BON VOYAGE

The ship was enormous.

"It's almost an exact replica of the original Titanic," Manfred Bloor boasted loudly as he mounted the deck. "Hurry up, we haven't all the time in the world!"

The students clambered after Manfred onto the ship. The ocean liner took Emma Tolly's breath away.

"It's gorgeous," she murmured. Olivia Vertigo, on her left, gave an inaudible snort.

"It's nothing," she scoffed. "I've traveled on cruisers twice this size, with twice as much people."

"Is that so, Olivia Vertigo?" Manfred's scornful voice cut through the salty air like a knife through butter. "Why don't you do us all a favor and leave?"

Emma stepped in, irritated that the sneering boy seemed to enjoy slandering her best friend. "Manfred, as a teacher's assistant, it's your duty to feel obligated to listen to the students. And right now, we want nothing more than for you to drown."

Olivia, suffering from a fit of giggles, yanked Emma away from Manfred's glare.

"Nice one!" she commented, still choking on her laughter. "If we're lucky, we'll be bunking together."

"No," Emma sighed gloomily. "It's five to a cabin. And I already know that Torsson, Tucker, Uffelman, and Vance come between us, Liv. We could be next-door-neighbors, I suppose."

Olivia giggled again.

Distantly, a foghorn blew from the prow. Emma jumped.

"Oh! They're categorizing the cabins, Liv!" She seized Olivia's wrist and dragged the heavily-costumed girl over to the opposite end of the boat.
Dr Bloor stood at the tiller,announcing the names of children who would be bunking together.

"Helen Basset, Charlie Bone, Idith Branko, Clifton Carp and Peter Dent in Cabin No. 2; Elaine Donner, Harvey Etton, Cora and Kenneth Fallon, and Isaiah Ghendad in Cabin No.3; the Hansen triplets, Sunraj Kahler and Kelly Lockhart in Cabin No. 4; Jason Markwy, Billy Raven, Reid Rubix, Lysander Sage and Gabriel Silk in Cabin No. 5; Makenna Simpson, Rusty Strathmore, Emma Tolly, Tancred Torsson and Quentin Tucker in Cabin No. 6; Samson Uffelman, Amelia Vance, Olivia Vertigo, Joseph and Jane Wilson in Cabin No. 7. Manfred and I will be housed in the Captain's Cabin; contact us only in urgent need. DISPERSE!"

The children shuffled off to their cabins. Tancred caught up with Emma at the door of Cabin No. 6.

"So we'll be bunking together," he remarked off-handedly.

Emma nodded solemnly as she heaved her duffel bag under the bed. "I guess so."

"Em, listen," Tancred sighed. "I'm sorry about what I said that afternoon at the Pets' Café. Honest."

"Okay." Tancred was the last person Emma wished to speak to at the moment. She left the room without a backward glance. Tancred sighed as he watched her exit.

Emma crossed the hall and knocked reluctantly on Cabin No. 5. She wanted to escape Tancred; she refused to return to Cabin No. 6 unless he had left. Tancred didn't like Reid, that much was obvious. If he couldn't try to adjust to her new friend, then she saw no reason why she shouldn't do the exact same to him.

"Come in." Emma entered to find Gabriel Silk unpacking his clothes. "Oh, hi, Em. What can I do for you?"

"Nothing," Emma whispered, attempting a weak smile. "I just didn't really feel like talking to—to Tancred."

"I understand." Gabriel nodded resolutely as Emma stared around the cabin.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Sally Morris and Jason Markwy went to the Headmaster to complain. It seems they just can't get along with each other. Reid finished unpacking quickly; I don't know where he went. Sander—I'm quite sure he mentioned visiting Tanc."

As soon as Tancred's name left Gabriel's mouth, Emma stiffened. "He apologized about his outburst at the Pets' Café, but I'm not sure I want to accept it."

"He apologized?" Gabriel seemed surprised. "What more do you want from him, Emma?"

"I want reasons," Emma said stolidly. "Reasons, answers, incentives, attempts."

"Reasons, answers, incentives, attempts," Gabriel repeated. "What for?"

