Chapter 87 - Wishful Thoughts

Anya initially checked the surveillance video of where those men went after attacking them near the cafe. To waste her time, they were all scattered as if waiting for someone or something. Hence she had to backtrack to find out where they came from. 

The camera in the stateroom and public area are more at regular space than the camera at the crew space. Anya had to struggle a little to keep track of the right camera.

She wasn't surprised to find out those men weren't from the guest section but the crew section. The crew section was divided into two more sections. middle, and lower sections. Those men were from the lowermost section. She wasn't sure if those people were cleaning staff or engine room staff. 

A question appeared in her mind. 'Who allowed those men to enter the public space?'

The cruise ship has various spaces. The public space where all the guests of the cruise ship can enjoy, such as shopping, restaurant, play area, fitness center, open view decks, and so on. 

The stateroom is the space where all guests have allotted high-standard cabins or suites with many perks.

The restricted area for the guests is the crew space where the staff and the crew members of the ship sleep. 

The crew members are the engine room staff, cleaners, and other labor work people, they live in the lowest deck on small cabins. The ship's staff are the chefs, workers, waiters who live on the upper deck, below the guests' space. Whereas the captain, vice-captain, and officers will live in the stateroom space same as the guests.

The crew staff isn't allowed to enter the guest area. If those men were cleaning staff, they should wear their uniforms. But those men were in casual wear. So an officer is backing those men.

Is Berwick involved with them?

Finding the whole situation getting complex, Anya buried herself in the laptop, shutting the world around her. It's a matter of her and Alvin's life. She wasn't ready to take it lightly.

After some time, she came to a conclusion about Berwick. Berwick didn't meet these men even once. He had no idea about the crews attacking them. 

"Alvin, those men are in large numbers." As per her analysis, they couldn't be just normal ship staff, so they must be Harper's men, "They are disguised on the ship as crew. We better avoid them one more day." Her voice was filled with concern and caution. 

Going against so many people was stupidity when they have no way to escape. Anya wouldn't have chosen to avoid those men like cowards if they were on the land. She didn't want to take the risk and stayed objective.

Without realizing Alvin had left the room, she continued to work and fetch more details. She soon noticed the three men who she and Alvin had seen on the lido deck meeting those men who attacked them in the shopping area. Following those three men, Anya saw those men enter and exit a suite.

'A suite?'

A suite could either belong to a guest or an officer. Other than Berwick, another man was handling Harper's plan.

She hacked the system to find out who stays in that room. As soon as she read the name, Anya looked at the screen in disbelief. "Alvin!!"

Numerous thoughts ran in her mind waiting for Alvin to reach her but didn't get any response. Turning behind, she saw a vacant room, she turned to the ensuite and was stumped.

She should have doubted Alvin a long time back. He wasn't the type to silently leave. So it was an easy guess for her that he went out to handle those men. "Alvin Matthews, you idiot."

She again started working to find out where Alvin was instead of running on the passageways or shopping area aimlessly. As soon as she spotted him, her eyes widened. Those men were covering Alvin in all ways while trying to avoid the cameras. She quickly hid the laptop at the desk and fled out of the room.

—--

At the passageway outside the stateroom,

Alvin expected he might have to look through many decks to notice those men. He was just getting to the public space of the deck when he noticed the one among so many men. Though that man pretended like he didn't see Alvin, The latter's attention was on him. 

That man went aside for some time and returned to keep an eye on Alvin. The latter stood and watched the ocean waiting for those bunch of men to gather at one place. He didn't have time to handle them one after the other the whole day.

He lazily folded his sleeves as he looked around. It was better to choose a non-surveillance spot so he walked by the passage making note of the cameras.

In the public space or the stateroom, everything was under tight surveillance and constant patrol. He went towards the lower decks but was stopped by the security men.

"Excuse me, sir, the guests aren't allowed in the crew space. Please return." A man in a security uniform strictly stated the restriction.

Alvin was aware of that rule. He tested if the security was mixed with those men. Looks like it wasn't the case. He looked at the three officers and stepped away silently. He should make those men take him downstairs. 

He stood at the passageway looking at the ocean when those men sneakily went closer. Well, Alvin made them believe that they were being sneaky when he could clearly count their steps. He didn't react even when a man was right behind him. 

Suddenly a small pointed object was placed on Alvin's back and the man held Alvin's shoulder in a tight firm grip. Alvin had heard from Anya that there were firearms on the ship. This object didn't feel like a forearm but a knife or something used just to scare him.

The man went further close behind Alvin and threatened in a low voice, "Do as I say. Or else I will stab you." 

Yet, Alvin was too cool. He long back knew those men's aim wasn't to kill him or Anya. Taking the current situation around Harper, he was being attacked due to his name, 'Collins.' 

These men were probably thinking capturing Bernard Collins' son and daughter-in-law could weaken Bernard and listen to Harper's demands. 

Alvin's face suddenly darkened and his eyes glinted coldly when the sharp tip of the knife pierced his back a bit. A stinging pain shot through his nerves although the knife didn't go deep. He felt a warm liquid slowly trailing on his back, yet he appeared very cool. Neither there was pain nor fear on his face.

Like an obedient puppet, Alvin turned and walked towards the direction the man pushed. That man didn't realize Alvin wasn't scared, not just that man, the other men didn't notice either.

Alvin made a note that those men didn't take him to the entrance that leads to the lower decks. Rather they seemed to take him on a different path. Alvin saw some of the men entering a room. He wasn't sure what was in there but he was determined to leave these men's disabled bodies inside.

"Alvin…" Suddenly a female's squeal sounded around pausing everyone in action.

Alvin was shocked to hear Anya's scream. He gritted his teeth thinking somebody entered the room in his absence. He held the man's hand that was holding a knife on his back. He didn't want to take the chance of getting stabbed if he tried to move away.

Alvin was yet to break the hand he was holding when he saw Anya in the midair. The fear flashed in his eyes, his heart rammed against his chest as his eyes widened witnessing her fall.

'Thump.' 

The men who witnessed it started scurrying away as the ship's security will arrive soon due to Anya's scream. The men who were inside the suspicious room immediately closed the door without waiting for others to enter. A few men started running here and there. The man who was behind Alvin struggled to get out of Alvin's clutch.

Alvin was so shocked he took a moment to fathom the situation though his eyes were on Anya. The latter who pretended to fall for the attention of the security jumped to the lower deck smoothly. She noticed all the men running away and Alvin safe.

Alvin saw her stand back on her feet and run towards him. There was panic on her face that slowly replaced with relief. He discerned she wasn't attacked, she came in search of him. 

She had jumped the Oasis tall security wall so easily. So how could a few feet leap hurt her?

Alvin breathed a long sigh of relief. Was this woman trying to give him a heart attack by screaming like that? He should give a lesson to his Little Donut.

Anya pursed her lips and frowned looking at his expressionless face. How could he be so cool even after those men surrounded him? Only she knew how her mind ran wild with negative thoughts, picturing those men hurting Alvin. 

She commanded him angrily, "Don't leave me behind. Take me with you, wherever it might be." She wasn't a weak little girl to sit and wait. She could also fight those men if needed.

Alvin intently gazed at her unwavering eyes. Does she even know what she was saying?

One who used to eagerly wait for him in the library was eager to get rid of him. Why will he dare to have wishful thinking?