{ AHT }

"Bertha! Bert! Are you inside?" Michael calls out.

Around eight in the morning when we left Mike's home and reached Portland docks. Not many people around. This small ship has two crew members left, a married couple, since former crew members were dissatisfied with the lack of income. I don't know how three people can handle multiple jobs but it's impressive.

Two black sailors are in front of the ship, untangling the ropes. I assume that's the crew, albeit I'm concerned about how well they are treated... Mike sang praises about the captain, but I have to be sure because his judgements can be questionable. Ki, on the other hand, has always given people the benefit of the doubt ever since she lost her reading gift. Admirable. Her judgement comes if they begin to treat someone else with a lack of respect. Sadly, this happens often, though this doesn't wear down her gentle heart.

Out came from the ship is a pale, petite lady. Rosy cheeks, a captain uniform, and an out-of-place bonnet. She's bundling down to the dock with the energy of a four-year-old toddler who eats too many cheesecakes.

"MIKEEEYYY!! And it's Captain Bert, you hen fruit!" the woman admonishes.

I glance at her crew and they smile to themselves, endeared. That's a relief. I mutter, "She's interesting."

"She is very cute for a captain," Ki giggles.

The captain trips a tad and proceeds to run towards Michael, who is far from us. Then, she jumps—! Onto him and hops. I exchange surprise looks with Ki. She flashes a disbelieving grin.

Wait. "Are you saying captains aren't cute?"

"Some are handsome. No matter the age." She gives me a side glance.

"Should I be jealous of captains?"

"Mmm..." She then smirks with a devious glint in her eyes. "Why should you? You're the captain of my vessel. I get the pleasure of you sailing me every time."

Oh God, her words are something else. I thought I'd adapt to her sudden bursts of bold, corny words but no, pleasant surprises. Scorching heat flashes across my face in this biting chill of a morning. Her cheeky demeanour taunts me.

"You must be Ki and Aht!!" The captain charges toward...? Whoa! She hugs us both and pinches our cheeks, pulling us down and shaking our heads. Kind of hurts. I pout so my cheek won't be peeled off—okay, it hurts worse.

Ki flinches. "Ow."

"Aht, you really are a softie! I would have thought you'd murder me or something if Mike didn't give the dope on you beforehand! And you two are the sweetest couple I've ever seen! Giants! But oh so shy! Flirty whispers and whatnot!"

Dope? I think that is uhh an info? I guess I do need people to give a heads-up about me. Haih.

Now Ki blushes like me... "Um thank you. Beautiful ship you have here." Adorable.

"Thanks, dear! All in hard work. Not sure it's worth every penny, though." Our confusion must be obvious because the captain continues with haste. "Are you two sure to be on board for a month? I'm sure Mikey has told you about our... circumstances."

"Ghost problems?"

"Goodness no! The routes I took, the materials I replaced, the fuel brand I changed. I tried to improve it in every way, yet the passengers kept seeing things! I'm convinced they were sauced." The hyper woman is serious in a blink, solemnity washes over her.

Humans aren't too different from spirits, as Ki always says. Answers are within their reach, albeit they are never satisfied with the lack of complexity behind them nowadays. Or more accurately, lack of control over them. In this case, ghosts.

Michael scoffs and shakes his head. "Such a cynic."

"I'm a woman of science." The little lady goes up to his face.

"Science people don't have to limit themselves in abstract matters," he teases.

"Hmph!"

From the corner of my eye, I see a silhouette peeking out from one of the cabins. I nudge Ki and she sees it too. This would've spooked the heck out of humans, but we are not true humans to begin with. "We can handle it," I reassure the small captain.

"That was what they all said before they ran off. The ship's fuel is costly to make U-turns, pumpkin."

My sweet flashes a charming grin. "Have a little faith in us." Damn, she's doing great at handling people.

Captain Bert squints in a playful way and then beams. "Alrighty! If you start imagining things, you're on your own, darlings!"

Before skipping back to the ship, she pinches and pats Michael's cheek. When she heads back, he watches her with intent... and bites his bottom lip. His face eventually breaks down into tenderness. He seems to realise we're here from the way his eyes go wide and snap to us. My hand flies over my mouth and I withhold laughing. Ki throws him a smug smile.

"Anyway, thank you so much for this, Michael," I snigger. He clears his throat very loudly and sends me a pointed look.

She chuckles. "Truly. We would've run around in circles."

