After he left, I managed to make my way back into my cabin, though my legs felt weak and wobbly.

Once there, I cleaned my face with a towel, and then I fell on my bed, I was too tired to go take a shower, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't stop thinking about what I had done. What if he hadn't caught me in time and I fell. I couldn't understand why I had done that, but as I remembered the feeling of euphoria I felt when I lifted my feet from the floor and I surrendered to him, I started shuddering in arousal once more and my body started tingling.

I wanted to go to his cabin, to ask him to fuck me again. I was desperate for it, and though the idea filled me with fear, I almost did it.

But instead, I laid on my bed, thinking, as the hours passed away and suddenly I remembered Sofia once again. I started thinking about her and Dima. It was then that it occurred to me that with Dima gone, I could go check his room. If she had really left, her clothes would be gone, I told myself.

Despite being very tired, I managed to get up and after slipping on a shirt and a pair of panties, I grabbed my keycard and I made my way up towards the guest cabin.

The ship was silent, and everybody else should have been asleep at that time, but I was still nervous, and as I stopped in front of the door, I took a look around before I slipped my key card.

But instead of opening, a red light flashed once, and then nothing. Confused, I tried again, but I got the same red light as before.

Cursing, I thought my keycard was maybe broken, and I moved towards one of the other guest cabins, but after one swipe, the door opened with a green light.

As I swallowed nervously, I returned to the other door to give it one last try. But I already knew that I had been locked out, someone didn't want me in there. I tried it one last time, just in case, but once more that red light blinked at me and nothing happened.

Defeated, I made my way towards my cabin, and once there, I left my keycard on my night table and I dropped myself onto my bed.

The fact that someone had blocked access to the guest room made me feel even more nervous, and there was no one I could tell, not with Nina ignoring me.

Feeling confused and afraid, I finally fell into a troubled sleep.

----

When I woke up the next morning I felt tired and groggy. I remembered dreaming about something, but I couldn't remember what, only that in my dream I had felt very anxious about something.

It was pretty late, though, but guessing that if anyone needed me they would call me up on the intercom, I went into my bathroom and I took a long, hot shower before I changed into my uniform once more.

It felt strange, somehow, but I pushed the idea away and I went into the galley, where this time I found Nina.

"Hey... long time no see..." I said, feeling strangely guilty.

Nina stopped only for a second and then she looked at me, clearly angry before she returned her attention to the meal she was preparing.

Swallowing nervously, I leaned against one of the counters and I crossed my arms in front of me as I looked at my feet.

"So... any... news?" I asked her.

Then I saw her chuckling softly as she shook her head.

"If you are asking about Alexei, he left early on the tender to explore the island, he said he was going to be back after dark." she said, clearly annoyed.

Unable to answer, I simply nodded as I started fidgeting with my hair.

"I told you not to do it... not to get involved..." Nina said a moment later, sounding tired.

I couldn't find an answer at first, and as I looked at her, I remembered her words just before Alexei arrived. It seemed to have happened ages ago, but it had only been a handful of days.

"I... don't know... it just... happened..." I said defensibly.

"It just happened? You just happened to fuck the boss?" Nina answered, her voice full of scorn.

And as she did I suddenly got angry at her.

"What do you care? I don't have to ask you for permission to... to have... sex..." I said as I looked at her.

"What do I care? I care about you, stupid... maybe I shouldn't... don't you see he is..." Nina said, almost screaming. "God, how can you be so... thick!"

Gasping in shock, I looked at her as her words ringed in my ears. I wanted to scream at her, to get even angrier, but a moment later I felt my anger fading away, leaving only a deep pain in my chest.

Nina was the only person on the ship I could talk to, my only friend here, and having her say those things hurt me deeply. As tears started falling down my face I wiped them down with the back of my hand and I looked away.

"It's none of your business what I do... or don't... with him." I managed to say before a knot formed in my throat.

"Yes, you are right. But don't come to me looking for... advice, or whatever it is you want... if you are not going to listen..." Nina answered a moment later, obviously hurt.

A moment of silence fell between us, with the only sound coming from a boiling pot of water behind Nina.

Unable to look at her, I hung my head down and I made my way out of the galley. I was hoping she would say something before I left, but she didn't, and as I closed the door behind me I started weeping softly.