"Reasons as to why he doesn't like Reid's company. Answers that will help me understand his feelings better. Incentives—what are his motives? And lastly, can't he risk one attempt at rubbing shoulders with Reid?"

Gabriel Silk knew more than he let on. He was aware of Tancred's crush on Emma, but he was also discreet and loyal. It wouldn't do to blab Tancred's secrets to the one person Gabe knew mattered most.

"Let me put it this way, Em," Gabriel offered. "If Olivia was dating Reid Rubix, I'm sure Tancred wouldn't act differently. I have a natural dislike for Joshua Tilpin, and a natural dislike for Jason Markwy. I'll bet Tancred's natural dislike is concentrated on Reid Rubix."

"Unlikely," Emma muttered, as she sauntered from the cabin.

Olivia, striding about aimlessly on deck, spotted Emma by the prow. She was chatting lightly with Billy Raven.

"Hey! Don't leave me in the dark!" Olivia laughed, as she skipped up to the pair. Billy's eyes smiled through his spectacles.

"Hi, Olivia. Emma and I were just talking about the ship. This is going to be the best weekend ever!"

"There's a gymnasium and restaurant below deck," Emma commented, as she peered over the edge of the boat. "I wish we could fish. My "foster-father", Mr Moon, brought me fishing by the river once. It was amazing."

"It's getting dark, Emma," Billy groaned. "Can we head back?"

"Sure, Billy." Emma wrapped her arm around the albino's shoulders and led him away from the prow. "Are you coming, Liv?"

"Yup!" Olivia bounded over to Emma's side, chatting up a storm. "My mother isn't going to be home at all this weekend, so I'll be able to fetch her a quick Christmas gift before the mall closes."

"Christmas!" Emma smote her forehead. "I've completely forgotten. What with the warm weather here by the Red Sea, I think the sun's driven the memory of snow out of my head. I can hardly remember the cold now."

"The Cathedral was always the coldest area of the city," Billy chirped helpfully. "I'd remember that when Charlie took me to Ingledew's every weekend. Filbert Street was quite mild, actually."

"You remember too much, Billy," Olivia giggled cheerily. "Come on, I can't see anything!"

It was true. Darkness had fallen. Emma clutched Billy and Olivia's hands tightly.

"I don't like this," Billy murmured. "It feels as though we're the only ones on deck."

"I'll bet we are," Olivia muttered. "I kind of miss Matron. I wish she were here now, to scream at us and lead us back to our cabins."

Billy nodded in agreement. Emma gulped.

"Oh gosh," she whispered. "It's completely pitch! Has anyone brought a torch?"

"It's in my cabin," Billy consented glumly. "Should we sleep out here, then?"

"NO!" Olivia and Emma cried in unison. Billy sighed with relief.

"We'll find our way," Emma said shakily. Come on—Olivia, reach out your hand. See if you can touch the edge of the boat."

"I can," Olivia confirmed. "I'll just follow the boat, shall I?"

Emma nodded, before remembering Olivia couldn't see her. "Yes."

"Alright, I think we're heading in the opposite direction," Olivia whined. "We'll have to head back the other way."

"But—but we were at the prow, and the stairs are by the stern," Billy stammered. Emma rubbed his shoulder consolingly.

"It's alright, Billy. We'll make it out of this mess."

"I wish Charlie were here," Olivia sighed. "He always knew what to do, even if it wasn't absolutely right."

Billy bit his lip, nodding. "Liv, you're a genius! I can see the a light."

"It's the stairs," Emma whispered in awe. "Olivia, you are a genius!"

"Why would the light be on, by the staircase?" Olivia muttered. "This isn't right. No, this isn't right at all. Matron never left the light on."

Billy's jubilance was difficult to move. "But Matron isn't with us anymore!" he shouted. "Hooray! We're safe!"

"Billy!" Olivia scolded. "Be quiet. I'm trying to think."

"Come on, Liv," Emma sighed. She led Billy toward the light. "It's bound to be the stairs."

"I'm not so sure," Olivia said. "Maybe—maybe it's an illusion."

