As they strode across the deck, people scattered amid the crowds peered at them, their heads turning as the two teenagers passed. A hooded lurker snuck around some nearby cabins, the twinkle of his golden eyes catching Niko’s attention as they turned the corner. Niko pulled the hat over his eyes, gripping the strap of his backpack. Man, is it too late swim back? Feels like everyone’s out to get me!

Just then, a couple security patrols rushed across the deck, shooing wandering tourists from their paths. “Excuse us! We’ve got a situation! Everyone clear!”

Alia and Niko quickly turned around. “What’s all that about?” she said.

Niko’s lip stiffened. “I think we found my friends!”

They dashed through the broken crowds and stood behind a circle of onlookers. In the center, two groups stood, a married couple on one side, and Amali and Kaffron on the other. The two guards stood between them, their arms held out. “Sir, are these the people in question?” the guard asked.

“Yeah, I turn my back for a minute, and these two hooligans make off with all our food!” the man exclaimed, shaking his fist. He gestured to the tables and sun chairs beyond them, one of them emptied and cluttered.

“Hey, you can’t prove we did anything,” Kaffron said, discreetly wiping some crumbs from his face. “Besides, I was over there playin’ cornhole with our friends.”

The guard held up his hand. “Ma’am, did you see them actually take anything from your table?”

The mid-thirties woman pulled off her sunglasses. “Last thing I saw, this woman was walking by our table, then that—noise went off, and we had to make sure our room was safe. When we came back, our things were gone.”

“Hey, I was doing the same thing you were!” Amali said. “Someone could’ve stolen our stuff!”

The other guard approached her and Kaffron. “Look, we’re going to have to search you two.”

“Fine, we got nothin’ to hide.”

She and Kaffron stood against the walls while the guards patted them down.

“I’m afraid they’ve got nothing on them. Look folks, until we get some hard evidence, we really can’t prove they stole anything. Give us your cabin number and we’ll have someone search the floor.”

“Unbelievable! Stay away from us, you damn freeloaders! Or I’ll make sure you spend the rest of this cruise on lockdown!” She pulled her curly hair back, her heels stomping along the planks. “Come on, honey. We’ve got better things to do.”

The husband glared at Amali and Kaffron, sticking the cigar back in his mouth while hiking up his silk pants. “I find out it was you two, you’ll wish you were in jail.”

Amali and Kaffron looked to one another, then to the guards.

“We apologize for the commotion, but please, don’t give us reason to have to approach you again. Please, enjoy the rest of your cruise,” the guard said.

“Hey, you’re just doin’ you jobs,” Amali said, folding her arms. She waved them off, smirking as they walked away. “And we’re just doin’ ours.”

Kaffron rubbed her shoulders, and as the commotion died down, Niko and Alia slowly came over. “Guys, what the heck was that about?” he said.

“Phh, you heard ‘em, we had nothin’ to do with it!”

“I dunno, they were pretty peeved,” Niko said.

Amali sniggered. “Oh yeah? Wait’ll they see their wallet and purse are gone.”

Niko gasped. “You didn’t…man, you tell me not to stick out?”

Kaffron winked at Amali. “The old switcheroo. Two heads are better than one.”

Alia stepped behind Niko. “You mean you broke into their room? How could you?”

“Hey, if we told you how, we’d be out of a job! Who are you, anyway?”

“Guys, this is Alia. We met back in Senigot City,” Niko replied.

Kaffron stepped closer, his eyes practically undressing Alia as he ogled her legs. “Well welcome aboard, sweetheart.” He held out his hand.

She hesitantly shook Kaffron’s hand. “Niko, these are your friends?”

“Wow, eh, some grip you got there,” Kaffron said, licking his lower lip.

“Uh-huh…I can break nuts with my bare hands,” Alia said, cracking her knuckles.

Kaffron held a finger to his lip. “Ooh, damn—Niko, I think you found that hidden treasure!”

Alia sneered at him, and turned away. Niko hesitantly stepped between them. “That’s Kaffron, and over there’s Amali. Come say hi.”

Amali confronted Alia. “Are you entering the contest?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alia said, crossing her arms.

“You look more like the cheerleader type,” Amali said, turning her back to Alia.

“Geez, you’re both girls, can’t y’all find somethin’ to talk about?” Niko said, shrugging.

“Fine, let me know when one shows up,” Alia retorted. “I don’t associate with thugs.”

Amali stomped her foot down and brushed Kaffron aside. “What’d you say?”

“I’m not sure where you came from, but don’t think you can walk all over me,” Alia said.

Amali stood in front of Alia, crinkling her nose as she observed her. She calmly stepped beside Alia, her eyelids lowering. “Of course, you’re obviously a big girl who can take care of herself.” Amali slinked behind Alia and stopped, then pulled a little cloth sack from behind her back, jingling it in Alia’s ear. Alia quickly turned around. “Clearly we’re no match for you.” Amali tossed the sack of money back at Alia.

