Chapter Text
"Hello? Is someone there..?" I say nervously as I look around the dark storage room. "I heard you come in here..." suddenly, I step in something wet and squishy. I look down to examine what it is but its too dark, I turn on my phone flashlight and shine it at whatever it was I stepped in and froze. I was not expecting to see the rich elderly woman from the bar earlier.. Her skin was shredded, stomach torn open and her large intestine out next to her half.. chewed..? It looked like a wild animal had torn her open and left her as an unfinished meal... But as I look closer.. there's something Hiding behind a shelf, all I can make out are spines and.. pincers..? I froze. this can't be real.. There's just no way this could be happening right now. I don't know what to do.. so I give into my instincts and run. I run as fast as possible, my throat burns but I'm not sure why, had I screamed? And my legs ached from how quickly I'd started to sprint. But all that didn't matter right now. I just need to get to Byakuya's office and explain what I saw in that room..
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I gasp as I sit up in my bed sweating. I'd been having the same nightmare about what happened that night since the body was removed by the police. That was three days ago. I was given the past three days off to "recover" from what I'd seen.. Which is ridiculous! nobody is gonna recover from finding a fresh corpse with missing organs in three days, but my boss is Byakuya Togami so I guess I'm lucky I got more than just one day.
I haven't left my room since then.. But I go back to work today so I don't have much of a choice in the matter. I drag myself out of bed still groggy and annoyed at my subconscious for making me relive that yet again. I quickly take a shower, put on my uniform and make myself some toast for breakfast. The uniforms I'll admit are actually really cute, it consists of a black tuxedo, a white bowtie, and black trousers. It's surprisingly comfortable for work clothes, I hastily brush my teeth and then I leave my room to go set up the bar for the day.
As I walked into the bar area, I saw Kaito sweeping the floor near a table in the back. I wave at him and go to make sure the ice and napkins have been re-filled. After replenishing the supply of Ice and napkins, I begin to polish a wine glass. Kaito finishes up sweeping and runs up to me "Hey, Kokichi! How was your time off?"
"well it was about as good as it could be after seeing a monster eat someone's organs! it was so fun to watch!"
"Kokichi.."
"Ugh ok finee! I slept through most of it! happy?"
"No I'm not happy! someone died, and not in a comforting way."
"Boorringggg! can I finish setting up now? It's probably gonna be busy today since the best bartender is finally back."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever Ouma. But what did you really see?"
"I told you already! I saw a huge figure witch spines and pincers trying to hide behind the shelf! I feel kinda bad for the thing now that I think about it. That room was way too small to fit the damn thing. THE POOR THING WAS LITERALLY HUNCHED OVER AND CROUCHING!"
"Stop feeling bad for your imaginary monster. it's not real! you were probably just hallucinating from lack of sleep or something."
I let out a loud dramatic sigh, "Woww... The guy who wanted to be an astronaut but became a janitor on a cruise ship for stuck up rich people doesn't believe me, how tragic.."
"Oh be quiet Mr. "Supreme Leader". I'm still in school! this is just a summer job."
"suree whatever you say!" I finish up the glass and put it back in it's spot. The bar opens in ten minutes, that gives me ten minutes to prep the needed garnishes and set out the menus. Kaito leaves to go clean somewhere else since the entire bar is practically spotless.
Five minutes go by when someone opens the door, making me look up from the menus I was putting out.
"Sorry, we aren't open for another five minutes. if you'd like, you can go sit somewhere and I'll getcha something when we actually open ok?"
"Ah! um actually I'm a waiter here.. My first day was two days ago when you were out of work so I understand if you don't recognize me..." he rambled nervously, he seemed really flustered for some reason but I just ignored it. He's probably just stunned by my beauty, I smirk.
"Wowie! a new waiter? you seem fun, what's your name?"
"Oh, I'm Shuichi Saihara. Sorry, I should have said so earlier.."
"Nah it's alright, I'm Kokichi Ouma! and I'm the best bartender on this entire cruise." I brag to him, not exactly being serious.
"you're really the best one on the whole cruise? that's really cool.." Shuichi seemed pretty excited to meet me so I chatted with him until it was time to open. Hopefully the customers are more tame today, they can get really annoying sometimes..
three hours into my shift when two familiar faces come in and sit at the bar.
