It took Dolphus just long enough for Mariner to turn back towards the window to process the full extent of what he said. HERE?? On the CREW??? They’d have to be part of the ghost crew, the ones we… can’t get rid of.
“R-Right,” Dolphus blurted out, stepping sideways out of the chair in extremely awkward fashion and nearly tripping over the leg of it as he made a cool and calculated scramble for the exit. He had crossed the threshold and left the door all but fully closed before the cold sweat across his skin from the last few minutes finally made itself apparent.
One of the cabins which now threatened from either side contained the wounded marine, probably still asleep from utter exhaustion. The thought of his potential presence drove Dolphus towards the stairs as fast as he could stride, ignoring everything else around him as he ascended them with his eyes shut.
With each passing day the voyage was getting more and more impossible. At least he could find some comfort in the fact that Ari had already seen the worst of him and didn’t have any reason to hate him, like so many others did.
I want to sleep. I’m so tired.