Authors Note: Back with another update!

I'm sorry for the delay in updating. To be honest, for the past week or so, I haven't felt much like writing.

I've recently starting coming off some medications I was on for my depression and social anxiety, and also started a new one. I'm hoping this is the only cause for the lack of writing.

Although, I do feel a bit better now that I've gotten through these few chapters. I found writing the chapters where Alicia talks about her past difficult to write, though I'm not entirely sure why.

Anyway, hopefully this was just a minor bump in the road and I'll feel better in a few days.

Hope you enjoy the update!

Chapter 45: Need You

A few hours later…

After Zak and Aaron had gotten me off the ship, seeing the front of it reminded me of the drawing, and the drawing reminded me of the propeller room, which reminded me of what I had just seen, and I had to lean over the fence along the water's edge to vomit again.

I desperately wanted to talk to Zak, but I was in such of state of shock after my vision, I couldn't speak.

He had no issues with me going back to the hotel, although I don't think the production crew were too thrilled. But with Debby Constantino on her way to help with the investigation, it basically balanced out anyway.

Since Jay and Billy hadn't started investigating yet, Zak had Jay call Ashley, who was at the hotel, to briefly explain what happened, and if she'd mind coming to pick me up.

Ashley, as usual, didn't mind at all and arrived at the dock shortly after.

I stayed wrapped up in Zak's embrace as we saw Ashley pull into the dock area with one of the SUV's.

I suddenly didn't want to leave.

Not because I wanted to continue with the investigation, I didn't even want to go back on the ship.

But I didn't want to leave Zak.

Ashley pulled up next to us as Zak led me to the SUV, and opened the passenger side door once Ashley parked.

"Hey guys…" Ashley said, her demeanour worrisome, clearly able to tell by looking at me that I was upset.

I had only stopped crying a little while ago, and my face was still red and my eyes were still swollen.

"Hey Ash…thanks for picking her up," Zak said softly, still holding me.

I don't think he wanted me to leave either.

"Would you mind staying with her when you get back to the hotel?" Zak asked.

"Already planned on it," Ashley said.

Zak smiled weakly, then looked down at me.

"Come on doll," he said softly, helping me up into the SUV, and I put my seatbelt on, in a zombie like state.

I looked at him and wanted to beg him to come with me, but again, I couldn't speak.

Zak took one of my hands in his and started stroking the top of it with his thumb.

That simply gesture calmed me, a little.

"I'll come see you as soon as I can get away after the lockdown, okay?" Zak said softly.

I simply nodded, though my mind and heart were screaming "no, come with me!".

I watched him as he leaned in and gently kissed my cheek, and then brushed some hair back out of my face.

"Go back to the hotel and try to get some sleep, I'll be there before you know it, I promise," Zak said softly again.

"Hey Zak! Debby is here!" I heard Aaron call in the distance.

Zak looked pained.

"She'll be okay Zak, I'll help her," Ashley reassured him.

I nodded in agreement.

Zak smiled weakly.

"Alright, try to take it easy doll," Zak said, before leaning in again and gently kissing my forehead.

Without really realizing it at the time, I smiled weakly at him.

This seemed to calm him a bit.

"Alright, I'll see you later," Zak said.

"See you later," Ashley replied.

Zak closed my door for me, then stepped back out of the way as Ashley pulled away.

I felt like we had just said goodbyes because we wouldn't be seeing each other again for months.

I glanced at the clock on the SUV's dash.

11:30pm.

How was I going to survive until at least 7 in the morning?

When Ashley and I had gotten back to the hotel, she brought an overnight bag over from her and Jay's room, and settled in my room with me.

I told her full out what had happened and what I had seen, feeling like she needed to know everything.

I had started to cry again, and even Ashley got a little teary eyed when I had finished the story.

She had hugged me and tried to comfort me as best as she could, but I just couldn't relax.

With fresh images of the vision in my mind again, I had run to the bathroom and vomited a third time, although at this point it was mostly bile.

After I felt my stomach had mostly settled, I had grabbed a pair of pyjamas - a black tank top with a pair of black, short shorts - and had gotten a shower and removed my makeup.

I didn't bother drying my hair, I just pulled it up into a messy bun, as I kept having moments of feeling warm and clammy, but then also feeling cold and sweaty.

I also put Zak's cross on after the shower, wanting to feel that a small part of him was with me.

I felt slightly better after showering, although still felt that gross feeling you get after having been sick.

Ashley had me drink some water, and after enough time passed to suggest I was going to keep that down, ordered in room service - two bowls of soup - for us.

She was concerned about me getting dehydrated after having gotten sick three times, and I understood her concern, but had, in no way, felt like eating.

When the soup came, I was surprised that I was able to eat more than I thought I would have been able to.

After waiting about half an hour to see if I would keep that down, which I had, Ashley and I decided to get ready for bed.

As she was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, I had started crying again. Not necessarily over the vision, just from grief over Emily and my parents in general.

Ashley sat with me again and let me cry it out.

She was such a wonderful friend to me.

Before I got into bed, I took two of my anti-anxiety medication. I put them under my tongue and they dissolved in a minute or so. They always had worked before, and they often helped me to fall asleep as well.

The medication had calmed me slightly, and had helped me fall asleep, but I only slept about and hour.

Now, I was still wide awake, staring at the clock, praying for 2am to turn into 7am.

Ashley's Point of View

I woke up with a start when I suddenly heard Alicia crying out in her sleep.

"Emily! No!"

I frowned and reached over to turn the bedside lamp on, and then sat up and turned to Ali and gently rubbed her arm.