----

After that, I felt exhausted once more. I haven't slept well, and as I made my way towards my cabin, I just wanted to rest.

I knew I should have gone to do my tasks, like cleaning Alexei's cabin and the dining room or the lounge, but I was too tired and I didn't care anymore. The captain too, seemed to have disappeared and I hadn't seen him in a while, so I guessed it didn't matter anyway.

Instead, I closed the door behind me, and I dropped myself on the bed. This time though, I was asleep almost instantly. And as I did, I started dreaming.

It was one of those dreams in which you know you are dreaming, but you can't wake up. You are trapped in it, unable to change anything, and you can only watch from the outside as things happen.

I was on the ship and it was late at night. I was naked and on my knees, and in front of me was Dima, standing just as naked as I was. I had my hands tied behind my back and I was giving him a blowjob.

Looking up into his eyes, I ran my tongue hungrily along his cock as he leered at me, something that made my skin crawl, but a moment later I took him into my mouth once more and I kept sucking him, deeper and deeper until I could feel myself gagging.

He seemed to be enjoying himself, as a moment later he grabbed my head and he started moaning loudly.

It felt wrong, almost as if I were cheating on Alexei, but just as I thought about that, Alexei appeared behind me, just as naked as us.

He seemed unconcerned about the fact that I had Dima's cock in my mouth, and instead, he kneeled behind me and he started caressing my back. His fingers danced softly over my skin, making it tingle deliciously.

Then his hands traveled up, grabbing my head and pushing forwards until my nose was pressed against Dima's pale stomach.

I tried to relax, but his fingers started digging painfully into my scalp and my neck, and soon I needed to breathe.

Desperate, I tried to push back but between the two of them, I had no chance to escape. Suddenly, Alexei moved to one side without releasing me and then he looked into my eyes.

I was choking, my lungs were burning inside my chest, but he just looked at me, smiling softly as tears streamed down my face.

As he did, I kept struggling but it was useless, and soon I became tired and my vision started to close around me. I remember thinking I was dying, and that surely they would release me before I did, but my vision kept closing as my heart slowed down more and more.

Just before I passed out I tried to shake them off one last time, but it was useless.

A moment later my vision went back and all I could feel was Alexei's hands holding my head, and Dima's cock twitching inside my throat as he came.

Then I woke up, covered in sweat and trembling.

I looked around my cabin for a minute, trying to convince myself that it had just been a dream, but it had felt real, so much so that I could still feel Alexei's hands on my head.

But it wasn't the only thing I could feel.

My body was burning in arousal, and as I pulled my legs apart, I realized my panties were soaking wet.

Confused, I pulled off my uniform and I sat on the bed, just looking at them.

Breathing heavily, I took one shaky hand towards my pussy and I touched it, something that sent shivers all along my body.

Gasping loudly, I pulled my hand back and then I slipped off my panties. Once I was naked, I moved in front of the mirror and then I laid on the floor.

As I looked at myself, I touched my pussy again, and my body seemed to become electrified. My skin was tingling and all I could think was that I wanted more.

Without thinking, I slipped my finger in between my lips. I was dripping wet, and as I moved them up and down, I remembered Alexei's tongue when he went down on me and I started moaning loudly.

Unable to contain myself, I pushed deeper and my finger disappeared inside of me. It was not enough, though, and soon I pushed a second and then I third one, but even then it wasn't enough.

As I started pumping them, I tried to imagine Alexei fucking me, and then I laid back on the floor. It felt good, but I still wanted more. I was almost desperate for him, and though the idea was terrifying, it was all I could think of.

Then I took my hand towards my breasts, caressing them softly like he sometimes did, and my body started shuddering. But my hands had a mind of their own by then, and as I pushed a fourth finger inside of me, my free hands moved up towards my neck.

My fingers, wrapped around my throat, closed tightly, choking me as I gasped loudly into the air.

I dry gurgling sound filled my cabin as I squeezed tighter and tighter, my fingers pressing deeply just under my jaw until my head started pounding painfully.

I was close, so close that my whole body was burning painfully, but I couldn't cum. Frustrated, I opened up my eyes and looked around the room.

