(Author's Note: it isn't often I give trigger warnings, as obnoxious as I find them, but given the sudden tone shift I felt it appropriate to give a, well, let's call it friendly warning instead. The following chapter contains somewhat graphic descriptions of violence and disturbing content- if you feel uncomfortable, please don't force yourself to read it. The chapter, while revealing some information, is non-essential. Reader discretion advised.)
The contestants were all dead and Julie killed them.
That was the dream she kept having anyway. Every night she'd wake up, beads of sweat rolling of her body, nightgown clinging to her skin as tried to make heads and tails of what was going on. It would set in, slowly. Reality. She hadn't hurt anyone. Not yet. But she was afraid she would. Sometimes, you hurt the things you loved.
She couldn't exactly point a finger to when the nightmares started, and they started minor. They started with Miri. It was just a regular challenge day, nothing out of the normal, when Julie heard a sickening crack that reverberated through her, and a scream that chilled her to the core. Miri, on the beach, holding her shoulder and sobbing, her arm bent in places arms shouldn't be bent, bones sticking out as sticky red liquid poured from holes in her skin. So vivid. So very vivid. But she woke up anyway, frightened, but Miri's arm was very much intact, the girl very much fine. So was Julie for a bit. Stress of the job- it wasn't easy, hosting a show like this, not when you had to deal with a boss like Milton. She forgot about it, and the next challenge went without a hitch. The next dream was a little bit worse.
Ella, the poor girl who had just had her world destroyed, drifting aimlessly at sea. Rain beat down on her body, her dress in tatters, hair matted to her sickly skin. Her eyes were hallowed in, lips blue, body quivering. She looked like she was suffering from hypothermia. Or worse. She didn't see the outcome that time, a merciful awakening following not long after the princess began a coughing fit.
She did see the outcome of a rock climbing challenge, though. A snapped cord sent Tyler plummeting down to the ground below. She called the medics but knew it wouldn't do any good- not much really fixed a... well, more of Tyler had been on the ground than in his head.
Worse and worse; she saw Katie impaled, watched Veronica choke to death, and looked on in horror as DJ dug into a slice of pie he made, grinning and laughing as he chewed muscles and sinew of what she hoped to god wasn't what she thought it was. When things seemed like they couldn't get any worse, they did; and they started with Lucky. She had grown a soft spot for the young man, despite his flirting. But one night, he wouldn't stop with it. Teasing and jeering, his face looking less like himself and more... more beady eyed with a long, twitching nose and large ears. His voice degraded into shrill, nails on a chalkboard squeaking, until Julie finally snapped, wrapping her hands around his neck and squeezing until those damn squeaks stopped. Until the breathing stopped. Then he just looked like himself again. Julie cried when she woke up that morning, scared and confused. What was happening to her?
They continued to escalate, until the most recent dream, everyone dead by her hand. She couldn't do that; she'd never hurt any of them. In a lot of ways, they were like her own kids. But each night, by her fault or someone else's, they died in her dreams, over and over. She was beginning to lose it. Was the pressure finally getting to her?
Sometimes, you hurt the things you loved. Sometimes, the things you loved hurt you.
She stood, when she was able, crossing her room swiftly and pulling on her bathrobe, glancing at the clock. Six in the morning. That wasn't too bad. Right when she'd be waking up, anyway. Hopefully, Priscylla would be awake, too. She walked to the intercom, scanning the buttons a moment, before finding the one that led to Priscylla's room.
"Coffe in ten, Priscylla," Julie murmured, rubbing her eyes. "Challenge today." She glanced to her bathroom, eyes lingering a moment on the shower which, at the moment, seemed like heaven. "...make that coffee in twenty. I'll see you on deck."
She released the button, stepping away and disrobing, letting her gown fall to the flower as she stepped into the shower, steam filling the room not long after. For a little while, she was able to forget about things, push her worries and fears to the back of her skull as she focused on petty things. What to eat for breakfast that morning. What sort of movies she was missing back home. If she should get a cat to liven things up a bit- or would that be two cats, then three as she slowly became the crazy cat lady? But those thoughts couldn't last forever . It seemed like the minute she turned the shower off, going about getting dressed, one by one those fears and doubts began to creep back. She sighed, looking herself in the mirror as she buttoned up her blouse. She'd deal with it, she supposed. Story of her life.