“When did you…?” Alia said as she caught the bag.

Amali rolled her eyes. “And I thought Niko was naive.” She strolled past Alia toward the lower levels.

Niko slouched. “Man, I thought she woulda changed a little.”

Kaffron slugged his shoulder. “I dunno, kid, first time she’s ever given something back! I’m goin’ to get some sleep.” He ran along the deck to rejoin Amali.

“I’ll see ya in a couple minutes,” Niko responded. He turned back to Alia, rubbing his neck. “Sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t think they’d be that rough on ya!”

“Hey, I can’t tell you who you’re allowed to be friends with,” Alia said, playing with her black wrist cuffs. “But I’d ditch them if I were you. They’re trouble.”

“Yeah, I wish they wouldn’t do that stuff, either, but they’re fun to hang with.”

Alia stepped closer. “You know, there’s no rule that says you have to stay with them.”

“What do you mean?”

She smiled and gently slapped Niko’s cheek. “I’ll let you figure that out. Goodnight.” She waved her fingers at him and strutted down the deck toward the cabins.

Niko touched his cheek and watched her walk away. “Goodnight…”

* * * * *

Muffled footsteps in the cramped bunk halls that morning shook Niko from slumber. He stretched his arm, accidentally banging it against the wall. “Ow…what’s all that racket?” He rolled off the bottom bunk and trudged down the narrow hall to the bathroom. Upon turning on the light he found a large insect perched on the wall. His body froze while a warm stream of urine trickled down his leg. The hideous, brown beetle wriggled its antennae and crept down the side of the wall. Niko jumped back, bashing his face into the door. As the fuzzy critter crawled up Niko’s foot, he thrashed his leg and scurried back out the doorway, shuddering. “Man, that guy’s lettin’ those things loose down here? Scared the piss right outta me.” Niko slung the door open and heard a sharp screeching noise from the other side. Upon entering, he realized that he’d knocked Alia on the floor. “Oh man, sorry ‘bout that,” he said, helping her up.

“Don’t worry about it. I heard someone screaming and it woke me up.”

“Sorry, that was me; had a little accident in the bathroom!”

She glanced down at his damp shorts. “I can see.”

“Huh? Ah, crap.” He yanked his shirt over his groin to cover the stain.

“So what happened exactly?”

“There’s a nasty lookin’ bug creepin’ around in there! Scared the heck outta me!” Niko said, still cringing.

Alia’s face wrinkled. “Eww, thanks for the heads up.”

Amid the commotion, Amali woke up. She climbed down the small ladder and tiredly brushed past them. “Hey Niko, where’s the bathroom?”

“Down the hall on the right, but I wouldn’t—”

“Dam’s gonna burst, kid! Shove over!”

Amali stumbled through the door and he turned back to Alia. “Today’s the day,” he said excitedly.

Alia dressed herself while they talked and Niko walked over to the bed, unfurling his tattered green shirt. While he got dressed, Alia rummaged through the small refrigerator. Kaffron hunched over the bed, grunting as his eyes pried open. His wooly hair stuck out like it’d been struck by lightning.

“Mornin’, sunshine,” said Niko.

Kaffron half-smiled and lazily held up his hand. “Big day, kid! You ready for this?”

Alia walked over to him. “Thirsty?” She handed them both a glass of orange juice.

“Hey, thanks,” Niko said.

“Thanks, toots,” Kaffron said. “Lemme guess, extra poison for me?”

“Don’t tempt me. Ya know, I might have a hairbrush in my bag,” Alia said.

“For what?” asked Kaffron.

She sat down, rolling her eyes. “No reason.”

An intense shriek broke the cozy silence, startling them. Kaffron flinched, sloshing the juice over his bare chest. “Shit, I’m awake now! Was that Amali? What’s buggin’ her this time?”

“Beats the hell outta me,” Niko replied.

Amali dove through the door and hit the floor, her face as pale as a ghost’s.

“Ya know, I think a bed’s more comfy,” Niko said.

Amali scrambled to her feet and smacked his arm. “Hush up, twerp. There’s a giant bug in the bathroom that coulda had me for breakfast! Make sure they ain’t crawlin’ on me.”

Alia gently ran her hands through Amali’s hair. “Well, the fearless redhead has a weakness after all,” she teased.

“Hey, when they’re big enough to hitch a ride on, that’s when I got a problem,” Amali retorted.

Alia giggled as Niko walked back over to the group. “So besides Amali, what else they got for breakfast?” The group walked out of the room and headed for the main deck. As they emerged through the doors, they found a few of the other passengers meandering around. He flagged down a wandering security guard.

“Hi, good morning to you. Can I help you?” the man asked.