My uniform was on the floor right next to me, and on top of it, was the white scarf that went around my neck.

Licking my lips nervously, I stretched my hand and I picked it up before I folded it in half. Then I passed the end through the middle and I slipped the loop I had made over my head.

I was trembling hard, but I couldn't stop. A moment later I placed the loop just under my jaw and I pulled, softly at first. The loop closed and when I let go it stayed like that. Satisfied I pulled it a little tighter, and then a little more until breathing became difficult.

Then I closed my eyes once again and I moved my hand between my legs.

"Please..." I heard myself moaning, my voice low and raspy.

And as I did I started fingering myself, pushing my fingers as deep as I could inside of me while I rubbed my clit with my thumb. I was going crazy with lust, but I still couldn't cum. Desperate I grabbed the scarf and I took a deep breath before I pulled from it hard.

The fabric tightened around my neck painfully, burning my skin and crushing my throat as my head filled with blood. I couldn't breathe, not even a little bit, but as I closed my eyes I imagined myself sucking Alexei's cock underwater and suddenly the world around me seemed to explode without warning.

A blindingly bright light filled my cabin as I felt my body burning. I couldn't think or even move, but my body tensed painfully on its own as every muscle in it pulled at the same time. I felt I would rip myself apart, but it didn't seem to matter.

All that mattered was how good it felt, and as that feeling of euphoria started to fade away, I prayed I could stay like that just a little bit longer.

But I couldn't, and soon my body collapsed and I laid on the floor as I looked around my cabin. I felt weak and tired, and a moment later I realized the scarf was still around my neck and I couldn't breathe.

I took a tremendous amount of effort, but I managed to take one of my hands towards my neck and I pulled it open, just enough that I could breathe again, and then my arm fell limp to my side.

Exhausted, I simply laid on the floor as I tried to catch my breath. My throat hurt, and my breathing was slow and raspy, but even as the last of my orgasm faded away I could still fill my body tingling all over.

I don't know how long I stayed like that, but at some point, I managed to gather enough strength to prop myself up onto my elbows and I looked at myself in the mirror.

There was a red mark around my neck and my pussy looked swollen as it shone under the dim lights on the ceiling. The carpet under my ass was soaked with my juices and my face was flushed and red.

As a feeling of dread descended on me, I swallowed nervously and then I closed my eyes.

"What is happening to me..." I said, my voice a broken whisper.

----

After that, I managed to get up and take a shower, though the hot water cascading between my legs was almost painful as it touched my still sensitive pussy.

Regardless, I managed to get myself clean and then I dressed into a clean uniform.

After that, I tried to cover the red mark around my neck with some makeup, but I didn't have the right stuff, and I didn't know how to used what I had, so I gave up after I managed to cover most of it. It was still there if you looked for it, and I guessed that was good enough.

It was almost time for dinner, and I hoped to find Alexei in the dining room.

As I made my way along the ship I tried to think about what I was going to say to him, but I just couldn't find the words to explain what was happening to me. I didn't even know what was happening, let alone how to explain it, I realized a moment later.

But he wasn't in the dining room or the lounge, and as I started to get worried, I made my way towards the galley.

Nina was there, and the moment I entered she looked at me for a second, her face a mixture of anger and pain, and then she looked away.

"Alexei decided to have dinner in his cabin, he said he won't be needing you tonight." she said dismissible before she ignored me.

Feeling rejected, I walked away and headed towards the sun deck. I could see his cabin from there, but the curtains were closed and though I wanted to go there and knock on his door anyway, I didn't dare to.

Trembling, I stood on the sun deck for a while, just looking at his door as I prayed for him to come put, but he didn't.

Feeling defeated, I finally made my way towards my cabin once again, and then I closed the door behind me. I didn't bother to take off my uniform, and instead, I just threw myself onto my bed and I fell asleep.

Thankfully, this time it was a dreamless night.

----

The next morning I woke up early, and after changing into a fresh uniform I made my way towards the lounge. I arrived just in time to see Alexei leaving on the tender.

Feeling confused, I almost called him out, but it would have been useless over the roar of the engine. Instead, I made my way downstairs and into my cabin, where I spent the rest of the day, sulking and wondering if I had done something wrong. Maybe he was punishing me, I thought after a while, and as I did I tried to think of what I could have done to deserve this.

