The lingering sent of shampoo, and of sweat. He turned to where Mike was now but he could see nothing in the darkness. Reaching out he found Mike's shoulder. The wrestler jumped and swore under his breath.
"Shit man." He hissed as John moved closer and whispered in what he assumed was Mike's ear.
"Which way is out?" He said knowing there was only one way out and that was the way they had come in.
"How should I know, I don't even know which way is up right at the moment." He whispered back as the sound of the door creaking open filled the room. Freezing both men clung to one another as they heard the unmistakeable sound of foot falls.
"Well at least we know it has feet." Mike whispered as the darkness descended upon them. The fire than started to burn within. Both John and Mike collapsed to their knees, struggling to breathe.
"Go get out." John urged feeling his strength seeping out of him. Mike began to crawl but in which direction he didn't know. Stopping as he felt a leg immediately in front of him he clawed at it until it stomped on his hand. Making no sound when he cried out, as his breath finally gave way. Mike went limp on the floor as John followed him into oblivion.
"Teach me for taking two at once." The thing said as it looked down at the scratches on its leg and it quickly headed for the corridor as it felt the presence of more souls.
Beth almost ran into Randy as he stared down at Ted. His friends' expression was not that of shock, but of sadness. Beth clung to him and Randy wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they stood there looking at Ted.
"Mickie" Randy finally said as he moved forward at a slower pace this time. Beth went with him holding on to his hand tightly as they made their way through the dark passageways. Turing down into a corridor they saw the sign for the gym. Randy looked at Beth as she nodded for him to continue. Pushing open the door Randy was shocked at first at his own reflection. The light from Beth flashlight bounced off the floor length mirror casting the entire room in a strange shadowy glow.
"Mickie" Randy called quietly as he spotted the open door to the shower room and moved towards it. Pushing the door open and shining the light in Beth almost fell to her knees at the sight of John. If Randy hadn't been there to hold her up she would have sank to her knees in an instant and allowed the grief to take her.
"Oh god no" She gasped placing her hand over her mouth as Randy held on to her tightly and pulled her from the room. Mike was gone to he was halfway across the other side of the room. He looked like he had been trying to crawl away. Not wanting to look at the horrific scene anymore Randy closed the door and pulled Beth along with him.
"Come on we have to go now." He said knowing that Mickie was either dead or close to it. Now he had to at least save Beth from that fate. Getting back to Ted's body Randy recognised where they were.
"It's down here, I remember the fire extinguisher." He said as Beth shook the image of John out of her mind and focused on getting away.
"Ok but we need the raft or there is no point." Beth said as Randy nodded. Racing back to where they had left the raft they each too an end. Half dragging it, half carrying it they made it half way along the corridor. Stopping Randy hushed Beth.
"Randy" it was barely a whisper and Randy dropped the raft. Running forward he turned the corner and spotted Mickie staggering along the hallway.
"Beth I need your help." He called almost as Beth came around the corner to find out what was going on.
"Mickie!" Beth shouted going to her injured friend and the brunette fell into Randy's arms.
"Stephanie she is coming, I got away only because Ted came for me." Mickie said looking up with sad eyes.
"We know, we saw him. I am sure he was trying to save you." Randy said so glad that she was alive and had said she had seen Stephanie. At least they could stop worrying about who it was.
"Ok we need to get this raft down to the docking bay, can you walk on your own?" Randy asked knowing that alone neither he nor Beth would be able to shift the large orange boat.
"Yeah I will be fine." Mickie said as she went with them and picked up the raft. It was easier now Mickie could hold the flashlight and guide the way.
"You defiantly saw Stephanie, she was coming for us?" Beth asked as they finally turned into the hallway with the sign pointed to the docking bay.
"Yeah it was her alright, she looked right at me and I could feel myself burning. I think I screamed." Mickie said as Randy and Beth both nodded.
"You certainly did, we heard you all the way back here." Randy said as he felt the raft jolt to a stop and he looked back at Beth who was standing looking at a door.
"We have to end this." She said pointing to the room and both Randy and Mickie came to look.
