All Chapters of Dark Water: Chapter 61 - Chapter 66

Alcohol.The scourge of the earth and the source of all its joy!Lloyd had a discerning taste or liked to think he did and was always particular about what he drank. Despite his modest income, he prioritised quality, saving for a decent brand. The thought of stale beer and plonk for wine was enough to make him shudder.In some ways, it was a blessing. He hadn't wanted to go down the route of drinking cheap booze to knock himself out. There were other ways to deal with day-to-day stress. Getting drunk now and then was good enough.The rum Nathaniel had was of a strength seldom found on the streets. In fact, one probably needed a special licence to brew it that strong. It was bitter and burned his throat as it practically evaporated on the way down. But at that moment, it tasted like the sweetest honey after the hideous journey of his dreams. "Shit...how do...you stay sober?" He asked between hurried but tiny swallows, each drop making his body shudder with delight and disgust and sha

The repairs on the ship were slow and methodical.Despite Nathaniel's impatience, he understood the necessity of the slow pace of repairs and the potential consequences of haste. His legendary leadership became evident in his acceptance of the situation. Hasty repairs made for shoddy workmanship and usually led to a worse situation later. It was a bitter pill to accept. The whole aura of the island was not just unwelcoming, but hostile, as if the very air wanted to throw them back out to sea.It didn't dampen his temper, either. The slowness tore at his nerves, and the effort to conceal his impatience was a constant struggle.In stark contrast, Lloyd seemed unperturbed by the chaos around him. The clatter and grumbles were a mere whisper compared to the bustling restaurant he was used to. His mind was fixed on the text, and he concentrated so hard that his head throbbed as he tried to decipher the archaic script and faded lettering.'Pain is good for the soul,' he thought as he too

Lloyd was assaulted by the smell of dampness and mould when he stepped off the bottom rung and into the curtain of shadows. The thick expanse of darkness let little to no light penetrate its fibres, and what did served to showcase the glistening fungus that gnawed at the boards and made them treacherous to walk on.'Maybe this is another reason that alcohol is the most common fuel here,' he thought grimly, tentatively inching forward to secure his footing. 'There's not many reasons to stay sober.'Except Nathaniel. The thought came unbidden, and he smiled as warmth spread through his body and radiated through his amulet. It was almost as if whatever spirit the gem contained was determined to harness whatever positive energy it found."Thanks," he patted the throbbing stone. "I need all the warmth I can find."He was so focused on finding the right room without losing his footing that he didn't even notice the strange shadow seeping like tar from the wall and rising behind him in a