But it was useless, and the only thing I managed was to feel depressed.

Suddenly I woke up, dazed and confused. I must have dozed off at some point, and by the time I woke up, it was early in the afternoon.

I felt tired and depressed, but despite that, I managed to get up and I made my way towards the lounge.

Outside, the sea looked perfectly calm, and as I looked into the distance decided I would wait for him to return.

It took hours, and by the time I saw the tender approaching the ship, it was getting dark. The boat was just a tiny dot on the horizon, but it quickly grew in size as he approached.

Feeling both nervous and excited, I made my way towards the lower sun deck and I waited for him.

The boat slowed down as it came closer, and then I saw Alexei looking at me. He was smiling, which filled me with hope, and as he docked the boat to the ship, he tied the lines, and then he walked towards me.

"Isabel, how good to see you." he said as he brushed a lock of hair behind my ear.

"Thank you..." I said.

I wanted to say more, to tell him that I missed him, that I was sorry for whatever I had done, but before I did, he smiled once more, and then he started to walk away.

Suddenly I felt crushed and as tears started to fill my eyes, I heard him stopping a few feet behind me.

"What do you say we have dinner tonight?" he said offhandedly. "I will bring you a new dress for you to wear."

And with that, before I could even say yes, he left, leaving me alone and bubbling with joy.

----

After that, I returned to my cabin and I waited. It didn't take long for him to knock on my door and without waiting for my answer, he came in holding a beautiful red dress over his arm along with a pair of matching high heels.

"There you go." he said as he laid them on my bed.

Then he turned around and he started to leave, only to stop just in front of the door.

"Don't make me wait." he said, his voice deep and commanding.

And with that, he closed the door behind him as I shuddered in fear.

Despite that, the moment I was alone, I picked up the dress, and I looked at it. It was made out of a deep, cherry red leather, so thin that it felt almost like fabric. It had a zipper running along the front, and no straps. The shoes were almost identical to the other ones he had given me, just in red.

There were no stockings or a garter belt this time, just the dress and the shoes, and as I ran a trembling hand over the smooth surface of the leather, I swallowed nervously.

Still, with his words echoing in my head, I stripped off my uniform and my underwear, and then I slipped on the dress.

It was much too short for me, I realized the moment I looked at my reflection in the mirror. It ended just below my ass and would show my lack of underwear if I wasn't careful, but the idea was strangely arousing.

After putting on the shoes I stood in front of the mirror again and I looked at myself, marveling at how good it looked on me.

I felt nervous, though, and I couldn't stop trembling softly as I remembered the last time I had dinner with him.

But regardless of that, I pushed my fear away and I made my way towards the dining room, where Alexei was waiting for me.

He was wearing a black suit this time, which was strange as I had never seen him wear one on the ship, though he must have used them all the time at work.

As I walked towards the table I saw him smiling and then he took my hand, pulling me against his body before he kissed me fiercely as he grabbed my ass.

I was surprised at first, but soon I surrendered and I let him explore my mouth as I moaned softly.

But just as quickly as it started, he pushed me away, leaving me panting, out of breath, and wanting more.

He didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he didn't care, as he held onto my hand before he led me towards the table. After he pulled out a chair for me, I sat down and looked at the feast that was in front of me. Though I was really hungry, I was also nervous and I didn't think I could eat.

But as he served me a plate of roasted meat and vegetables, my hunger won and I started eating.

We ate in silence, though he couldn't stop smiling as he looked at me from time to time.

And as we did, I looked at Alexei, and the image of a bruised Sofia as she ate breakfast came to my mind. I tried to push it away, to concentrate on him, but I couldn't get her out of my mind. Finally, as I pushed my now empty plate away, I looked at him and swallowed nervously.

"I tried to clean... the guest cabin today, and I couldn't get in." I managed to say.

Alexei didn't skip a beat and he continued eating for a while until he finally looked at me, and then he waved his hand away.

"Must be a problem with the door. Once the crew are back I will have them look into it." he said offhandedly.

And as he did I nodded slowly, as his answer made me feel even more nervous.

Alexei ignored me after that until suddenly he looked up at me. His eyes locked onto mine and then he smiled, making me shiver in fear, but despite that, I pressed on.