He takes a heavy breath and his lips curve into a faint smile. "Send me a letter or a postcard."

Ki's hand in mine tightens. "We will." She bows with a flair.

Michael laughs, walking away. "Stay out of trouble!"

"We'll try!" I reply. We gather up our bags and board the ship. She frowns. "Does it hurt again, Ki? The chest?"

"A little? Maybe I'm adjusting better. Still, it's horrible to feel pain whenever we have to move on."

"I know. However, I'm stuck by you forever."

Her lovely face softens. Should I tell her that she is not alone in this physical pain? That it's worse for me than it seems? She's already worried about my safety all the time.

"Good." She kisses my nose...

"Welcome, welcome!!" the hen fruit yeller greets from her wheelhouse.

I whisper to Ki, "What is a hen fruit by the way?"

"Egg, my Aht."

"Oh."

____________________

So far nothing. Been in here for more than ten hours and we should've been booed by now.

We settled our bags in a bedroom, plenty of doors down to the crew's. A nice couple, and Ki learnt that they were from Great Britain. I did question them on why they travel on a deserted ship. They like the captain's cause and want... things back in their country to simmer down first.

They're not the first people who have this same reason. I also know they're not the last.

Ki and I are at the front deck, eating cinnamon buns and chatting with Captain Bert. Another person who doesn't mind my ramblings and I happily don't mind hers. Heck, she may have out-rambled me. Ki, who is enjoying this, makes me warm from contentment.

The sea is forgiving today. Lush waves and clear, breezy air. The sun hides behind the thick clouds.

"That is how you met him?" Ki asks.

"Yes, I never thought a fish floss disaster would bring Mikey to me," the captain reaffirms sheepishly.

I raise my hand. "Excuse me, is it going to rain?"

"Oh! Oh yes, it will. Best to retire to your room. Will be a bumpy road. I mean sea! Haha!"

I do hope the sea remains forgiving.

Ki and I go downstairs. We lie on the soft, cool bed, staring and listening to the creaking ceiling. I instantly hug her, and she tucks my hair behind my ear and peppers her kisses. My home...

"This has been going well, sweetheart. Too well."

"Do you think Terence and Alice had anything to do with sabotaging?" Ki hums. "Pranks?"

"I don't think so. I can't read intentions anymore, albeit I know in my gut that they're clueless like their... captain."

There they are.

A head is dangling upside down from underneath a desk, far behind Ki's side of the bed. Lidless eyes. Bloody face. Long, messy hair. You'd think most wild spirits would get creative over time but no. God, they always steal others' concepts!

Ki catches my stare behind her shoulder and looks as well, lifting an eyebrow. "Hello."

They frown.

"Wow," I scoff. "You can frown when you have no eyebrows."

"Don't be mean, my fire."

"Bullies' bully."

Her eyes narrow at me, trying her damnedest best not to laugh. The 'ghost' doesn't like how this turns out one bit and becomes inhuman. We both just stare at them. They're getting braver by falling on fours and crawling up to our bed.

Ki turns irritated, her muscles tense up. "This is our personal space. Or are you incapable of comprehending it? Maybe, since you're intruding on this ship."

They seem to be sulking. "Hmph. They were right."

Are they fucking kidding us? "It speaks! They? How many of you?" Our real language can shatter humans' and animals' minds if anyone hears us, which is why we avoid using it in this world. But I can't pretend I don't understand them if we want to solve this.

Ergo, when they used it so casually... Their smarmy, too-wide grin provokes me to punch them. "Would you like to know, oh spirit but not a spirit?"

"What were they right about?" Ki scowls.

"I didn't buy it when they told me you won't be afraid. They think you both are not true humans. Not one of us as well. Stuck in between. Then... I sense your auras. Read your minds. How does it feel to never belong anywhere?" Their mocking, sing-song cackle urges me to rip their face off, I swear.

"Your haunting went superb!" My Ki smiles very thin-lipped. "Very decent effort. I'll recommend your service and you will be famous. Upgrade from ships to airplanes!"

I don't know how she appears cool-headed while rolling off sarcasm from her tongue. Sarcastic means she's getting angry, though. They snarl in retort, more inhuman by the second, and their aura is suffocating in this room.

Oh bother. "It's not working and stop stealing pontianak's appearance."

"Hahaha! Did you think I'd steal? It has worked fine for hundreds of years!"

No... "How can you be here on this ship, docked in America all this time?"

