Chapter 2: We didn't do anything did we?

Dreams have always been an enigma to me. I’m no stranger to bad dreams and good dreams, while rare, are always a bonus. But in all seriousness, I’m the type of person that doesn’t remember about 90 percent of that mysterious realm.

But I think that’s the same for everyone else, so what makes me so special?

I’ve been awake for awhile now, but the line between dreams and reality is too blurry for me to have my sense properly tuned. However, it doesn’t take long for the gears of my mind to begin their twisted morning ritual of reminding me that I have, most likely, a busy shift at the studio.

Look on the bright side: You just have to deal with four big shots and then you have a day off. Besides, you have time to kill before work, not to mention having a beautiful girl hugging you under sheets is always a bonus…

The feeling of a warm and firm embrace is not lost on me as my hazy eyes are able to gaze upon a woman that looks way out of my league. Her soft oval face mixes beautifully with sharp amber red eyes and creamy bronze skin. Some of her long raven black hair brushes up against shoulder, feeling a little rough but nowhere near uncomfortable.

She looks familiar… wonder where I saw her before….

Our eyes meet, for mere seconds, before the mere sight of a gorgeous chick causes my primal male mind to be infested with abnormal delta waves, almost letting me drift off.

Pure serenity…

How much time has passed since discovering myself being embraced? Hours? Seconds? It definitely feels like both, which sounds dumb, but time is just as tricky and mysterious as dreams in their own special way.

Certainly is a nice one-eighty compared to my ‘stranded in the middle of the ocean’ dream. Definitely not one of the best dreams thrown at me.

My ears pick up an unsettling sound of what I can only imagine as a dying moan howling through the walls. Ominous as it is, I’m sure the neighbors upstairs are in good hands.

That’s when gravity strikes without warning, nearly taking my weary self to roll back. An alarmed cry is evicted from my throat, knowing that physics is about to give me a rude awakening.

Thankfully, guardian angels do exist. Turns out that sanctuary of a hug tightens around me, almost like a python doing its trademark move of strangling my body.

Well that’s way to fully wake up!

Adrenaline wastes no time striking every fiber of my being, nearly causing me to wake up! I can only hypothesize that it’s an earthquake, which should be impossible since I have the rare honor living in the Southeast Pacific. Tsunamis are more likely, and, again, impossible based on where I live.

Fortunately, my idiocy is short-lived as I there is no violent rumbling of the earth beneath my butt, just a few hard rocks nearly swaying my body in whatever direction it desires.

Almost like… I’m on a ship…

I can no longer subconsciously ignore the bizarre image of what my eyes painted for me: A dimly lit unassuming closed off room with a familiar vibe to it rather than my safe cocoon of an apartment.

And the more I recall my surroundings, the more I realize that I’m not here for my own safety.

Which makes this embrace all the more awkward, now. At least freezing to death is off the table, thanks to the blanket and body heat I’ve been blessed with.

Body heat… and a blanket…

Please tell me she’s not naked!

Given the amount of bare physical contact I’m feeling against my body, its safe to assume that this woman has taken donating body heat to the highest level!

This is where things go from awkward to downright terrifying!

Why do I get the feeling she didn’t do this willingly? Oh crap… now I wish I was back in the ocean…

My desire to wriggle away from her and huddle up in whatever corner is countermanded by every muscle withing me petrifying my unlucky butt on the spot.

As much as I hate to admit this, I’m at the complete mercy of this woman. And to make matters worse, heart pounding roleplay is out of the question.

“Rise and shine.” No harsh tone is detected in her voice, just a discreet flirtatious flow that sounds really ominous.

I’m not surprised if she doesn’t notice my nod, given I don’t put in much of an effort to respond to her.

Any warmth flowing into me is disrupted as my captor and the blanket withdraw with a sudden gush of wind produced by the flopping rough fabric.

My peripheral vision captures her wrapping herself in the blanket, and mustering what courage I have, my chin arches up to catch a glimpse of her.

Although she has traded her birthday suit with a rugged makeshift robe, it might be difficult to pay attention to what she has in store for me given that I might be developing a lewd affection for well-tone slender legs as well as rumps.

I think I now know how I want to go out. Jeez why are hormones a thing?

“And you seem to be doing much better.” Her eyes narrow, like she’s waiting for an answer. “Well, are you?”

“Yes, Y-yeah!” That’s all my mouth could force out, but like any newcomer summoned to another world, there are questions I want answered.

Where am I? How did I end up in the sea? Who’s this body I’m inheriting? Why am I here? Are these pirates? And most importantly, what happens now?