"You're the only one around who can create illusions, Liv," Billy said pointedly. "And we know it isn't you."

"I—I don't feel like walking," Olivia moaned suddenly. Emma knew her to be an astounding actress, but even Olivia couldn't pull off such a joke. And she wouldn't. Olivia knew better than to flaunt her illusionistic ability around, especially where the Bloors could be in earshot.

"Liv—are you alright?" Emma asked hesitantly, dropping Billy's hand. "I can't see you."

Unexpectedly, a glimmer of gold sparkled in front of her eyes. The flash was nearly blinding.

"Ouch! Liv, what was that?"

"It was a weakly-attempted illusion," Olivia sighed. "Can you find me now?"

"It blinded me."

"Sorry. I'll try again." Olivia mustered her strength and created an illusion of a dreary cloud. "Oops. I tried to make it glitter. Can you see the cloud?"

"I can!" Billy seized Emma's hand and raced toward Olivia. "I can see your shiny new purple shoes, too, Liv."

"Thanks, Billy," Olivia smiled. "They're a gift from my mother."

"Help her up, Billy," Emma pleaded. "I'm afraid I can't locate her. But once you've got her in your arms, I promise I'll help you carry her through to the stairs."

"The stairs!" Olivia moaned again. "I'm not sure I'd really like to walk down that path."

Emma groaned. "Olivia, please. Billy, pay attention. Can you lift her?"

Billy eyed Olivia doubtfully. "I can try, but you'll have to help me with the dragging."

"What dragging?" Olivia snapped. "I refuse to allow myself to be dragged like a lame animal."

"We won't drag her, Billy," Emma amended quickly. "We'll just be carrying her over to the stairs, and I'll see her to her cabin. It's right next to mine, as it is."

"Alright then." With much difficulty and perseverance, Billy managed to hoist Olivia from the ground. He heaved her limp, semiconscious body over to where Emma stood.

Emma grabbed Olivia's skinny ankles and lifted her surely into the air. "Come on, Billy, just follow the light."

Stars had begun to appear when Billy and Emma, Olivia between their arms, reached the staircase.

"I do wonder, though, why the light has been left on," Emma muttered absently. Billy nodded.

"I agree. But it's our only hope now, and I don't think Olivia could create an illusion with the strength she's got left."

Emma knew Billy was being logical, but Olivia could be sneaky. Besides the fact that she was a brilliant actor, and always one for the melodrama, her best friend loved to pull pranks and play practical jokes.

"Well, let's not linger," Emma insisted. "I'll head backward down the stairs, and you can follow. That way, if I trip, it'll be easier for me to catch Liv again."

"Right," Billy said nervously, as he took a shaky step forward.

Down.

Down.

DOWN.

"Em, I'm scared."

"There's nothing to be—" Emma couldn't help uttering a soft scream. She had fallen on a missing step, and Billy had panicked.

"Emma? Are you still there? Olivia! Olivia?"

"I've still got her, Billy," Emma said apologetically. "I'm sorry; my fault entirely. The light's on; I shouldn't have missed that step. I'll try to be more careful, shall I?"

Billy huffed a sigh of relief. Something on the bottom of the stairs caught his eye.

"Em ... watch out, okay? There's something by the bottom of the staircase."

Emma nodded. The landing below appeared to be abandoned. All the students must be in bed by now, she reasoned.

She was wrong.

Emma tripped over the "thing" at the bottom of the stairs as she descended from the last step. She turned to examine the guilty object.

She nearly screamed.

She nearly dropped Olivia.

She nearly fainted.

She nearly threw up.

She nearly fell over.

She nearly cried.

She screamed. Loud.

Jacky - AAAAAAAHHH!

You - What? What?!

!!!!!

[you'll have to wait and see. no hinties.]

ps. this chapter was based on a nightmare i had two nights ago.

i didn't scream, but i was in a trauma shock for three straight hours afterward.

it just stuck there, in my head. the strangest feeling of déja vu.

much like a horror movie replaying over and over and over in your mind.... EEEE.