Their grin stretches and it takes half of their face. They slowly crawl back and vanish through a wall.

What in the fuck just happened.

"Aht, pontianak is originally from Malaya and—"

"Indonesia," I add in. Scratched the East Indies name from it. I like its supposed name as it is.

"How can they be all the way here?"

"Captain used to bring immigrants all over the world."

"The spirits should have kept haunting the immigrants, not staying here." She flings herself back on the bed. "Besides, why didn't they haunt them until they entered this vessel?"

"Good point."

Screams. Alice screams from outside. Oh donkey shit...

{ KI }

We share a look. Aht's exasperated, pulling a face. Can't fault him, he has been dealing with wild and higher spirits ever since he was banished, and many malicious ones manifested during the war.

"Let's go. Might as well, love," he sighs.

Heading out, we search for the couple since we found their bedroom's empty.

Aht as usual deals with spirits in the most diplomatic way he can be, which is... slightly belligerent. A moment until I help him to be patient. Malicious ones are tricky. Depending on the area where people have their chosen united belief, it's easier to chase these spirits out or at least leave us two alone. But right now, it's a wandering ship with people who have nothing to believe in. Concerning when they implied plenty of wild ones here.

Listening to the pitter-patter of rain and gusts falling on this vessel... Soon, we stumble upon Terence at intersecting corridors. His movements are all frenetic.

"Calm down." I steady him on the shoulder. "What's the matter?"

"Alice! She saw something in our room and ran out. Hopefully to Captain Bert because I haven't found her, Ms. Ki. I don't know what is going on!"

The corridors... are twisted slowly.

"Why in the heckity-ass they show their faces now!?" Aht yells.

Terence chokes out, "You cursed!"

I grab my beloved's hand. "Because we were unaffected by them, I think. They won't hide any longer."

"Who are they!?" the sailor asks.

Muffled screeches vibrate through the walls, setting a total panic in Terence. Not at all the sound of rain outside. Aht and I roll our eyes and drag the sailor down the corridor towards the exit.

"Spirits. Ghosts." Aht exhales harshly. "We go to the front, Terence."

"GHOSTS?? THERE IS NO SUCH—! Good Lord, what's happening?!" The path we walk together becomes winding and crooked. Poor man's bug-eyed. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"Yes, we both do. You're not alone," Aht reassures him.

"Did we inhale the same hallucinogens? There must be a gas leak—"

"It's not the damn hallo—! Hallucinges... Hallu... Whatever!"

...Why do we lurch—?

"WOAHWOAH WHOAAA!!"

Aht bellows when the ship tilts upward! I let out yelps, trying to latch onto things but it keeps going!

Terence screams in hysterics while I catch them both in my arms before we can roll down and fall to our deaths. A breath knocks out from me when I lean us against a side partition near a cabin. The lights go out, leaving several bright grays streaming across the corridor from the cabins' windows. The ship stays up at almost a 90-degree angle.

"Baby, are you okay?" My fire worries.

I groan, "Splendid. You?"

"Fed up with their bullshit! Can you feel it?"

Essence. Vacuumed aura. Oooh now this— "Motherfuckers. Illusion." My patience is wearing thin.

Terence pipes up, "Who's they?"

"SPIRITS!" Aht and I shout in unison. Our fast breathing and the ship's groans are loud in the darkness. He warily puts his foot flat on the corridor floor, testing it.

"Wha-what are you doing, Mr Aht?"

"To see if I can walk to the front or not. We need to find Captain Bert and your wife. Blegh, the whole place reeks of bad auras."

"We'll fall! We can call them out."

"They most likely won't hear us." My mind is going into overdrive, seeking a solution. "As long as you don't believe you'd fall, you'll be fine."

"This is bloody insane!"

"Terence, please. Calm down. We're here."

"I'll go first," Aht remarks.

"Be careful, my fire."

With a deep breath and cautious manner, he leans on the foot, dragging out his body bit by bit until he stands tall horizontally. He glances over his shoulder with his hair dangling straight. A chuckle bursts from my throat.

"Something funny?"

"Your hair. It looks stiff sticking out like that."

He cracks up.

"How can you two not be terrified by this? I'm going to be sick," Terence mutters.

"Aish, don't vomit." Aht offers his hand with gentleness. "Here, do it slow like I did."

Terence is crying but doing it anyway, and I grasp Aht's other hand. We hold onto each other with the poor soul between us, putting our palms on walls and marching forward; just in case we have to latch onto something if another tilt comes.

