As I stood there, feeling the descent of my demise, I heard one of the doors near me unlatch, but I didn't see which one. I was still staring at the sparks, and it wasn't until I could make out the mangled face, and the blood that dripped out from the festering wounds on this man's forehead, that I felt a warm hand grab my shoulder, pulling me backwards.
I stumbled into this room, and fell to my knees, from the force in which I had been tossed. I heard the heavy door close behind me, latching and locking. I scrambled to my feet, twirling around to protect myself, when my eyes fell upon a familiar body.
"Are you all right?" this familiar man asked before turning around to me.
When our eyes met, I gasped, "Munder?" He smiled, and I asked, "Did I- did I hit my head again?" I was confused. Each time that I met Munder, I was asleep, or I hit my head...either way, I don't remember doing either.
He laughed. "No. No, I'm really here."
Confused, I pondered, "How is that possible?" He was about to answer, when I asked the obvious, "Are you a ... a ghost?"
Laughing at me again, he replied, "No."
"I don't understand. You're dead...aren't you?" I questioned.
He grew serious and stated, "No. I'm not. Look, I've been trying to tell you this for a while. Each time we've had time to talk, something takes you away from me."
"Takes me away from you?" I was lost.
He explained it calmly, "I need you to listen. Okay?" I nodded as he continued, "I am not dead. I thought that I was, but it's a facade. Your sister believes that everyone in her crew had died, and they did, except us. You remember when I told you about Ferriman?"
"You've mentioned the name, but never did explain to me his connection," I stated.
"Ferriman was the man who brought us out into the Strait to salvage the Graza. We fixed his ship, but it wasn't until Murphy found out that Ferriman was responsible for the Graza's disappearance and all the deaths on board. He killed our crew. Your sister managed to survive..."
"What about you?" I asked, making sure to keep some distance from him.
"Ferriman lost the Graza. He had a suspicion on what your sister was up to. He kept me alive, making everyone see my death, so they wouldn't question him, and he kept me here, to keep this ship afloat," he took a breath.
"Why would he keep you alive? I don't understand..." I was confused.
He sighed, "I'm the best spot welder there is. He needed someone to fix his back up ship...this one, and he knew that the Graza was a lost cause. Now, because he can't get to your sister anymore, he's trying to take his wrath out on you. I won't let him."
"Why would he take his wrath out on me? I didn't do anything wrong..."
"He doesn't care. The only way that he can be in the good graces of his management, is to take someone whose soul hasn't been tainted yet," he looked at me with such seriousness as he added, "You."
I crossed my arms across my chest. "I don't think I understand. What do you mean that my soul hasn't been tainted yet?"
Munder smiled. "You're one of the rare people with such a pure being. He can't control you...which makes you powerful against him. If he can get you to succumb to his will, then he wins."
"But I don't know a Ferriman!" I practically shout.
"He might be under a different alias. Do you remember when I said that demons make you believe or see things that they want you to?" I nodded as he continued, "See, he's a demon. He could be a completely different person, or just looks slightly different. He could be tricking you into believing that your crew members are missing, and your boat, too."
"How do you know all of this? How do I know that you're not this- this Ferriman, playing tricks on me? Making me believe that I'm talking to Munder?" I questioned.
Munder approached me, and I uncrossed my arms, slowly backing away from him. When I backed into the wall, I had no choice but to raise my hands in a defensive manner. He looked at me, with kindness. "I'm not going to hurt you, Ellie. You know me..."
He placed his right hand against me cheek. It was warm, and full of life. It felt like the hands of the same man that I once knew to come to our house. My eyes flickered closed as I leaned my head into his hand. "You're really alive, aren't you?"
I heard him whisper, "I won't let anything happen to you."
My eyes opened to see his gazing down at me. "What if you can't stop him?"
"I can," he stated.
"But what if you're not with me and something-"
He cut me off, "I'm not going anywhere."
I pulled away from him, "You won't be able to be there every moment, James. What will happen then?"
He didn't answer directly, "I'll do my best to make sure that never happens."
I sighed, realizing that would be the best that I could get from him. I started to approach the door. I stopped and put my ear against it, listening for the scraping sounds. Nothing.
"He's not there anymore," Munder stated.
I looked over at him. "How do you know?"
He walked up to me. "He's not there. He's most likely looking for someone else."
"Troy...Jerry!" I unlocked the door, and started to open the door to leave, when Munder put his hand against the door, closing it on me. "What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?" he asked. "If you're going out there, then just take it easy. Doing things quickly will get you killed. Let me go first."
He moved me out of the way, and slowly opened the door. He stepped out into the hallway, extended his hand. "Come on."
I took his hand, and he led me down the hallway towards the stairs that would lead us back up to the cargo decks.
