Borealis

Borealis
Mychael Black
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2014 Mychael Black

"Well, there goes our salvation."

Andrew gave his cameraman a cursory glance and slung one of the packs over his shoulder. They were finally here, on board the Borealis, and he was not about to let Chris' bouts of paranoia get in the way. No way in hell.

Andrew started down the steps to Deck 8 of the cruise ship. It had been lost at sea for nearly thirty years, and after a freak storm only two days ago, it had reappeared. Knowing the potential for hauntings on a ship this size, Andrew jumped at the chance to check it out. The moment he received the go-ahead from the owners, he and Chris had snagged a flight on the next chopper out.

Now here they stood, on Deck 9, the uppermost deck, of the long-lost Borealis. Andrew was buzzing to get to work. He stopped halfway down the narrow staircase and looked back up at Chris. "You coming?"

Chris hesitated for a second, then let out a slow breath. "Yeah, yeah." He started down the metal steps and Andrew turned back around to continue the descent. "Don't you think it's a bit odd that this boat has been floating for thirty years and there hasn't been a single eyewitness in all that time?"

Andrew chuckled. "Why do you think we're out here? No survivors whatsoever." He heard Chris grumble behind him, but he paid it little mind. Down below on Deck 8, the others were hauling more equipment inside. "Looks like everyone else is getting ahead of us," he said over his shoulder.

"I'm just glad we aren't here by ourselves," Chris groused.

Andrew stopped and turned around. "Dude, stop worrying, will you? I would never drag you out on something like this without backup."

"You have before," Chris said as he stood before Andrew.

"That was a house. We were fine then. Weren't we?"

Chris sighed and tousled Andrew's hair. "Yeah, we were. I'm sorry. I'm just nervous, I guess. Not used to being on a damn boat."

Andrew leaned forward to press a quick kiss to Chris' lips. A soft sound of protest escaped Chris as Andrew pulled back. "Later," Andrew whispered. "For the time being, however, we've got work to do."

Chris groaned. Andrew headed over to the others.

"Andrew! Chris! 'Bout time you two got your butts here!"

Andrew smiled when he saw Kate Burchette. Not only was she a close friend, but she was also their link to the spirit world. Andrew had only to mention the ship's disappearance to spark her interest into coming along. He hoped that her abilities would get some use on this trip. She had never been wrong before, but he had. He had the psychic abilities of a rock. He walked up to her and pulled her into a hug.

"Good to see you, love," she said with a wide smile. She looked over Andrew's shoulder and her grin widened even more. "Chris, you know you really should try harder to keep this man on a leash. He's going to drag you all over the world if you aren't careful."

"Yeah, I've noticed," Chris said. He shifted his pack and stepped around Andrew to give Kate a hug. "How ya been, hun?"

"Oh, you know." Kate shrugged. "Not too bad. Been trying to find work, seeing as how this stuff doesn't exactly bring in the money."

"You three ready?"

Andrew looked up and waved at the man standing in the doorway. "Be there in a second, Josh." He picked up the last case left on the pallet the chopper had dropped off, and then looked at Kate and Chris. "Shall we?"