All the cabin doors are open except one. The nearer we get to it, the louder the muffled voices are in there. All of us stop in front of the cabin, sharing an odd look.

Terence's eyes bulge out. "What if my wife's in there?"

"Damn it." Aht rubs his face deeply. My dear... "Bad idea but we have to make sure." He inhales and swiftly opens it—

Oh. Holy. Highness.

A room full of inhumane, grotesque beings takes up our view. Their faces morph into a lethal fury. Hm. I somewhat recognize which types of spirits they are.

"AAAAHH!!!"

Shi—!! Quick as a light, Terence faints on the floor after a deafening scream.

We both stare at him, who is now slowly sliding down the corridor.

Aht looks back at them.

He slams the door shut.

"Grab him, Ki!" He barricades it, struggling.

After I carry the man over my shoulder, we immediately run. The door crashes behind! We run and run. Faster than our feet can take it. I look back— "OH FUCK!"

Dozens of them flood out and chase us fast!

Aht glances back and curses. "Which prayer should—!?"

"Anything!"

"Deliver us, O Lord, from our enemies; In You we take shelter—!"

Their auras are drowning us! Our hairs are whipping everywhere as we gasp for air. His crossing gesture turns to cupping hands together.

"A'uzubillah himinash shaitanirajeem!"

They screech more!

He's picking us up onto his shoulders—sprinting! We're both screaming!!

The front door slams open and we continue to go upstairs and crash to the front. Amid the turbulent rain and the ship's lights, I see the sky has fallen into dusk.

"What are you three doing!?"

We hear the captain behind us. She is fighting to stabilize the ship on the crashing waves. Alice is sitting beside her, ever fearful. But she rushes to us and checks her husband when he wakes up.

"...Ran away from ghosts," I grit it out behind my wet locks.

"NOT YOU TOO! Alice had been bumbling about ghosts and nonsense!"

Aht slicks his hair back and hisses, "Can you for once—?"

"NO! This is my ship!" Bert's hand slams on the wheel. "You meant to say my hard work is foiled by pathetic attention-seeking spirits??"

...Oh Your Highness.

The surrounding sounds are muted.

Soon after, a high-pitched ringing comes. Not enough to hurt our ears, though it does affect humans. The couple scrambles up to their captain. I grind my teeth. Aht's getting fierce.

I chant, "Om Bhur Bhuva Swaha, Om Aim Hrim..."

The spirits flood out of the door below, crawling... toward humans.

"You made us do this! Their deaths will be in your hands!" one of the spirits spits.

They ambush the captain and others separately, scaring the couple to the railings while the captain holds onto the wheel, scrunching her eyes shut.

"...Kleem Tatsavitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiuo Yo Nah Prachodayat," I finish it before repeating.

"Don't pin it on us when you can't handle your fragile egos!" Aht retaliates.

That causes one of them to lunge at him, but he dodges and dashes toward Alice. I run to Terence and they can't touch me since I keep chanting mantra—

My God! They throw the captain far to the front railing! Aht catches her before she can fall into the rough sea. Wait, the ship!

"KI!!"

"Got it, Aht!"

I push Terence to him and rush to the wheel, trying my best to keep the ship afloat. Aht knows I memorize everything about boats, ships, and everything nautical because I desire to sail the sea.

Sure as heck not like this, however.

A wild one shrieks, "Beg for us! BEG US TO STOP, HUMANS!"

The storm lessens, showing the moon between the cracks of the night. The waters aren't as still. Aht puts his arms around the humans when the spirits jeer at them. Except for one spirit.

They snap their crooked teeth my way. I jerk my chin up and chant other Vedic mantras, even though other spirits are closing on me. Aht keeps reciting Islamic prayers. Our effort works so little since there is no united belief—

They... They dive into the sea? I share a quizzical look with Aht.

A rumble.

A deep rumble from below. The spirits screech to the sky. Damn wretched to hear. The lights! Blackout. I clench my jaw, thankful that it's an illusion too. The ship rocks harder and the waves are crashing to the sides.

The others gape at the sky behind me while Aht frowns deeper. More daunting. When he does it... No, wrong time to be aroused, Ki.

My head whips back to see what they are staring at through a window. Something gigantic and dark continues to rise until the moonlight hits it.

...

What a headache. Aht berates it.

"LOVECRAFT'S? DOES IT KILL FOR YOU TO BE ORIGINAL?"