“Good morning. How close are we to Gundul Island?” Niko asked.

“Captain says we should be reaching it within an hour.”

Niko regrouped with the others. “Hey guys, we’re almost there! Should be like, another hour.”

“Good, ‘bout time. Let’s grab our stuff,” Amali said. She and Kaffron walked back down to the cabins.

Niko and Alia waited by the ship’s edge, watching the sunrise. They huddled together to ward off the bitter morning chill.

“Had a feeling I’d run into you again,” she said.

“Lucky guess,” Niko said.

“It’s the hat, you know.”

Niko snorted. “No way.”

“Arugian believe gifts can bring people together. It’s like a little part of them is always with you.” She smiled at him.

Niko fumbled his arms. “More fairy tale stuff…Hey Alia, I was thinkin’…”

“About what?”

“This contest. I’m pretty nervous.”

Alia patted his back. “How come? If anything it’ll be exciting! The guide said it’s just part of the festival. It’ll be an adventure—that’s what you want, right?”

Niko leaned off the rail. “Phh, yeah, you’re right! Guess I’m just worked up. Hey, show me some fightin’ moves!”

Alia twirled around him and peered over her shoulder, her skirt flaps falling over her hips. “You think you can handle it?”

Niko pounded his chest. “Bring it on!”

The teenagers’ laughter filled the air while they rough-housed around the deck.

“Attention, all passengers, this is your captain. We are approaching Gundul Island, and we will dock in roughly ten minutes. Have your personal belongings ready to depart.”

Kaffron and Amali exited the cabins, followed by a few other tourists. They searched for the others and found them sitting at a table on the deck.

“Looks like this is it,” Kaffron said. “Huh, looks like you guys are gettin’ pretty cozy there!”

“Dude, there’s some lady givin’ out free doughnuts!” Niko said, his mouth streaked with chocolate glaze and a doughnut in each hand.

“See, he’s clueless,” Amali said.

Kaffron leaned nosily over his shoulder and grabbed a doughnut, scrunching Niko’s upper body with his brawny arm. “Kaff, what’re ya doin?”

“She’s like this doughnut, squeeze her hard enough and she’ll squirt!” teased Kaffron.

Alia’s eyes darted over to Kaffron as he grinned awkwardly at her. She clacked down her coffee cup and shoved her chair into the table, glaring at him as she stormed off. “You’re disgusting!”

“You guys don’t have many friends, do ya?” Niko said.

“Ah come on, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about doinkin’ her,” said Kaffron, smacking Niko’s arm. “C’mon, dum-dum, ask her out or something! Do it for me.”

Niko snorted. “I dunno, she’s pretty pissed. I’ve seen Amali get that same look…”

“I’m tellin’ you, she’s good to go! She’s one of those shy, straight-laced types—but the signs are there. She was eatin’ a banana, for God’s sake!”

Niko ogled Alia while she hunched over the edge of the boat, her curving backside peeking through her short skirt. “I wonder what other moves she’s got…”

Kaffron snickered as he patted Niko’s back. “Atta boy. Now get over there and bring her home.”

Amali approached Kaffron and yanked his long hair, dragging him backwards. “Whatcha doin’ there, sweetheart?”

“Speak of the devil…relax, babe, I was just sayin’ he should ask her out! Now would ya lemme go? Gettin’ dizzy.”

“Please, whatever comes outta his mouth that you told him is gonna get him slapped or thrown overboard,” Amali said.

“Hey, it worked on you,” Kaffron replied. Amali released his sandy-blonde locks, causing him to tip onto his back. He rolled back on his feet and dashed over to her. “You know, I bet you could take her, ‘Mali. Why don’t you two gals fight for me?” Kaffron said, poking her.

“Why you little…how ‘bout I beat that grin off your face first!”

Kaffron and Amali rough-housed along the deck and bumped into Niko, making him trip. Amali turned around and gave him a sly wink.

“I’m never gonna figure those two out,” Niko said. He eventually joined them by the edge and viewed the seascape. In the near distance, a colossal, mountainous promontory loomed in the sea, its surface rippled with jagged rock and dotted with patches of green forest.

“Would you look at that?” Kaffron said under his breath.

Niko leaned over to Amali, his eyes drawn to the ominous, foggy landmass. “So is this Gundul Island?”

“I guess so. Never seen it before,” she said.

“I don’t see a dock or anything. Where they gonna drop ship?” Kaffron said, leaning over the edge.

The ship crossed the threshold of Gundul Island and drifted into a gaping cavern, becoming enveloped by its dank interior.

“Do they plan to drop anchor in a cave?” Alia said.

“The hell are they thinking? It’s pitch black in here,” Amali added.

The ship came to the end of the cavern, lit with overhead lights, where the pier stood a short distance away.