"No Beth how can we set it off and get off the ship?" Randy said as Mickie shook her head.
"Look we will figure that out when the time comes ok, right now you two need to get this raft down to the docking bay and I will handle the explosives." Beth said giving them a pointed look as she opened the door and ended the conversation as she stepped into the storage room.
"Not without you." Mickie said following her in and bashing her toe on something. Crying with pain Beth turned round and shone her flashlight, first on Mickie then on to the object that she had collided with. It was a foot pump, not perfect but better than lungs.
"Now that is the first bit of luck we have had." Beth said picking up the instrument and handed it to Randy as Mickie was still holding onto her foot.
"Good can we go now and forget about blowing up the ship." Randy said as Beth moved towards him with a hand full of dynamite.
"No this ends now, here I will not be responsible for anyone else's death." She said closing the door with a slam and staring at Randy.
"Ok ok, then let me do it." Randy said as Beth shook her head.
"No Mickie will need you to pump up the raft, you will be the fastest at it, and rowing clear. Neither of us will live if we can't get away from the ship before it goes down." Beth said and Randy knew she was right, he didn't like it but he knew this was the way it had to go down.
"Beth" Mickie started but Beth raised her hand to silence her.
"No Mickie I have lost John to this thing it's my turn to deliver some pay back. You two go and live your lives preferably together." Beth smiled and Mickie blushed as Randy moved forward and enveloped Beth in a fierce embrace.
"You are one brave woman, brave but also slightly crazy." He said placing a kiss on her forehead and Beth moved back from him and held up her dynamite.
"One part brave three parts foolish, that's what my dad told me." She replied as she dug around in her bra and pulled out the lighter she had been keeping there in case she had needed it. When she had seen the lighter sitting on a table in the ball room, she didn't know why she picked it up. She had just had this feeling that she needed to. Now she knew why, this was her fate and she was going to follow it.
"You dad was right, ok give us ten minutes, if you can get out do it." Randy said picking up the raft with Mickie and heading down the hall.
"No promises." Beth called as she turned away not bothering to wipe the tear from her face as she headed back into the darkness.
Randy and Mickie worked in silence the minutes ticking away, taking it in turns to pump up the raft. With two minutes to spare before Beth would set of the dynamite they opened the bay doors and Mickie climbed in the raft. Randy gave it a shove and jumped on board. Getting hold of the oars and rowing with all of his might away from the ship. It was mere minutes before a loud explosion on the ship's lowest deck rocked the Queen Anne. Mickie buried her face in Randy's body as he watched the ship start to sink.
"God speed Beth." Randy whispered as he continued rowing away from the pull of the ship.
Beth knew where to go, she didn't need the light anymore she was moving on instinct alone. Finding herself in a cargo hold she moved to the centre and placed the dynamite in a small alcove, she knew she would only have to sink the ship, not destroy it. Looking at the fuse she thought she would have maybe two minutes to clear the hold and get out on to the open deck. Another five before the ship sank.
"No problem I can do that." She said taking a deep breath and flicking the lighter. As the flame cast a glow on the room Beth looked at it and frowned, something wasn't right. Why hadn't this thing come to stop her? With no time to think, hoping that it was because it thought they had all left Beth lit the fuse and sprinted for the door.
Making it up the stairs the explosion almost sent the door back on her face. Catching it at the last moment Beth moved onto the next deck and up another flight of stairs. Now the ship began to tilt, causing her to have to run upwards along the deck. Bursting out in to the night air, Beth made for the aft of the Queen Anne. The ship was almost at an fifty degree angle and it was slow going but Beth knew she would have to be virtually standing on the rudder to survive this. Pulling herself up over the rear railing just as the ship stood upright in the ocean and began its downwards journey.
"So this is how it ends, not with a bang, but a whisper." Beth said a she took a deep breath as the Queen Anne sank to the bottom of the dark ocean.
Oh no is it over, did I really kill off Beth? Well who knows but I can't leave Mickie and Randy floating around on a raft for the rest of creation, plus we all know villain's especially supernatural ones just aren't that easy to get rid of. If you would like to read the conclusion let me know via review. Thanks for readingXxX