Chapter 3

Was it this hallway? Or hadn't I already gone this way?

Frustrated to the point of insanity, I desperately retrace my steps, trying to find cabin C62*- the one marked on my ticket. But it was nowhere to be found. I'd always been admired for my ability to quickly adapt in any situation, but I suppose the battlefield was quite different from a cruise ship.

Why can't they at least have any crewmembers to-ah!

At the far end of the hallway, a stewardess in a short white skirt and white cap is knocking on the door of another cabin. I sigh with relief and saunter up to her.

"Excuse me, ma'am," I start politely. She has her back turned to me, apparently waiting on someone inside the closed cabin door, who is stirring up quite a racket.

"Ah…yes, what is it?" She turns and smiles at me amiably, just as the door to the cabin opens.

"Was there something you needed, Katherine?" A voice drifts into the hallway from inside the room. I freeze immediately. It can't be…

"Just a moment, Captain. I've got a stray passenger here," the stewardess named Katherine replies.

I inwardly suppress a groan. Great, so much for trying to keep away from him. Within the first ten minutes aboard, I'd already managed to do the opposite.

"I-it's nothing," I say quickly, eager to get out of there. I'm already backing away as I say this.

But just then, a head pops out of the doorway. My blood runs cold as I trace the long jagged scar, the stubble on his chin, and the arrogant arch of his eyebrows with my eyes.

"My, what a surprise it is to see you, Kashim," Gauron says with mock surprise as he locks eyes with me, his shining with amusement.

"Oh, are you two acquaintances?" Katherine glances at my face, then Gauron's.

"You could say that," Gauron replies sweetly. "But I'd say we're closer than just acquaintances, wouldn't you Kashim?" He grins at me. I resist the urge to slap the grin off his face.

"O-of course," I mumble softly under my breath. Bastard.

"Well, a friend of Captain Gauron is a friend of mine." Katherine pauses. "By the way, was there something you needed earlier? I'm sorry, I was quite busy and didn't notice. You seemed quite desperate, though." The stewardess offers a concerned smile.

I snag this as a chance to escape. "Ah, I was looking for my cabin. C-62. Have you seen it?"

Confusion clouds her face. "C-62? Well that's strange…C-62 is Captain Gauron's cabin…perhaps the crew in charge of printing the tickets made a mistake…"

Gauron cuts in smoothly. "No, no. There was no mistake. I arranged it this way on purpose. You see, Kashim is my foster son."

"What the hell-" I start.

"We've been separated overseas for quite awhile now. I just wanted to get to know him better. Is that too much for you, Kashim?" Gauron turns his fake remorseful eyes on me, then on Katherine. The attendant swoons.

He's lying! Don't fall for it! I think furiously.

"How tragic…" Katherine says sadly. "Perhaps I should leave you two some time alone to get to know each other better."

No! Don't leave me here with him!

I open my mouth in protest, but Gauron, as quick as ever, replies (not forgetting his dramatic act), "I would greatly appreciate that, Katherine. Thank you for understanding. Now, Kashim, follow me. I have much to show you." He puts an arm around my shoulder and leads me into his cabin as the stewardess turns and hurriedly walks down the hallway, deep in her emotions.

As soon as we're out of earshot, I growl, "Get your filthy arm off me," violently shrugging it off before he can do it himself.

"How hurtful, Kashim. You don't treat your foster father this way." Gauron wipes away a nonexistent tear. "Papa is sorry that he left you for so long."

"You're not my father. And I'm not sharing a cabin with you."

Disgusted, I turn to leave, but then Gauron slams me against the wall, his arms on either side of my face. I wince as my head is shoved against the hard metal, sending stars across my field of vision.

"I would suggest you be a bit more cooperative, Kashim," Gauron croons softly in my ear. I shiver at the frostiness in his voice.

"D-don't tell me what to do," I say, trying to sound defiant and keep my voice steady at the same time.

"Well now, I guess I can't do that." Gauron lifts his arms from around me, raising one up to his chin in thought. A cruel grin suddenly slides across his face. "But you know, there's about two thousand people on this ship. I wonder what would happen if we accidentally caused an explosion in the engine rooms that would sink this ship…?"

"Y-y-you wouldn't!" I splutter.

"Kashim, have I ever made an empty threat? I thought you knew me better than that," Gauron shakes his head, smiling.

"You're a coward, hiding behind hostages to protect yourself. Just like that time you hijacked that airplane. Always relying on others to save your sorry ass."

Gauron just laughs at my statement. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I'm just doing it because I'm…what's the word? Incompetent, yes that was it." He pauses, still smiling. But in an instant, the smile turns into a cold one. The temperature in the room drops by fifty degrees in a matter of seconds as Gauron ponders his next words.

"Or, perhaps Kashim, I'm just doing this for the fun of it. How about that?"

Gauron smirks at the look of utter shock on my face, though inwardly, I can't say that I was too surprised.

What do you expect from a mad terrorist?

Gauron slides into a white jacket, buttons it, then places his cap onto his head. He walks past me to the door of the cabin where he stops.

"You can unpack your bags in the corner. Dinner's at seven sharp. I'll be back before then to advise you on what you'll wear, considering the fact that a Mithril dog like you would probably show up in your military uniform."

Then he strides out of the room, wearing all the confidence in the world.

*C62- This was actually the cabin number of John Jacob Astor, the richest passenger aboard the Titanic. He was lost in the sinking. (Also, if you'll notice the ticket number in the first chapter, 17754, was also his ticket number).