"What happened to Sofia?" I finally blurted.

And this time Alexei stopped eating, looking somewhat annoyed.

"I told you already, Isabel. She left." he said a moment later.

His eyes locked onto mine once more, and though I tried to hold his gaze, I couldn't and in the end, I had to look away. But this time he seemed unable to contain himself, as a moment later he chuckled softly.

"Sofia and you were very much alike, did you know that?" he said. "You both want the same things, though she always was a little more... forward about it. And you are both much too curious for your own good, too."

And as he finished talking he pushed his chair back and then he stood up.

"Get up." he ordered me, and I did as I was told, standing up hurriedly as I hung my head down.

I had made him angry, I realized, and the idea was terrifying.

Ignoring me, Alexei took a sip of wine while he looked at me, and then he placed his glass on the table before he headed towards the stern of the ship.

Without saying another word, he walked towards the stairs and I followed him silently, as we made our way lower and lower along the ship, until we arrived at the lower sun deck, where the tender was still tied off.

The water around the ship was perfectly flat, almost as if we were floating in a pool, and below us I could see the sandy bottom of the sea in perfect detail, illuminated by the ship's lights.

Then I saw Alexei turning towards me and I froze in place. As I did, he started walking in circles around me, like a shark swimming around its prey, all while I tried to stop trembling.

"How did you get that mark around your neck, Isabel?" he asked me as his fingers brushed my throat

His touch sent electricity coursing through my body, which only made me tremble harder. Unable to speak, I just looked at him as I swallowed nervously.

"Were you masturbating, perhaps? Tying something around your neck?" he said almost laughing. "It was your scarf, wasn't it? That is very dangerous..."

And as he mentioned the scarf I couldn't help but hang my head down in shame, which only served to tell him he was right.

"Ahhhh, I see... did you manage to cum, Isabel?" he asked me a moment later.

But there was no way I could answer that question, and as I felt my knees wobbling weakly, I hoped he would just forget about it. I wasn't so lucky, though.

"Answer me." he ordered.

And despite how humiliated I felt, I couldn't resist him.

"Yes..." I said automatically, my voice barely a whisper.

And as I did, he moved in front of me and he stopped. I could feel his eyes leering over my body as he smiled.

"Tsk, tsk... such a naughty girl..." he said a moment later as his hand pulled my chin up.

As he did I could feel his eyes on my neck as he licked his lips hungrily, and then his hand left my chin and he grabbed the zipper in front of my dress.

In one swift movement, he pulled it down and my dress fell to the deck, leaving me completely naked to him. I felt very vulnerable under his prying eyes, and though I wanted to cover myself, I knew I couldn't.

Then he moved behind me and he grabbed my hands one by one before he cuffed them behind my back. As he did, I felt my panic rising within me as I realized I was completely at his mercy.

"Does this make you scared?" he whispered into my ears a moment later as he fondled my ass.

Unable to speak, I simply nodded, and then I heard him laughing softly.

"Good. That is the idea... there is no point in denying it, you like it..." he said a moment later.

And as he did he slipped his hand between my legs and he ran his fingers along my pussy.

I was wet, so much so that it was useless to deny it, and instead, I closed my eyes as my body responded to his touch.

But just as I started moaning, he pulled back and he left me gasping for more.

"Kneel." he said a moment later.

And with trembling legs I did as he said, kneeling on the smooth wooden deck as he moved in front of me.

After slipping off his jacket, he pulled his pants open and he pulled his already hard cock out, pushing it towards my face. Almost instinctively I opened up my mouth and I swallowed it in.

This time it had a strange, musky taste to it that I couldn't identify, but it didn't matter. As Alexei stretched his arms high above him I started sucking his cock as best I could. Soon I was making wet, gurgling noises as my mouth filled with saliva while above me, he moaned in pleasure.

This time he let me do all the work, but I was grateful for it, as I could still remember how he had fucked my throat the last time.

Despite not being able to use my hands, I did my best to please him and he seemed satisfied with my work.

"Yeah... I like that..." he said a moment later, which filled me with a strange sense of pride despite my fear.

