The Cruise 7 - Stop with the Act!

“Sorry, it’s stronger than myself. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said honestly. “I’m trying to figure out what happened to us last night.”

“First, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’ve never behaved this way with someone I've just met, but there’s something about you that makes me lose my reason and it’s freaking scaring me!” she blurted out exasperated, blushing even harder. “Second, you think I’m someone I’m not. I’m not this person, whoever the hell she might be. I’m not her!” she answered in distress. 

“If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way,” he noticed her anguished tone, and his eyes went from dark gray to black in a flip of a second.

“So I think it’s better for us to keep a distance from each other until we get back to Italy.” 

“I don’t think so,” he muttered.

“But I do. I came on this trip because I needed time for myself, and I won’t get it with you around me.” Ella twisted her fingers on top of her lap.  

“Ok, let’s stop playing games then,” he said matter of fact. 

“What do you mean?” Ella felt desperate suddenly.

“It’s impossible you’re not Claire. So just cut crap and tell me the truth. Nothing is gonna happen to you,” he assured her with contempt in his voice. 

“Claire! Who the hell is Claire??? Are you out of your freaking mind?” she looked at him aghast. 

“Stop with the act! I swear to God, I don’t know how you're alive, but we have time and you’re gonna tell me everything,” he blurted out gritting his teeth, trying to control his rage. 

“I know nothing about what you’re saying, and I’m starting to think you're a lunatic,” then Ella got her things and stood up.

Justin also stood up trying to block her from leaving. “Oh no, you’re not leaving yet. How do you explain this?” He got his cell phone, and scrolled the screen down looking through some photos, until he found what he was looking for, and showed it to her. 

Ella felt her blood drain out of her face. She couldn’t believe in her own eyes. Lots of pictures of her with him, even wedding pictures. She didn’t know what to do, and Justin was carefully observing her reaction to the pictures. The photo she paid more attention to, showed him hugging her. He seemed so very much in love with the girl, and Ella saw herself there. She knew It was crazy, but it was herself, besides the shorter hair it was her. How could that be possible? She was staring at the picture with wide eyes, and a chill went through her, making Ella start shaking. 

“I don’t understand. Where did you get these pictures? How can I be in these pictures? I didn’t even know you until yesterday! Is this some kind of prank?” she looked around her suspiciously. “Is this a joke, right?” 

“Do I look like joking to you?” he said, menacingly closing the distance between them. 

She looked again at the pictures, and in some of them she really could confuse herself, but in others she clearly saw that the woman wasn’t her. Impossible to be herself. 

“That’s not me in those pictures. I don’t have those cold evil eyes, that’s not me!” she yelled at him. Ella grabbed him by the t-shirt, and stared at him. “Look at me, tell me? Do I have those evil eyes? Tell me!” she bit back a scream.

Justin put his hands over hers, looking completely lost like he was drowning in grief.

“No, you don’t have those evil eyes. That’s exactly why I’m going out of my mind,” Justin was crumbling inside.

 “And if you hate her so much, why do you walk around with her photos in your phone? What kind of masochist creep are you?” slowly pacing backwards Ella looked around the room and found the exit. “Look, If… If this has to do… Do it with my father… I know nothing about his business, so leave me alone,” Ella stuttered, putting her trembling hands in front of her trying to keep him away. Her face was panic-stricken. Once more, she looked around afraid there was someone else. Suddenly, Ella ran towards her cabin, but Justin caught her midway and turned her around. She had tears in her eyes. 

“Get away from me! Leave me alone or I will start screaming for help!” she threatened him out of control. 

Seeing her so distraught and panicked, Justin let her go of her arm. She turned around and ran. He had walked to the ship’s balustrade when his phone rang.

“Justin?” and he yawned.

“George. Any news?” Justin asked without preamble. 

“Yes. I didn’t find too much on her, but I gathered a few details already.”

“Keep talking.” 

“Ok, let’s see… Ella Dawson, thirty-four years old, one younger sister and mother, father is dead, I couldn’t find much on her childhood, she lived her whole life in Tarrytown, NY. I also checked her school records, and later she graduated in software and web design. Now, she works for Brooks & D’Angeli Tech in Florence.” 

“Didn’t you find anything else? Are you sure all this information is correct?” Justin asked anxiously.

“That’s what I got in such short notice, there are some gaps in her data, but they are accurate.” George sighed. “What’s going on Justin?”

“She looks awfully like Claire…” silence.

“She’s not Claire. Claire’s dead, man. Stop torturing yourself. I’ll keep searching, and as soon as I have more, I’ll let you know.” 

“Thanks George, I appreciate it,” Justin disconnected and looked to the sea so calm in front of him. 

He didn’t know what to do at this point. He decided to let things cool down a bit and look for her again in the evening. But a question remained unanswered. How could they both look so much alike? Justin noticed that Ella stayed in her cabin the whole morning just leaving around noon and taking herself to the other side of the ship. He knew she was trying to avoid him at all costs, but it wouldn’t work.