"well~ if it isn't the skank and the pianist! what can I get you today?"
"Nice to see you too ya fuckin twink! I'll have a damn Cosmopolitan and she'll have.. uhhh... whaddya want titless?"
"I'll have a Spritz please."
"Alrighty, that'll be out in just a moment!"
"psh cut the customer service act, we're friends aren't we?"
"Well excuse me for tryna be nice to you for once squid breath."
"EEeee! s-squid breath!?"
"Hey be nice, both of you! friends are supposed to get along."
"Awee I was just picking fun Kaede~"
"If you say so.."
I make and give them their drinks and we talk for a bit more. Honestly I'm really glad I gave Miu those free cruise tickets, this job would be suuuper lame if I didn't have anyone besides Kaito to talk to.
"Hey Kokichi..? Do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Hmm? Sure Kaede, Just keep it work friendly ok?~"
"I wasn't gonna ask anything weird! I just wanted to know.. were you lying about seeing a monster..?"
"Me? Lie? come on~ I would never do such a thing!" I pretended to be deeply offended by this accusation of hers.
"Kokichi I'm being serious."
"Ok, ok jeez! No I didn't lie about what I saw ok?"
"But something like that shouldn't be able to physically exist... Are you positive you weren't just seeing things because of shock..?"
"Maybe, buutttt~ are you guys gonna get another drink or tip me cuz I have other customers."
"Fuck yeah we'll have another drink!"
"Same as your last one?"
"yes please." Kaede said as she flashed me a quick smile before going back to chatting with Miu.
I make them a second round of drinks and go help other customers sitting at the bar. But I can't help but wonder if I was really seeing things that night. I hope this is just a dumb trick my mind is playing on me because I'd rather monsters stay in fiction instead of coming to reality. But ever since I found that womans body I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched.. I'm probably just being paranoid though. Nobody here would have any reason to stalk me that I know of, so I'll probably be fine.
My nine hour shift finally ended, I change into more comfortable clothes and practically throw myself into bed. Today was exhausting.. Not bad, just really busy. Why did Byakuya have to make me go back to work on a Friday? That's when everything is super busy! Oh well, at least I got to catch up with Miu and Kaede as well as meet that new waiter, He seemed like a really sweet guy. I take a deep breath and collect my thoughts letting my mind and body relax as I try and drift off to sleep. But I still feel like I'm being watched. And it really doesn't help that every time I close my eyes I see her body again... Her large intestine ripped out and half eaten, skin shredded from being clawed at.. All of her insides on display for the whole world to see.... I feel sick every time I think about it.
I decided to give up on trying to sleep. Obviously, that wouldn't be possible tonight. So instead I'm just gonna try to distract myself from my thoughts. I could draw, I could read, I could watch TV, I could write an essay on how much I hate pig feet.. The options are endless! I think I'm just gonna watch TV for now though since I don't feel like actually being productive at the moment. I power on the TV and scroll through possible shows and movies I could watch, I eventually decide on binge watching the Saw franchise. Probably not a good idea to watch horror movies while I'm literally being haunted by memories of finding a fresh half-eaten human body in a storage room on a cruise ship but oh well!
it's 2:00 am and I'm 4 movies in. The feeling of being watched hasn't left once, I'm probably just being paranoid but I can't help but be a little worried and freaked out.. I mean, sorry to keep saying this but somebody literally died. So I'm sorry if I'm being a little paranoid but personally, I really don't wanna be next! There's still so much I need to do in my life but hardly enough time to do them, so if I died now that'd just be sad. I sigh and turn off the TV, I need to get some fresh air..
I go onto the top deck of the cruise, I walk a few laps around before finally deciding on sitting by the pool. Personally, I think its nicer to sit by the pool at night because when it gets dark out the pool emits a soft calming glow. No, like it actually glows. There are lights installed into the sides of it that you can change the color of by simply pressing a button! I like to put it on a soft blue or purple. I think it's fitting for the evening, or technically early morning with the fact that its now 3:45 am. I sigh as I realize I should probably head back to my room, the only thing I'm absolutely sure of now is that I'm going to be absolutely drained at work later.