And as he did I imagined him cumming in my mouth and I started shuddering at the idea. A moment later I redoubled my efforts as I swirled my tongue around the head of his cock.

But before I could make him cum, he pushed me away and I looked up at him, afraid I had done something wrong.

"Bend over." he ordered me next.

I looked at him in confusion as with my hands behind me I couldn't get on all four, but he simply ignored me as he started undressing, first taking off his white shirt and then his pants until he was naked.

Once he was finished, he looked at me, his face suddenly angry, and I realized what I had to do.

I leaned back, resting my ass on my feet, and then I carefully lowered my face onto the deck before I raised my ass into the air. It was a very uncomfortable position, as most of my weight was resting on my neck.

He seemed satisfied, though, as a moment later he walked behind me, his hand trailing along my ass before he slapped it softly.

A moment later he knelt behind me and I felt him rubbing his cock over my pussy. As I felt the tip pushing inside of me I couldn't stop myself from moaning loudly, but instead of pushing his way in, he pulled back, leaving me confused.

At least, until I felt him pushing it against my asshole.

"Noooo..." I moaned weakly, but he didn't listen.

Instead, he kept pushing, forcing his cock into my asshole as I tried to relax. But the position and the fear didn't help, and neither was he patient. Instead, he just pushed, using brute force to stretch my asshole open as I gritted my teeth from the pain.

The moment the tip slid in me, he rammed himself as deep as he could into my ass, making me gasp from the pain.

Tears streamed down my face as I tried not to scream, and though it was the second time he had fucked my ass, I was still unused to the sensation and the pain was overwhelming to me.

Despite that, he started fucking me, pumping his cock into my defenseless asshole as I trembled under his body.

He fucked me slowly at first, but the more I loosened the faster he went until his thrusts were pushing me along the deck. It was incredibly painful, though, and soon my neck started to hurt as I tried to hold myself in place with it.

But despite the pain, or maybe because of it, I felt my body slowly responding.

The pain started to fade away, leaving my body burning with lust as he used me for his pleasure. It wasn't enough, though, and soon I wished I could play with my pussy while he fucked me, but the cuff didn't allow me.

Instead, I simply endured, hoping he would last long enough for me to reach my own climax, but it wasn't meant to be.

Not long after, his thrust became faster and more forceful, and his breathing became ragged and shallow until just as suddenly as he had penetrated me, he pulled out. I could feel my asshole gaping open obscenely between my legs as he threw me onto the floor, and then he rolled me over.

Before I could realize what was happening, he crawled over my body, holding his cock in one hand and he grabbed my head with the other.

Once more, I opened my mouth almost instinctively as he forced his cock into it.

Although he had just fucked my ass with it, I wrapped my lips around it as he pumped his cock a few times and then he finally came

Thick jets of hot and sticky cum filled my mouth as I did my best not to spill any. It was too much, I thought as he filled my mouth with it, and then he grunted loudly above me and he stood still.

He stayed like that for a few seconds and then he finally pulled back, panting and looking at me with lust in his face.

And as he looked into my eyes, I did my best not to spill his cum as I opened my mouth to show it to him. I could feel it oozing over my tongue, and as I did I saw him smiling in satisfaction. Only then did I try to swallow it, and though I thought it would be too much at first, I managed to swallow it all.

Once it was gone, I opened up my mouth once more to show him it was gone and he once more smiled in satisfaction.

But a moment later I started to feel sick. As the taste of my own bowels lingered in my mouth, I could feel his cum swirling inside of my stomach. It felt hot, almost as if it were boiling inside of me, and for a moment I thought I would puke it back up.

Despite that, he simply released my head and he left me laying on the deck as he stood up.

As he stood above me, I managed to look up. He towered over me, making me feel small and insignificant, nothing compared to him. He looked at me, clearly amused with me, and then he started to walk away without a word.

He had used me and then discarded me, not even bothering with my pleasure this time. It was humiliating, but despite how crazy it sounded, incredibly arousing too.

As I watched him walk away I felt my body shuddering with lust, as I licked my lips with hunger.

But this time he didn't leave, and instead I saw him heading towards the tender as I tried to twist my neck around so I could see what he was doing. Maybe this time he would fuck me again, I thought as he climbed on board the tender and he started looking for something.

