Jake had no idea what was happening, but there was one thing he knew for certain—the Queen was leading him somewhere he didn’t want to go.
He walked behind her, feeling every step heavier than the last. The island’s air was thick with salt and the distant sound of crashing waves, but there was an eerie stillness around them, as though even the breeze was holding its breath. The Queen moved ahead of him, her pale dress flowing gracefully behind her, barely touching the ground as she moved. Her long, pink hair swayed gently behind her, shining softly in the fading sunlight. She looked serene, untouched by the world around her, like something from a dream—or a nightmare.
Jake’s eyes flicked to the guards who followed them, their heavy armor clanking with every step. They moved in unison, their presence cold and unyielding, eyes fixed forward, unblinking. They said nothing, made no noise—yet Jake could feel their gaze, the weight of it pressing down on him like a heavy burden.
The further they walked, the more Jake felt the tension building in his chest. He wasn’t sure where they were headed, but with every passing moment, he could feel the pull of something terrible lurking ahead. His feet moved automatically, as though his body was acting on its own, too scared to stop. His mind screamed for him to turn around, to run, but his legs refused to obey.
He tried to steady his breath, tried to calm the panic rising in his chest, but nothing helped. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but there was none. All he saw was the Queen’s back, her movements so fluid, so graceful—too perfect. Everything about her felt like it didn’t belong here, like she was from a world far beyond this one. And yet, here she was, walking as if she had always been a part of the island.
Finally, they reached a dock. The wooden planks creaked beneath their feet as they stopped, and Jake felt his heart skip a beat. There, resting gently in the water, was a yacht—gleaming and pristine, its white surface almost blinding in the soft light. It looked like something from a different world, like it didn’t belong here in this wild, untamed place.
Jake froze for a moment, his eyes widening. He didn’t know why, but the sight of the yacht made his stomach churn. Everything about it felt wrong. It didn’t fit with the island, with the rough, untouched land they had just crossed. It felt foreign, like a symbol of something Jake couldn’t fully grasp.
The Queen turned toward him, and her gaze softened when she saw the expression on his face. She tilted her head slightly, her gentle smile never wavering. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked softly, as if trying to reassure him.
Before Jake could respond, the Queen stepped forward and motioned to the yacht with a delicate wave of her hand. The guards behind them remained silent, watching him with impassive eyes.
Her eyes met his, and for a moment, Jake could feel the weight of her gaze pressing on him. She wasn’t just looking at him—she was seeing him. There was something unsettling about the way she watched him, like she was peering into the very depths of his soul. She smiled again, her expression calm and gentle, almost like she wasn’t a threat at all.
Her voice, soft and melodic, broke the silence. “Come. Step aboard,” she said, her tone coaxing, yet unwavering.
Jake’s heart raced. He had never felt so torn in his life. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to turn and escape before it was too late. But his legs felt like they were rooted to the ground. The yacht was right there, inviting him in. The Queen’s eyes held him in place, a subtle force he couldn’t explain.
For a moment, Jake stood frozen, caught between fear and curiosity. The longer he stared at the yacht, the more it seemed to pull him in. His mind screamed at him to run, to do something, but he couldn’t move. He had never felt more helpless in his life.
Then, without thinking, Jake suddenly found himself taking a step backward. His heart was pounding in his chest, adrenaline flooding his veins. He turned around, his feet moving quickly now, faster than he had ever run in his life. He had to get away. He couldn’t go on that yacht, he couldn’t.
But as he started to run, he heard a soft command behind him, and without even turning around, Jake knew the Queen had given a signal. One of the guards moved quickly, his heavy boots thudding against the wood as he stepped forward.
Before Jake could react, there was a sharp sound—like a crack of a whip—and a dart whizzed past his ear. His heart stopped, and everything slowed down. He felt something sharp sting his neck, and then the world started to blur. His body became heavier, like he was sinking into a fog, and the ground beneath him seemed to tilt.
His legs wobbled, and before he knew it, his knees hit the cold dock. The panic in his chest rose, but his body wouldn’t listen. His vision flickered, the world spinning faster, the voices of the Queen and the guards becoming distant and muffled.
The last thing he saw before he crumpled to the ground was the Queen. She was walking toward him, her smile still in place, her eyes calm and serene. As she approached, she didn’t rush, didn’t hurry—her movements were as slow and deliberate as ever. Her gaze never wavered, and when she finally stood above him, her shadow fell over him like a cloak.
He tried to speak, to beg, but no words came out. The sleep had already taken hold, and the darkness came quickly.
When Jake woke up, he was no longer on the dock.
