Dec 12, 2022, Monday, 10:15 P.M.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx0p80nngM
Christmas Boat Parade, Newport Beach. Many boats were touring all around the island on the body of water surrounding it. It was dark and cold. Clouds filled the night sky while the moon peeked from behind one cloud, there’s barely enough light to illuminate the pitch-black, motionless waters. One particular boat portrayed a shining red eastern water dragon cascading down to the water while the green, red, and white Christmas lights decorated the side of the boat threw light upon the smiling faces of the children who were looking at the other boats lively decorated with lights on the water with awe.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeSE3BAIpv
The children’s noses were red from the cold yet they couldn’t care less. The houses, adorned with all sorts of lights and balloons, distracted the children from the freezing breeze the ocean delivered to their red cheeks and frozen fingertips. While the children were engrossed in the Christmas display, the adults listened to the guide’s voice through the speaker, “A good decision you guys made to ride on Newport’s pride, Amphitrite! Our services certainly will not let you down!” There was a round of applause to show appreciation to the staff, then the guide sneakily added, “Though I can’t say if the boat will!” the remark was greeted with playful ‘Oh!’’s and laughter.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOnuBVZ3Wc
The boat made one quick round around the island then it was time for them to come to a close. The guide cracked jokes for a full hour and both the guide and the people can’t get enough. The guide said too much when his colleague nudged him, so he said, “Ehehehe… Ok! So, if you look right,” there was silence from the speaker while the people on the left scrambled to the other side to take a look, “well, as you can see, there’s nothing! Aha, I got y’all! And that concludes tonight’s tour! Thank you for riding with us!” A few giggles erupted from the audience.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoVIpm24ND
If there were people with careful attention to detail and keen eyes who fell for the guide’s trick and looked right, they would notice a slight disturbance in the black water. Air bubbles rose to the surface, popping once exposed, and no one noticed…
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBy0clCPPL
Under the surface of the ocean’s dark abyss…
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZpbvFkKKR
A man was slowly sinking to the bottom of the ocean. He wore a drenched button-up white blouse under a trench coat. His hair black as the night sky. His long eyelashes curtained his empty eyes. Water began to fill his lungs. He stopped fighting long ago. His consciousness slowly drifted away. The ice-cold water continued to sting his skin even as he was on death’s door. While at the surface, on the pier, people merrily ate and drank, not aware of the man’s mental shouts for help muffled by the suffocating pressure of the water. No one paid attention until his body sunk to almost the bottom of the sea.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WLIUFoVwc
Out of his pocket slid out a small golden, gleaming round object. It was heavier though considerably smaller than him and sank faster. Inside the ring was engraved,
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ29ypPerd
Fidelis Usque Ad Mortem
Chapter One:
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEoPUGhtBY
The chilling melody overflowed from Kieran’s speaker. The music filled the room as he cleared his mind, laying lazily on the sofa. Eyes tightly closed. Eyebrows knit together. He was laying upside down on the couch. His feet up the back, his head almost dropping to the floor. The curtains had a slight opening, letting in a little bit of sunshine which shone down on his face. His eyelashes were so long that they cast a shadow. He had soft but sharp facial features. When smiling, one would instantly be entranced upon seeing his thin, red lips slightly curling upwards, showing the faint dimples on his delicate jade-white skin, giving one a soft feeling. But right now, he was frowning, thinking deeply about something. One wouldn’t notice the gentleness he usually harbours around people. He gave off a faint sense of someone who is intimidating and serious. Someone who rarely smiles. His nose bridge was strong, straight, and sharp.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvTqz78msS
His dark, soft hair drooped down to the ground. Then, his eyes shot open, revealing a pair of clear eyes like water, dark like the night sky with stars scattered across. He sat up quickly on the couch and combed back his hair with his fingers, showing his forehead. He drew a long sigh before collapsing on the couch once more.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwDoeVdklh
“I can’t think of anything. I’m done.” He whispered to himself. He rolled too far then fell to the carpeted floor with a thud. A figure stood over him. Quite real but quite not. The sunlight went through the figure’s translucent body. The strange shadow knelt down and tried to smack Kieran’s cheeks with its hands but it went through like air. Kieran felt an uncomfortable chill fill his veins. He quickly stood up and faced the figure, “What was that?!” he cried, holding his palm to his cheeks to warm himself. The figure looked up at him, “You’re going to stress Addison out if you don’t finish this one chapter,” said the ghost.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu5hXq4pg4
Kieran walked over to his computer and sat down on his chair. He opened his laptop then proceeded to stare at the blank screen. The deadline is two days from now yet he still has not started on a single chapter. Addison, his manager, editor, publisher and friend calls every day to persuade him to write, “Just a few more chapters.” His fiction novel has a total of 9 chapters and is nearing the end. His novel followed the popularity of his other books which were the talk of the media for three years. Said novels remained on The Board after being nominated by the public for four consecutive years. His new novel, “The Stars Shall Dance” was a short, ongoing fictional story. There were only about 3 chapters left yet Kieran cannot find the motivation to continue his work. It’s 2022. No one cares if he doesn’t upload the chapter anymore.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2OE1y0k8V