She finished dressing, slipping on her heels, then went clacking down the empty hallway. No one else but her and the crew were awake- well, just her and Priscylla, likely. Maybe DJ- the young chef usually getting a head start on breakfast. She headed for the stairs, only accompanied by her footfalls and the rats.
She froze. Rats? There shouldn't be any on the ship. With all the crew diligently cleaning and keeping an eye on things, she'd know if there were. And yet, there they stood, staring at her with blood red, glistening eyes. She blinked, and they were gone.
"I'm going crazy," she told herself, shaking her head as she moved toward the stairs, faster, more afraid. "Or I'm so sleep deprived I'm actually hallucinating. Should never have signed up for this. Should have stayed in beauty school. Or anything else."
Sometimes the things you love hurt you, a voice, cold and quiet told her. She didn't know where it came from. She didn't like it.
The cold sea air came as a relief when she finally clambered on deck, seagulls soaring overhead. Priscylla waited by the stairs, a cup of coffee in hand as she eyed Julie... analytically, almost. It made her uncomfortable.
"Priscylla. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were checking me out," Julie remarked dryly, taking the cup of coffee without a thank you.
"I am," Priscylla answered simply. "You look sick. Catching something?"
"No, I'll be fine," the hostess replied, sipping the bitter drink. "Didn't get much sleep last night."
"It's probably all the disgusting coffee you put in your body," Priscylla giggled, eyes moving to the mug Julie held. "You really should switch to tea. It'll help you relax more. I know it helps me."
"Mm. Duly noted." Julie took a large gulp to emphasize her disagreement. Is everyone setting up on the beach for today's challenge?"
"Yes. They started work a little over an hour ago," Priscylla hummed, eyes staring directly into hers. "It'll be ready soon."
"Good. Then I'll wake everyone up," Julie murmured, turning to head back down stairs.
"Morning challenge? That isn't like you," Priscylla commented, watching as she turned.
"Change of pace. Keep the contestants on their toes," Julie lied, not looking back as she headed downstairs. The truth of the matter was Julie wanted it done early, so she could nap; and that she needed any excuse to get away from Priscylla. She had thought the fresh air would do her some good, but the intern's presence ruined it for her.
She ducked back into the relative sanctuary of her room, making a beeline for the intercom. She stood in front of it a moment, taking a breath, before reaching out and pressing the button.
"Attention contestants- this is your early morning wake up call. Our challenge will be shortly. So come up for breakfast and-"
As she spoke, Julie looked down at her mug of coffee. And saw two beady eyes staring back at her. She let out a scream, staggering back and dropping the cup to the floor, warm liquid spilling everywhere as it shattered almost instantly. She stared down, hands covering her mouth as she shook, before kneeling down to pick up the pieces. No rat. But she saw it- she saw it- in the cup. She wasn't that far gone. No way.
She only screamed again, louder when a second pair of hands joined her in cleaning, Priscylla kneeling down with a wide grin on her face.
"Jesus fuc- where did you come from?" Julie demanded, nearly falling back as she scrambled to get away.
Priscylla only giggled, continuing to clean- not looking at her. "I'm your intern, aren't I?" She answered. "Isn't this what I do?"
"That doesn't answer my... I didn't hear..." Julie breathed, heart pounding.
Another giggle. Priscylla finished gathering the shards into her hands, standing, and turning for the door. "I'll be back with a rag, don't worry. And... shall I fetch some tea, as well?" Priscylla froze, slowly turning on her feet, kneeling back down, face to face with Julie. She reached out a cold, wet hand, placing it on the woman's cheek, gently running a thumb over her lips. Julie stared into her eyes, hypnotized, before shoving her hand away, staggering to her feet.
"Get off of me!"
Priscylla slowly stood, giving that same damned innocent giggle. "I'm only trying to help." She turned again, swiftly striding toward the door. "Some teas work wonders with nightmares, you know."
Julie stood, feet frozen to the ground as she watched the intern disappear from the doorway. There was only one real nightmare on the ship, she realized. And she had to do something about it.