His mind was foggy, his vision blurry, but something about the soft, rhythmic rocking beneath him told him that he was no longer on solid ground. He blinked a few times, trying to clear the haze from his head, and as the world slowly came back into focus, he realized with a jolt that he was lying on a plush seat.
A strange warmth spread through his body as he tried to move, but he was too disoriented. Slowly, he became aware of a soft presence next to him. His head felt… supported. He looked up and found himself staring at the Queen, who was sitting beside him. Her lap was the soft surface his head had been resting on, and her fingers were gently running through his hair, almost affectionately.
Jake’s heart raced in confusion. Why was she so calm? Why was she playing with his hair? Wasn’t he supposed to be dead? Or at least, in trouble?
She tilted her head and smiled warmly, her soft voice breaking through his daze. “I don’t think I know your name,” she said, her eyes studying him closely, as though savoring the moment. “What is it?”
Jake blinked, his throat dry, the words coming out in a rasp. “Jake,” he managed to say, barely above a whisper. “Jake Connors.”
She smiled wider. “Jake.” She let the name roll off her tongue, as if testing it. “It’s lovely.”
Before he could respond, her fingers gently pressed on his shoulder, urging him to relax again. “Shh, it's alright," she said softly. "You're safe.”
Jake’s breath was ragged, his pulse pounding in his ears. His gaze darted around the yacht. He hadn’t been aware of it before, but now he could see it clearly. The yacht was sleek, luxurious, and it was moving—heading somewhere. But where?
He swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. His voice came out shaky, unsure. "Where… where am I? Where are we going?"
The Queen didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she continued to stroke his hair gently, her eyes soft, her smile never leaving her face. Her gaze was so calm, so unbothered by everything that had happened, that it made Jake’s heart race even faster. She was dangerous. He knew that now, but in this moment, he couldn’t quite understand how.
After a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice as soothing as before. “We’re going to a place where things will become clearer for you. You’ll understand soon enough, Jake.”
Jake blinked in confusion. “Am I… am I going to die?”
Her smile softened further, and for a moment, Jake thought he saw a flicker of something behind her eyes—a hint of something darker, but it was gone in an instant. She leaned down, her face close to his. She tilted her head ever so slightly, as though considering his question with gentle care. Then, without a word, she lowered her lips to his forehead and placed a soft kiss there.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered as she pulled away, still smiling. “Sit tight.”
Jake could barely process her words, still caught in the strange daze of the sleep dart, but as she stood up, the motion of the yacht causing the floor to shift beneath him, she walked gracefully toward the front of the boat. The guards were there, silent as ever, steering the yacht forward into the vast ocean.
Jake couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. The Queen’s presence was overpowering, and no matter how much he wanted to resist, he couldn’t deny the pull of her strange allure. He felt like he was caught in a tide he couldn’t escape, and for the first time in his life, he was utterly powerless.
As the Queen walked away, Jake felt an urge to explore, to find something to distract himself. He pushed himself up from the plush seat, his legs unsteady. The yacht’s interior was sleek and luxurious, but his mind was too filled with unease to enjoy it. He wandered up the stairs to the second floor, his curiosity driving him.
There, in the corner of the room, he saw it—a food bar. The shelves were stacked high with fruit, snacks, and bottled water. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until he spotted the watermelon on the shelf.
Without thinking, he grabbed the largest one, nearly dropping it as he set it down on the counter. The juicy fruit looked perfect. He had to eat something—anything to get his mind off the weird situation he was in.
Just as he was about to slice into it, a voice interrupted him. The Queen appeared in the doorway, her smile wider than before. “I see you found my snack bar,” she said in her soft voice.
Jake froze, watermelon still in hand. He looked up at her, unsure what to do. The way she was looking at him, the calm in her eyes—it was too much.
“No, no,” she added with a laugh, stepping toward him. “You can keep it. Enjoy. It’s all yours.”
Jake stared at her, blinking in disbelief. “Thanks,” he muttered, unsure what else to say.
“Better get some more sleep, though," she smirked. "It’s getting dark.”
She turned away, and Jake slowly nodded, his head still spinning. He took a bite of the watermelon, its sweetness briefly distracting him from everything else. But as he ate, the soft sound of the TV clicking on filled the air. He turned to see the Queen had switched it on for him.
Jake didn’t mind. The TV played a show that kept his mind occupied and numbed some of the anxiety gnawing at him. After a couple of hours, feeling more relaxed than he had been all day, he sank back down onto the cushions. His eyelids grew heavy, and despite everything, he couldn’t fight the exhaustion any longer.
Within minutes, he was asleep again.
ns3.19.64.3da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.