Out in the fancy cabin, Hugo was chowing down on a cake he’d snagged from the table. “Quiana,” he said with a mouthful, “you think this medicine could have a weird effect on Julius?”
Quiana, lounging around, gave a lazy shrug. “He’s just like my lab rat. If there’s no fallout, that’d be the real surprise”
She had felt the turmoil in Julius’s pulse when she’d touched it last. It hinted at something like chronic poison, but she kept her suspicions to herself.
Gently messing with Hugo’s hair, she told him, “Go keep tabs on Zack and what’s brewing at the auction house”
After he left, Quiana ducked into a room and came out in a sleek black getup, her hat pulled low and a mask covering her face.
She made her way to the third floor, and this time, luck was on her side–no one was there to stop her.
Suddenly, a rapid beeping cut through the air.
“The Core Stone’s been taken!” someone yelled.
“Check everyone on the ship!” another voice barked.
The cruise ship erupted into chaos as alarms started wailing, the passengers thrown into a frenzy of confusion and unease.
*****
In Room 2117, the mood was as heavy as a lead balloon.
Zack glared at Keith, a smirk playing on his lips. “You got some serious guts, going after your own flesh and blood. What, you think you’re above the rules?” Leo’s fists were clenched so tight his knuckles cracked, while Shane’s face clouded over with a stormy look.
Julius lounged in his wheelchair like he didn’t have a care in the world, his thick eyelashes shading his eyes, casting a mysterious shadow. The mole on his cheek seemed to glimmer under the light, adding to his enigmatic vibe. He spun a small porcelain bottle in his hand, his face a mask of calm.
Keith was on the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. He kept his head down, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know Uncle Julius had a thing about alcohol
Zack snorted, his temper flaring. “Alcohol? Lying!
Shane was in the know; Julius’s issue wasn’t with booze–it was something more sinister, a chemical reaction that had him on edge.
Julius lifted his eyes just a fraction, his voice as cold as ice. “Get him down the ship.”
There was a beat of silence, then a collective gasp as everyone realized what Julius was implying. Keith’s face turned ashen. “Uncle Julius, I swear, it was an accident! You can’t just…” His voice trailed off, realization dawning.
Zack’s voice dripped with disdain. “You play with fire, you get burned.” He nodded at Leo, who didn’t need any more prompting. He grabbed Keith by the scruff of his neck and started steering him towards the exit.
Keith’s voice rose in panic. “Uncle Julius, Uncle Julius, I was wrong…” But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
Julius was already moving on, his focus shifting to Zack. “What about Quiana?”
Zack just shrugged, his expression blank. “No clue.” Quiana and Hugo were like ghosts on this cruise–they appeared and
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Chapter 60
then vanished into thin air.
Keith, always the one living the high life, was no match for Leo’s raw strength. Even with a few tricks up his sleeve, he was no fighter. With a swift motion, Leo hoisted him up and sent him flying off the ship’s second level.
Keith’s scream echoed as he plummeted, followed by a splash that rocked the water below.
Tyshane and Xavier, their faces blanched with horror, were on the scene in an instant. “Help! Man overboard!” they hollered, their cries cutting through the air and setting off a scramble on the deck.
Hugo, taken aback, couldn’t help but admire the guy’s guts. “That dude’s got some serious cojones,” he remarked, his voice tinged with a mix of respect and shock.
Quiana, as stoic as ever, put it plainly, “Keith was gunning for him.” Her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the danger that had just unfolded.
Chapter 61