Do I even want to know the answer to that one? I get the feeling if I do ask that, my chances of not becoming shark food will get slimmer.

The expression she wears is not openly hostile, and I can’t help but feel there’s a form of… curiosity? Confusion? I don’t know, reading people, let alone ladies, has never been my forte.

Don’t relax yet, dude. She doesn’t look like she’s letting you off the hook.

As her piercing eyes stare into my soul, I feel she even has the power to freeze time itself. And given that this is another world, I wouldn’t rule that broken power out.

Not to mention her aura itself, as frightening as it is, it brings an odd sense of power and clarity. This must be what to feels like to be in the presence of someone who likes to take charge and people wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Aww really? Not even a thank you?” Time is released by her suave words. “Everyone aboard was convinced that throwing you overboard would be a waste. Not so sure if that’s a good idea anymore considering how much of a spoiled brat our guest is.”

Naturally, I can’t help but feel insulted by such harsh words, but I think I’ve grown wise enough to know that getting into a shouting fest with others does not do me any favors. Especially after that subtle threat masked as an act of resentful goodwill.

On the other hand…

Madam, do you know how old I REALLY am?! Who’re you calling a spoiled brat you… nineteen, twenty something-year-old… punk!

Somehow, that verbal jab to my gut unlocks a small ounce of courage, because the first question out my mouth sounds bolder than I intended it to be.

“Then… what will happen to me?”

My younger effeminate voice serves as a good reminder that I am now in a more youthful body.

Her brows narrow. “That all depends on if you can carry your own weight.”

Oh boy… manual labor… my favorite…

I don’t even try to hide my grimaced countenance, and it takes every amount of willpower to not blurt out a snarky retort.

Before I can even ask what sort of work I’ll be doing, my smoking warden swirls away towards the door and I can feel my cheeks flushing seeing the blanket is barely shrouding a region that definitely causes my head to turn.

She didn’t seem to mind, though. Although it’s most likely that she doesn’t care what I think and if I’m out of line with her, she’ll rightfully have me sink to the darkest depths with an anchor wrapped around my ankle.

Fear really is a great motivator.

After casting aside that excruciating scenario, I decide to return my attention to the woman about to depart out of my little piece of purgatory.

Only…

“These are for you!” Her throw comes without warning and my clumsy reflexes cause me to drop one of two of what turns out to be my new clothes.

Gee… I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since they’re no washing machines in this world… still, couldn’t they be less scratchy please?

An unsettling giggle follows. “Try to at least hide the goods. Don’t want to scar my poor darlings to the point of them murdering you, do we?”

Well look on the bright side, at least I have a bodyguard watching over me.

I half expected her allow me at least the basic courtesy of privacy, but her hard glare reminds me that even in this world, prisoners do not have any rights.

The clothes feel a little loose, and a little itchy, but at least I’m not chattering my teeth like a woodpecker, so it’s the small things that count.

“Well, come on! Don’t be shy.” I can tell she’s teasing me with that curling finger. “They won’t bite unless I tell them to.”

I don’t like being locked up in a closed off room as much as the any sane person, but every step I muster towards the door leaves a rather nostalgic sense of anxiety strangling my chest from the inside.

Just like being thrown to the wolves on my ever job in retail.

So, obviously, the femme fatale keeping me under her spell, is most likely going to barely cover the basics of the menial job I’ll be performing, before leaving me at the mercy of trying to figure it out for myself!

Just because I’m a fan of admirals and ships doesn’t mean I know the how to fix one!

Then again, and this is just me throwing spitballs, its more likely she’ll use this as an excuse to make me walk to plank for incompetence.

Clever player…

At this point, I’m preparing for the eventuality of that grim fate and trying to strategize some plan to counter it.

“One more thing.”

Her smooth voice is fluidly sync with her finger paralyzing me by my chin.

So, this is what fear and bliss feels like!

“It’s been a rough few days for us. A lot of fighting, running, and stealing… my friends are really REALLY tired and would just love a good distraction. You see where I’m going with this?”

I respond with a nervous gulp and a meek nod.

A low hum follows. “Well, well… you’re catching on quick.” My throat stings as her finger digs deeper, threatening to pierce the skin. “So let me give you a little bit of advice if you value your life: be a good boy, swallow your pride, and do as your DAMN TOLD!”

I’ve lost a little bit of my pride the second she releases me from her thin hold and turn away to open the door. I couldn’t even mumble something snarky.

I quickly conclude that is a smart move.

Her hand barely nudges the door open, squeaking just for a second.

She turns to me at a crisp speed and instructs me in a sing-song voice, all while twirling my random turtle necklace around her finger, “Stay close then.”