Maria sat straight up. She was a bit disoriented and definitely confused
about her location. Where was she? She looked around; it appeared that she
was in some kind of cove overlooking the ocean. She could hear the high cry
of birds and the gentle rhythm of the ocean. The great blueness of the sea
stretched as far as she could see. But when she looked down at her own
appearance was when she was the most surprised. She was covered in blood.
She wore a nearly transparent white gown that probably would have looked stunning if it hadn't been covered in gore. Maria gasped and took in several unsteady breaths. Swallowing she discovered that her mouth was filled with the horrible, metallic taste of blood. Bile rose in her throat, she turned over an emptied the contents of her stomach. She felt disgusting and confused. The gown she was wearing clung to her like a second skin making it hard for her to move. But she managed to stand up and like a shaky uncoordinated new-born calf she stumbled to the edge of the ocean.
Here, the water was clouded red by blood. Maria's brain was screaming at her to leave, to just get out. But her body didn't seem to be listening. Slowly she submerged her hands in the filthy water. When they returned to the surface they were wrapped in dark, coarse hair. Human hair. Maria felt bile rise in her throat once again but pushed it down. She took one deep shaky breath. Her hands waded in the water in the water again and once they returned all she could do was scream. The birds in the background screeched in annoyance but Maria didn't care. In her hands she held Michaels head.
*********
Maria woke screaming. Her body covered in cool perspiration. In the back of her mind she could hear someone trying to make soothing sounds, someone pressing a cool cloth against her hot forehead, but all that she could see was Michael's eyes. Michael's lifeless eyes showing none of his usual arrogance or deep sadness. When the images of Michael began to disappear Maria closed her eyes and tried to suppress deep racking sobs that were escaping from her body. Was Michael dead? Did Maria play some part in it? Or was she just going insane?
Suddenly back to reality Maria realized someone's arms wrapped around her shaking body and someone's presence right next to hers. The person was soothing her,"Shhh, shhh, it's OK it was just a nightmare." Maria appreciated the kindness of this stranger, because she sure as hell needed it. She finally registered the fact that a complete stranger was soothing her, considering she did not recognize the deep but soft voice. Wiping her tears and trying to muster the last of her dignity she gently pushed the boy off her. His golden eyes looked down at her with concern," Are you alright?"
Maria nodded her head vigorously in reply, "Yeah I'm, uh, fine." Now realizing the weirdness of the situation Maria became uncomfortable.
"I'm so sorry! I just started working here last week and I'm already knocking out my customers," the boy said with a laugh as he hastily moved a safer distance away from Maria. "My dad is really not going to be happy about this. Are you sure you're OK? Do you want me to help you back to the reception?"
Finally Maria was a lot less disoriented. Remembering the relatives she had already talked to Maria's answer was an abrupt, "NO WAY!"
"Really hate your relatives that much? When most girls get knocked out by a guy they start running the other direction. Though of course I don't have much practice knocking out women or anything."
Maria laughed outright. "Well, let's just say my family isn't the greatest people to hang out with. They're the typical rich "my life has to seem perfect" family, if you know what I mean. Plus," she said as she looked round at him, "I'm sure we'll have lots in common.
She wore a nearly transparent white gown that probably would have looked stunning if it hadn't been covered in gore. Maria gasped and took in several unsteady breaths. Swallowing she discovered that her mouth was filled with the horrible, metallic taste of blood. Bile rose in her throat, she turned over an emptied the contents of her stomach. She felt disgusting and confused. The gown she was wearing clung to her like a second skin making it hard for her to move. But she managed to stand up and like a shaky uncoordinated new-born calf she stumbled to the edge of the ocean.
Here, the water was clouded red by blood. Maria's brain was screaming at her to leave, to just get out. But her body didn't seem to be listening. Slowly she submerged her hands in the filthy water. When they returned to the surface they were wrapped in dark, coarse hair. Human hair. Maria felt bile rise in her throat once again but pushed it down. She took one deep shaky breath. Her hands waded in the water in the water again and once they returned all she could do was scream. The birds in the background screeched in annoyance but Maria didn't care. In her hands she held Michaels head.
*********
Maria woke screaming. Her body covered in cool perspiration. In the back of her mind she could hear someone trying to make soothing sounds, someone pressing a cool cloth against her hot forehead, but all that she could see was Michael's eyes. Michael's lifeless eyes showing none of his usual arrogance or deep sadness. When the images of Michael began to disappear Maria closed her eyes and tried to suppress deep racking sobs that were escaping from her body. Was Michael dead? Did Maria play some part in it? Or was she just going insane?
Suddenly back to reality Maria realized someone's arms wrapped around her shaking body and someone's presence right next to hers. The person was soothing her,"Shhh, shhh, it's OK it was just a nightmare." Maria appreciated the kindness of this stranger, because she sure as hell needed it. She finally registered the fact that a complete stranger was soothing her, considering she did not recognize the deep but soft voice. Wiping her tears and trying to muster the last of her dignity she gently pushed the boy off her. His golden eyes looked down at her with concern," Are you alright?"
Maria nodded her head vigorously in reply, "Yeah I'm, uh, fine." Now realizing the weirdness of the situation Maria became uncomfortable.
"I'm so sorry! I just started working here last week and I'm already knocking out my customers," the boy said with a laugh as he hastily moved a safer distance away from Maria. "My dad is really not going to be happy about this. Are you sure you're OK? Do you want me to help you back to the reception?"
Finally Maria was a lot less disoriented. Remembering the relatives she had already talked to Maria's answer was an abrupt, "NO WAY!"
"Really hate your relatives that much? When most girls get knocked out by a guy they start running the other direction. Though of course I don't have much practice knocking out women or anything."
Maria laughed outright. "Well, let's just say my family isn't the greatest people to hang out with. They're the typical rich "my life has to seem perfect" family, if you know what I mean. Plus," she said as she looked round at him, "I'm sure we'll have lots in common.
