Phantom Universe Read Free Page A

they show interest. Summer is alone on this ship, no matter how many crew members live there. No one has lasted as long as she has, and her lack of communication skills automatically put her in the Don’t Even Bother With pile, therefore she’s been friendless for as long as she can remember.
    The new crew member, Jarvis, could potentially be a man that will rape her regardless of any warning from the Captain. There is just something off about him that puts Summer on her guard immediately. Between his eagle-like eyes and the smug smirk permanently etched into this pointed and angled face, lies something sinister. She’s seen more repugnant, vicious, vile, immoral men than she cares to admit. Actually, she prefers to not think about them at all. Regardless, she has never felt anything like this before. It’s like he’s dead inside—cold, stiff, and empty. Like he has no soul.
    “ Hey sweetheart,” Jarvis sneers and smirks at Karl like he’s so clever for that line. Karl is already on her list of Least Favorite Crew Members, and it seems that Jarvis will soon be joining it. “I’ve been awfully lonely these past few weeks. Could really use some company in my bed.” His fingers trail in her hair, and she jerks away in disgust.
    What? Don’t the fleas keep you company? she internally mocks, knowing she’ll never say it aloud. She can only imagine the punishment for that insult.
    “ I heard she dun’ speak at’ll.” Karl elbows Jarvis, though Summer wishes he would have aimed higher and hit Jarvis’s stupid, shiny bald head.
    “ Really? Nothin’?” He smiles like a mad scientist who’s just had a “brilliant idea,” and lets the decay of his teeth show. His breath is so gag-worthy that she almost loses her breakfast all over his dirty, old boots. Though, honestly, she doesn’t know if he would even notice with how grimy they already are.
    His brown eyes seem to lick across her skin as he examines her, his too-shiny head blinding her as the sun glares angrily back. His face is all rough and hard angles—not in a handsome way, but in a he-looks-like-he-eats-babies-for-breakfast kind of way. He winks at her, and her eyes snap down to the ground so she won’t have to stare into his emotionless eyes.
    Summer shudders with the thought of them doing the awful things to her she has nightmares about. She’s always hopelessly dreaming for salvation that she knows will never come. Maybe today will be the day , she daydreams.
    The men chuckle as they watch her, their gazes like slimy, foul caresses across the back of her neck.
    Or maybe not. She sighs internally, trying her best to ignore them. She continues to scrub the lower deck like it will wash their filthy minds away too. Maybe add some Comet to Jarvis’s mouth while she’s at it, though she’s not sure it’ll do the trick. Add a bottle of bleach , she thinks disgustedly. No, not even that will be enough.
    “ Ya know Karl, she’d be perfect. No screamin’.”
    Jarvis and Karl exchange a knowing—disquieting—look. Summer, trying her best to fold into herself and become invisible, subtlety moves farther away from them. In the distance she sees storm clouds rolling in and can’t wait to wash the sweat and grime from the long day off of her skin. Maybe a wave will crash over the side and take Karl and Jarvis with it. She sends a silent prayer to the sea gods.
    It’s been one of those days where it’s spent partially in the sun and partially cleaning the crew’s bathroom. And the men don’t aim to please. The thought of water cleansing the day away is the only thing she has to look forward to. She doesn’t know if she should laugh or weep at how pathetic that is.
    Jarvis slides down to the ground and leans toward her. “I’ve been watchin’ ya, by the way. From afar.”
    She trembles and hastily moves away to clean somewhere else, not caring how obvious it is this time. The thought of him watching—noticing—her when she didn’t know herself