Page 49 of The Situation Ship
His eyes fluttered open. She turned off the bubbles as blood and water splashed everywhere.
“Poppy?” Joshua grabbed her wrist and pushed her away from him. “Get out of here. They might come back.”
“What the fuck happened?” she gasped, trying to find his wound. “Did you kill Calliope?”
“No. I was meant to meet her on deck, but she never arrived.” He gave up on trying to push her away as he lost more strength.
“She’s dead,” Poppy told him, placing her hand on his abdomen to stop the blood flowing freely in the warm water.
“Fuck. I should’ve known she would be next.” He groaned as she applied more pressure.
“Who did this to you? Who killed Calliope?”
“I never should have let you board the ship. I’m so sorry,” he panted, not listening to her. “I should’ve warned you!”
“Warned me about the plot to kill me?”
He nodded. He was growing paler by the second, and it wouldn’t be long before he bled out if she didn’t get help; he was already drifting in and out of consciousness.
“I was scared. I’m sorry.” She could barely make out what he was saying. “I thought I could stop them, but I never should have left you. Forgive me, please.” The words of a man who thought he was dying.
“You didn’t leave me. You’re here now,” she said, trying to put him at ease. The more he struggled and wasted his energy, the faster he’d fade, and he was her only witness to who was doing this. She tried to call for help, but the place was deserted. Clearly, security had been diverted to the theatre. Where the hell was Isaiah when she needed him?
“Help me get you out of here. I can’t lift you by myself, but we have to get you out of the water,” Poppy urged, but Joshua shook his head.
“I can’t feel my legs,” he whined.
Poppy leaned him against her and realised he was wounded in his side and lower back. He’d been stabbed more than once. Her only option was to leave and get help; there was no way she was going to be able to get him out of the jacuzzi herself.
“I’m going to get help. Save your strength,” she told him.
He grabbed her wrist as she got out of the jacuzzi. “Don’t go! You can’t trust anyone!”
“You need help! I’ll be right back,” she pleaded, freeing herself from his weak grasp. His eyelids were closing. With so much blood lost, she feared it would be too late to save him if she didn’t go now, and she had already failed to help Calliope.
Soaking wet, Poppy slipped on the deck once or twice before making it inside, where she ran into two security guards.
“Help me! A man has been stabbed, but I can’t help him!” she pleaded.
They stared at her wide-eyed, and she realised how she must look. Her cream dress was now a shade of pale pink, and she smelt like iron and chlorine.
“Please calm down,” one of them said. “Have you been drinking?”
“Are you kidding? A man is dying, and you’re asking me if I’ve been drinking?!” Poppy demanded. The woman’s bun must be so tight that it stopped her brain from working.
“You don’t need to take that tone with us. We’re trying to help,” the other security officer said.
“There isn’t time. Please come with me,” Poppy begged. “He’ll drown if he passes out. Please!”
She took off, forcing them to follow. They probably thought she was crazy, but they’d eat their words once they saw Joshua.
“He’s over here. He can’t feel his legs, so I can’t lift him out myself. I think he’s been stabbed in the gut or the back, maybe both. You need to call a doctor,” she gabbled as they hurried around the pool.
“What are we supposed to be looking at?” the security guard with the tight bun asked as they reached the empty jacuzzi.
Poppy froze, staring at the clear water. Joshua was gone. There were no blood stains on the decking to show he’d made his way out. She rushed to the jacuzzi, placing her hand in the clear water.This is impossible.
“Miss? How much have you had to drink tonight?” the male guard asked.