"Ali. Ali! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

I watched as Alicia woke with a start, jumping upright so she was sitting up.

She was breathing heavily as she looked around the room with wide eyes, and I could see her face glistening with sweat.

Her eyes were red and swollen, she must have been crying in her sleep.

I reached up with one hand and gently rubbed her back.

"It's okay, you were just having a nightmare," I said softly, trying to comfort her.

I saw her eyes start watering.

"Every time I close my eyes…all I keep seeing in my head is Emily getting pulled into the propeller…it won't stop…" Alicia said quietly.

I frowned and continued rubbing her back.

Before I could speak again, she started sobbing.

"Make it stop, please make it stop…" She said, as fresh tears fell down her face.

I frowned and leaned over and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back gently for comfort.

She leaned into me and started crying, hard, against my shoulder.

I glanced at the clock over Alicia's shoulder and saw it was only 2:45am.

There was no way she could keep this up all night, she'd be sick.

I gently pulled back from Alicia a bit and turned and grabbed my cell off the nightstand.

"Who are... you calling…?" Alicia asked through her tears.

"Zak," I replied softly.

"But…we don't keep our phones with us during lockdown," Alicia said quietly.

"I'll explain after, just try to relax," I said, rubbing her back as she cried still.

"I don't want him to hear me like this…" Alicia said, before scrambling off the bed and running to the bathroom.

"Ali!-" I started, but I heard her shut the door.

I sighed quietly and hit the speed dial button for Zak's cell and waited.

Alicia's Point of View

I sat on the edge of the tub and held my head in my hands.

God…please make the pain stop…

I whimpered as I stared at the floor, sobbing and shaking.

Every time I closed my eyes I either saw Emily being pulled into the propeller, or slipping away from me in the river, in that damn river that had taken her from me.

All the pain of holding in the full story of how she'd died was hitting me full force, and I felt like I was going to explode.

But I was also suddenly terrified.

If Zak was coming to the hotel, I was about to tell him everything.

And what if I was right in my thinking, and that he would agree with me that Emily's death had been my fault?

I couldn't lose him again.

Not now…not after everything we've been through.

I let out a pained sob as I carefully lowered myself to the floor until I was sitting, and buried my face in my hands and cried.

Meanwhile…

Zak's Point of View

Aaron, Debby and I had just started investigating the first class pool area.

I had sent Billy and Jay to the cargo hold at the front of the ship, to do some new experiments we had to try out.

With Aaron and Debby's help, as well as two friends of the late Peter James, we had conducted a séance in the first class pool room to see if we could make contact with him.

We had heard a door opening, and gotten a few EVP's, but other than that, nothing major.

The entire time since Alicia had left, I had been worried about her.

I had hoped once she got back to the hotel, she'd be able to calm down and fall asleep, but I had a gut feeling that it wouldn't be that simple.

So, against my own rules, I decided to take my cell phone with me into the lockdown.

I had texted Ashley beforehand to let her know, and then put my phone on vibrate and put it in one of the pockets of my jeans.

So far, there had been no calls, so I hoped that meant Alicia was okay.

Just a few minutes ago, I had picked up a small figure on the Structured Light Camera, which maps in figures on screen if they are within view.

As I was about to start down the stairs to the main level, a blue mass had appeared on screen, forming into what looked like the figure of a young girl.

I assumed right away it was Jackie, the young girl said to frequent the first class pool area.

She had only stayed with us for a minute or so before suddenly disappearing.

I had been blown away, as we had never picked up a figure so close before, and certainly not one that took shape on camera and had mass around it.

The three of us were now on the main level of the room.

"We want to hear you sing," Aaron said into the darkness, since there were often reports of hearing Jackie singing.

As I panned the Structured Light Camera around the room, I started singing,

"Ring around the rosy,

Pockets full of posies,

Ashes, Ashes…"

I trailed off, waiting to see if Jackie would finish the song.

After a few minutes of silence, Aaron spoke up.

"I didn't like that singing either Jackie," Aaron said, laughing.

I heard Debby start laughing as well.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

I then noticed two chairs nearby, up against one wall and walked over closer to them, aiming the Structured Light Camera at them.

"Jackie, if you're here with us, can you sit in one of the chairs?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the screen of the camera.

Nothing.

Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness and fear come over me.

"Woah…" I said, blinking a few times, actually feeling my eyes watering.

"What is it?" Debby, who was standing behind me with a digital recorder, asked.

"I don't know…I just have this overwhelming feeling of sadness and fear," I replied, softly.

There was no stories to confirm the spirit of Jackie, so any emotions that came about were new evidence for us.

"What's wrong sweetheart? Why are you so sad and afraid?" I asked.

Suddenly, Aaron and Debby gasped in shock.

"Did you hear that?" Debby asked.

"It said 'Zak'!" Aaron said.

I turned and looked at the two of them in shock.

"You heard my name?" I asked.

"Yeah, a little girl's voice," Aaron replied.

I watched as Debby rewound the recorder, and then hit the play button.

After a few seconds of static, a voice came through.

"Zak…she needs you…"

"Whoa, dude!" Aaron said.

I felt confused.

Who needed me?

As Debby rewound the recorder to play the EVP again, I suddenly felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.

I pulled it out of my pocket and stared at the screen in shock.

It was Ashley calling me.

"Bro, why do you have your cell?" Aaron asked.

I held a hand up to tell him to hang on, as I answered the phone.

"Ashley? What's wrong?" I asked.

As I listened to Ashley explain Alicia's bad state, I realized we hadn't just been in contact with Jackie.

We had been in contact with Alicia's sister, Emily.