"I'm not going to hurt you." Kerrie slid the knife back into her pocket.

Sandy stood frozen, one hand on the door frame, ready to move back into the maintenance closet if it was unsafe. She wasn't very fast or strong, like any five-year-old, but she was good at hiding. Sandy used to play hide and seek with Tom, but now she would never play with him again.

Kerrie took a step toward Sandy with her hand out, a gesture that showed she meant no harm. Sandy recoiled.

"What are you doing in the closet?" Kerrie asked.

Sandy didn't respond.

"It's not safe right now," Kerrie said. "Do you know where your parents are?"

Still nothing. Something had happened to this girl. Something terrible. Kerrie could see it in her face. The least Kerrie could do was make sure she was alright.

Kerrie took another step toward Sandy. Dropping to one knee, she met Sandy at eye level. Sandy's eyes were like whirlpools, filled with the sadness of all who were lost at sea. Kerrie looked down to see Sandy's feet were bare.

"Is everything okay?" Kerrie asked.

Sandy shook her head. The very motion brought Sandy to tears. Her bottom lip puckered and her eyes filled like two glasses of water.

"I'm not okay either," Kerrie said. "Something crazy is happening on this boat."

Sandy brought her hands to her eyes and rubbed away the tears. She let go of the door frame and Kerrie saw she felt a bit more comfortable.

"My name is Kerrie." Kerrie stuck her hand out.

Sandy looked at it and then reached out to shake it. Sandy's grip was gentle and her wrist was limp.

"What's your name?" Kerrie asked, still shaking hands.

Sandy was quiet and Kerrie gave her time to respond.

"Sandy."

"Well nice to meet you, Sandy."

Kerrie let go of her hand. Sandy fully stepped out into the hallway and stared down the long tunnel, unsure of what waited around the corner.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"How about I help you find your parents? Beats sitting in that smelly closet."

Sandy shook her head.

"Why not?" Kerrie asked.

"The spaceman got Mommy and Daddy."

Kerrie's body tensed, so much that Sandy noticed and stepped back. Kerrie felt her heart fall into her stomach. The spaceman. She thought of the man in her dreams, chasing her in the endless dark until she was face to face with him. A face that was drained of all life, pale and shriveled—exactly how Kerrie imagined a floater to look. She remembered the darkness spewing from his mouth, wrapping around her skin to drain her warmth.

But Kerrie knew what Sandy really meant. The creature that reached from the theatre to drag the man away. The thing that was in the large woman's head. The thing that had the whole ship dripping in red as if it was paint night.

"I'm sure your Mommy and Daddy are safe," Kerrie said. "Do you want me to help you find them?"

Sandy gave Kerrie another signature head shake.

Kerrie couldn't leave Sandy here, especially with what was happening. Her parents could still be alive. At the very least, Kerrie could find someone to take care of Sandy.

"How about you come along with me?" Kerrie smiled. "Two is better than one."

Sandy was quiet. Kerrie was still a stranger. And after all the chaos that was ensuing, Kerrie didn't expect Sandy to trust anyone.

"Plus, it's not safe here," Kerrie added. "I need someone to watch my back. Do you think you can do that?"

Sandy nodded.

"Awesome."

Kerrie held her hand out for a high five and Sandy gave it a satisfying smack.

"Here's what we're going to do." Kerrie leaned in. "We're going to head to the top of the ship and look for help. Sound like a plan?"

Sandy nodded.

"But the spaceman," Sandy said.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

"No, look." Sandy pointed behind Kerrie and down the hall. "Spaceman."

Kerrie's head shot behind her to see tentacles stretching from the large woman's cabin. They slithered over the large woman's body like snakes. The creature was leaving the cabin and would soon find Kerrie and Sandy in its sight.

"Don't make a sound." Kerrie brought her finger to her lips.

Kerrie wrapped her arm around Sandy's chest and carried her into the maintenance closet. She yanked the door shut but the mop was blocking the way. Kerrie kicked the mop into the hallway and heard a shrill sound from the creature. She pulled the handle again and the door clicked as it locked into the frame.

Kerrie held Sandy close in the maintenance closet. There was enough room from them to sit against a wall. It was dark except for the light slipping beneath the bottom of the door. It felt like time slowed. Seconds became minutes. Minutes became hours.

A shadow passed beneath the door and stopped at the edge.

Kerrie held her hand over Sandy's eyes.

The shadow grew darker. Tentacles slithered beneath the door and into the closet. It was hard to make out how many, but one was enough to wrap around Kerrie's neck and drag her away. She inched for the knife in her back pocket.

After a moment that seemed to last a lifetime, the tentacles suddenly slithered back the way they came. The shadow disappeared.

"The spaceman is gone." Kerrie removed her hand from Sandy's eyes.

They sat still until enough time had passed. The adrenaline felt like fire beneath Kerrie's chest. She leaned her head back against the wall.

"This is a pretty good hiding spot you have here," Kerrie said.

"I know," Sandy said. "I'm the best at hide and seek."

"I believe it. But I hope we don't have to play it again."

Sandy didn't respond.

"Let's go," Kerrie said.