A moment later I heard the sound of chains and he looked at me.

Afraid I would anger him again, I instantly looked away, and instead, I concentrated on the stars above me as I heard him shuffling something heavy around before he started walking towards me.

Then, finally unable to stop myself anymore, I looked up at him and saw him holding the small anchor the tender used, along with a length of chain.

"What are you doing with that?" I managed to ask as I felt my blood freezing inside of me.

But instead of answering me, he simply dropped the anchor onto the deck and it felt heavily just inches from my head, making me jump and scream in fear.

"Don't play coy, Isabel. You knew this was coming..." he said a moment later as he dragged the other end of the chain towards my legs.

Terrified, I tried to crawl away from him but I could only watch as he crouched by my side before he grabbed one of my legs.

"No... please..." I begged him as he started wrapping the chain around my ankle.

"Isabel... really... after all you have done..." he said mockingly. "I am surprised you are surprised, really."

Unable to answer I could only watch as he used a carabiner to tie off the end of the chain to itself, locking it tightly around my ankle before he released me.

"You want this, even if you can't admit it, you have been dreaming of this your whole life..." he said a moment later.

I wanted to plead for him no to do it, for him to set me free. I wanted to promise I would do anything he ever wanted, but I didn't. My heart was beating wildly inside my chest and my breathing became fast and ragged as panic started to fill my mind and then suddenly I had a moment of clarity and I looked at him.

"What did you do with Sofia?" I asked him once more.

This time, Alexei looked into my eyes and he shook his head.

"You will see..." he said as he placed his foot on the anchor. "I told you were too curious for your own good."

And with that, he pushed the anchor overboard. I disappeared in an instant, followed by a heavy splash in the water as the chain followed it.

As it did, time seemed to slow down and I could see the chain, almost in slow motion, as they slowly disappeared over the side of the ship. Then it pulled taught around my ankle and my heart stopped for a second.

"Nooo..." was all I managed to say before it started dragging me along the deck.

Desperate, I looked around for anything I could grab but there was nothing, and in less than a second I was falling overboard and into the water.

I splashed heavily, the water around me filling with bubbles and despite my struggles, I slowly sank towards the bottom, and as I did, I tried my best to hold onto my breath.

A few seconds later the anchor touched the bottom and I stopped sinking. I was floating halfway between the surface and the bottom, and though I had one leg free and I tried to swim upwards, the anchor and the chain were just too heavy and I simply couldn't pull them up.

Below me, I could see the white sandy bottom, and above me, floating in a halo of lights, the ship's dark hull, looking like a black hole that threatened to swallow me.

Desperate for anything that could help me escape, I started looking around and I finally realized that Sofia was floating just a few feet away.

She was naked, and her long dark hair was floating around her head. She had her hands bound behind her back, and a length of chain was tied to her leg, just like me.

Her skin looked almost white underwater, but what struck me the most was how calm and peaceful she looked, almost as if she had just fallen asleep.

But unlike her I was desperate, and as I ran out of air I looked up once more.

The surface of the water had calmed down, and above me, leaning over the edge, I could see Alexei looking down at me. He was smiling, and a moment later he nodded slowly and he turned away, leaving me alone.

I tried to tell myself that he was just playing, that he would come and release me, but as I did I looked towards Sofia once more and the truth became obvious.

And as it did, I realized that no one would come to save me, not this time.

And despite how scary it was at first, a moment later I felt as if a giant weight had been lifted off of me, and suddenly I stopped struggling.

Time seemed to slow down as I looked around, marveling at the beautify of the water and how peaceful everything looked, and suddenly drowning didn't seem so important.

A moment later I opened my mouth and I pushed what air remained in my lungs. As I did, I watched the bubbles rising towards the surface, mesmerized by their beauty, and then I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with water. The water felt cold as it filled my chest, but it wasn't painful as I had feared, just uncomfortable.

Relived, I looked around me once more, and I finally relaxed.

I knew I was dying, that I should have been struggling and panicking, but all of a sudden the idea seemed strangely unimportant.

Suddenly, I felt tired and drowsy, and as I slowly fell asleep I managed to look above me, towards the ship. Smiling happily, I closed my eyes for the last time as felt my mind drifting away into nothing, and then I was gone.