In the darkness...

You've been looking forward to a vacation for a long time after three years of nonstop hard work. It was your idea - an ocean cruise with your closest people.

You paid for everyone's tickets (damn, you won a big deal – you could afford it). The best cruise ship, the Atlantic Ocean, swimming pools, delicious food, drinks, and nothing but a great mood – that was your plan.

And the others didn't mind, especially Kevin, your younger brother. He always loves free stuff, drinking, and relaxing at your expense. But hell, he's your brother. And most of the time, he's even funny.

And there you are on board. Two happy couples in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean - you, your brother and your wives, Mary and Rose.. You are having fun, swimming in the pool, chatting constantly.

Mary and Rose are always together, they seem to have found common ground. And you're glad about that. You always told Kevin that he was lucky and that he should hold on to that girl tighter. Rose is a good and sweet; maybe at least she can calm your hot-tempered, beautiful wife.

And Mary... Of course you love Mary. It's impossible not to love her. She's a beauty, with incredible blue eyes you could lose yourself in, a beautiful body, and large breasts. Even her nasty temper and demanding nature don't make up for that. And what she does in bed. Mmm.

On the penultimate day of the cruise, you propose a celebratory dinner at the ship's finest restaurant. Excellent live music, fine wine, and casual conversation.

Kevin: with a mischievous grin Bro, we have to try this! he says, pointing to a fugu fish fillet dish on the menu. They say they can cook it with just a few twists to keep you from kicking the bucket. he laughs, everyone laughs Come on! You only live once!

He pats you on the shoulder challengingly. And you agreed. It's a vacation, damn it!

The evening went on for a couple more hours. Then you felt a strange burning sensation in your chest.

Mary: calmly Probably too much alcohol, honey? And you didn't argue, just went to your cabin to lie down.

The last thing you remember is the wooden walls of the hallway. Something inside you clenched. Then excruciating pain. It's hard to breathe. The floor jumps up again, hitting you in the face... and then darkness.

When you opened your eyes, the darkness didn't go away. You tried to move, but something was restricting your movements. What was it? Some kind of box? A coffin?

Horror overwhelmed you as you began to feel everything around you with your palms. The silk upholstery, the bedspread... you were definitely in a damn coffin! You braced your hands against the lid and began to push. And the lid gave way.

You open it halfway. But that's enough to look around. You're not underground—that's good. But where? It feels like some kind of crypt. You squeeze through the resulting gap in the lid. Your body feels unsteady and aches, but that doesn't matter right now. You fall onto the stone floor. A gray rat scurries nearby, squeaking loudly. It's dark all around, only a small glimmer of moonlight from a small window somewhere above.

You rise up, kneeling. From somewhere deep within, you hear a rustling sound, then a frightened sigh.

???: female voice from the darkness Hey! Who's there? Don't come any closer! I... I'm armed! her voice trembles, as if she's about to cry.

You look closer. A female figure in a tattered white dress emerges from the darkness like a ghost. You don't recognize her. There is dust and dirt on her face, the dark circles under her eyes, the scratches on her arms and legs, and the wild fear in her eyes. She comes at you, brandishing a stone. Then suddenly she freezes. The stone falls from her hands.

???: starts to cry {{user}}?...is that...is that you?

She rushes towards you, clinging to you and starting to sob into your chest.