***"Greetings to our lucky three hundred and seventy four!! I'm happy to inform you that the Beta cruise ship is now open for boarding! Please be orderly and line up at the boarding gates to submit your invitations and get onboard for the best weekend of your lives!! Sponsored by Lonside Inc."***
"Or the last...", Alrick mumbled to himself, resulting in a punch in the arm from Eleanor.
"You're bad luck, come on let's go", she said before happily pulling him along despite all the luggage he was carrying.
"Don't pull me dammit!", he cursed as she continued to pull him along anyways.
After they both checked in, they had to split up for a while to their respective families. Alrick and his family settled in a four bedroom suite with two huge bathrooms, a living room, mini bar and a beautiful spacious balcony.
"This is awesome!!", his two little brothers; Cody, Max and Alvin said as they ran around the suite. His two older sisters walked in after, their natural instincts on high as they began taking selfies and vlogging like they always did.
Barely any cash was made from the vlogs though, he honestly saw it as a waste of time.
His Mom and Dad walked in, dazzled by the beauty of the suite. No one paid attention to Alrick who was carrying all their bags. "Can I get a little help here??", he finally asked, all gazes falling on him.
"Uhmm... I'm pregnant", his mom said as she rubbed her belly.
"Uhh... someone has to take care of your mom", his dad said as he held her shoulders gently.
"I just had my nails done, I'll ruin it if I do", the oldest, Mia said as she showed off her nails.
"I don't want to", Chloe said not looking away from her phone once like he wasn't anything important. He didn't even get a reply from the triplets who just ran off to play. The family just went on with their things, leaving him alone with all their luggage, again.
"Why did they even pack so much stuff? So damn ungrateful", he mumbled to himself as he finished bringing the bags in. He would have used a valet but it seems like they all avoided him like a plague.
He wondered why his poor family kept having kids, but he ended up being the one doing everything most of the time. He was considering giving his parents a lecture on family planning.
Later they were treated to an extravagant lunch and left to do whatever they wanted till evening. Alrick left the room to meet up with Eleanor at the lobby like they had planned earlier. He wore a grey polo shirt and white shorts paired with grey sneakers and white socks, his black hair messy as always. He was tall, handsome and had a nice build for a 17 year old.
He was a well known green eyed hottie that could make any girl squeal just by looking at him but sadly, no girl was in sight. The problem was the scowl he had on for most of the time that scared them off, not to mention his horrible attitude and the raw words he let out on a minute basis.
All the girls in his community stayed far away and he liked it that way, he was the type to only hang out with a few people. He would never bother with people he didn't like or care about.
He arrived at the lobby and looked round a bit until he spotted a blonde, brown eyed Eleanor in a beige sundress and white sandals. She was petite and very pretty, resembling a porcelain doll. But alas, this angelic beauty hid a vicious tongue and vile temper underneath and tended to get violent when she got really angry.
"Where the heck have you been? I've been waiting for a solid twenty minutes, are you planning on carrying me?", she crossed her arms and gave a sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Chill, I had my own stuff to do, Aren't the guys here yet?", he was referring to his other friends, Tommy and Alex.
"Yeah, they're over at the food court", she pointed in their direction and they soon headed over there. The guys hit shoulders before settling down to eat.
"Aren't you guys worried about this cruise?", he asked while he played with some fries.
"Dude, don't ruin this for me! I'm finally living my life!", Tommy said as he moved his dreads to the side, eating his fifth burger.
"Yeah man, loosen up a bit. Learn to live a little", Alex said with a full mouth while eating a burger as well.
"I already told the mule to get off the idea and enjoy himself but I guess it's difficult for his brain to comprehend", she said, also munching on a burger.
"Stop calling me that and I have every right to be worried for my safety", he scoffed, finally putting the fries in his mouth, "But fine, I won't talk about it again"
"Atta boy!", His friends cheered when he finally decided to stop being a pessimistic pain in the behind and they finally began to enjoy the cruise.
Soon it was evening, and everyone had to dress nicely as the host had invited them all to a celebratory banquet. The ship buzzed with excitement as people moved through the halls, smoothing their clothes and helping one another look presentable for what was promised to be a grand affair.
Everyone wore their best outfits—some flashy, some elegant, some gaudy with sequins and mismatched accessories—but all carried the same eager glint in their eyes, putting effort into looking their best for their first ever lavish party. The four friends entered the hall in style, they were a good looking bunch and they knew it.
The banquet was already in full swing by the time they arrived. Music filled the air, a mix of upbeat tunes and soft jazz flowing through the grand hall. The lights glittered overhead like stars, and the buffet tables overflowed with food—roasted meats, brightly colored desserts, exotic fruits—all you could eat, all too good to be true.
Chatter echoed from every corner of the room as people danced, gorged themselves, and laughed without restraint. It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity, and no one wanted to waste a second. They made sure to eat their fill, dance to their heart's content, and for the first time in a long time, forget the burdens of their everyday lives.
Children ran around blowing bubbles from plastic wands, laughing as the orbs shimmered and floated above their heads. Others played with toy guns, hiding behind pillars and potted plants. The women gathered around tables playing cards and gossiping with low voices and knowing smirks.
The men, many of them now red-faced and wobbling slightly, clustered around the pool tables, half-drunk and hollering every time a shot missed or landed. No matter how nicely they were dressed, the chaos they caused made the place feel less like a luxury banquet and more like a neighborhood birthday party gone wild.
Alrick and his friends just remained in a corner, laughing at the people making a joke out of themselves.
Once everyone had had their fill, the doors opened and waiters marched into the hall pushing carts or carrying trays filled with ice cream in crystal goblets, it was a beautiful presentation.
They were confused as they had already had dessert but no one in their right minds would refuse Ice cream. They were about to eat when the sound of trumpets filled the hall.
Everyone froze forgetting their ice cream, attention snapping toward the main entrance where the doors had once again opened. Their eyes were drawn to the figure who stepped into the hall.
It was an impossibly beautiful woman.
She had platinum blonde hair that shimmered like liquid starlight and sharp grey eyes that gleamed with intelligence and something colder, something harder. She wore a silver-blue dress, covered in tiny crystals that sparkled with every step she took.
It clung to her perfectly, every movement measured and graceful. Her presence alone shifted the atmosphere from festive to reverent. It was as if an angel had descended—or perhaps something that merely wore an angel's skin.
She stopped in the middle of the hall and smiled at everyone, "Good evening beloved guests, I hope you're all enjoying your stay so far. Regardless, just know that this is only the beginning!!", she smiled beautifully causing everyone to be enchanted.
Alrick on the other hand felt something was seriously off with her, the smile felt unsettling, disturbing. Not that she wasn't his type...well she wasn't, he didn't really find her enchanting or dazzling in the slightest, his gaze left her and looked around the hall.
His eyes narrowed when he noticed the waiters quietly sealing the exits shut, "Guys, something's seriously wrong here", he said, pulling their attention away from the woman.
"Not this again dude, keep your paranoia away for now. I'm trying to hear the pretty lady speak", Tommy said, still clearly gawking.
"Nuts for brains", Eleanor spat at Tommy before looking around the hall as well, "Actually... I'm going to agree with Alrick on this one... Some weird stuff is about to go down", her words knocked the two back to their senses.
Before they could understand more, the pretty lady clinked her glass with a fork grabbing their attention. "I have a surprise for all you wretches!!", her voice remained surprisingly sweet but her words were filled with venom bringing everyone back to reality.
"You all... ARE GOING TO DIE!!", she laughed as her face became sinister and evil. The waiters all around the hall raised their guns towards the crowd causing people to scream and huddle up towards each other.