Consequence

By Daniel Amspaugh

When Damien discovered his horrible boss was going on vacation, he couldn't resist the chance. He bought the last tickets and invited his friend Tasan along for a fun ride designed for murder and revenge. However, their new friendship with Heidy exposed lies, demons and a creature of the sea. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Amspaugh
• Release date: Jun 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781087889313

Book preview

Justin Lee Robles

How are you kiddo?

Special thank you to the talented artist Philipe Kling David. His work provided the cover. To be more specific, the artwork is a skirt called Tentacle Love. It’s also available as a sticker, leggings, t-shirts and a classic coffee - which I am buying right now. His work can be found by visiting redbubble.com and philipekling.com.

Tasan’s Fate

Do not be deceived . God is not mocked;

for whatever a man sows,

this he will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

Chapter One

On the edge of Long Beach, the cruise ship was securely attached to the pier. It was a majestic ship for the price. The ship didn’t look that grand as Damien and Tasan turned off Pier Rd., making the small decline into the parking lot where there were numerous cars heading to the front for passengers to embark.

True to Damien’s suggestion, it was past 11am, and he couldn’t help but look for his boss’s car. He usually drove a white Nissan, but if he knew his boss he’d select his older car to drive. It might sustain damage in the parking lot or theft. His boss was always a cautious and frugal man.

To Damien’s surprise this morning, Tasan had been ready and waiting for him when he pulled up to the house. Tasan enthusiastically opened the front door wearing a sombrero. A shawl draped over his shoulders and huge horned-rimmed glasses made him look like a drunken gringo who ran a marathon with drag queens.

Tasan broke out in a brae of laughter he was often known for. Once committed to something he gave 110%. For that reason, many people treasured his friendship.

Damien broke out in laughter. That works. He pulled the door open a little more. Damien wore a pair of leggings and a simple blue t-shirt. His arms were covered with rubber bracelets all the way up to his elbows. They were all black. He truly had no idea what they wore back in the 80s, but he wanted his friend to go so bad that he dared not say he didn’t know.

Yeah man! Tasan fully opened the door and looked his friend up and down. His eyes rested on Damien’s legs. Man, you need to get some sunshine in your life.

I’m part Mexican, Damien said. I don’t need sunshine. If you weren’t already faded a little you could see I’m naturally tanned.

What can I say? A cruise calls for a pre-boarding drink and bong hit. This could either be a lot of fun or an utter bore. I like to create my own fun anyway.

Damien now looked over to Tasan as he was parking the car. They were close to the entrance. The front of the car was facing the enormous ship, and already, a good number of people were making their way to the front. Some people had one or two bags while others had numerous. However, no one else wore outfits from the 80s and this wasn’t lost on Tasan.

Shit man, he said, bringing his hand down hard on the dashboard. I thought you said this was an 80s cruise? It seems like were the only pair to wear a Halloween costume.

Damien turned off his car and looked at the crowd. Tasan was clearly right. There were a lot of old people and a few children but no one else wore retro costumes. Instead, they elected to wear comfortable clothing and something that’d pass as normal.

Relax. We’re not even on the ship yet. Look at it this way. Damien pointed toward the crowd with his chin. They’re gonna wish they had thought of this. We are going to be very popular. It happens at every party. Someone does the extraordinary and boom! He eyes become wide with delight. His hand pretended to explode in front of his face as though it was a firework. People are wanting us in their company and they’re buying us drinks because we were the fun group that showed up to an 80s party ready to go.

You think so? Tasan asked.

Absolutely. Just look at these old fools.

There were a lot of them. Many of them beckoned for the two young guys at the front who had wheelchairs in front of them. A couple sat together on folding chairs, holding hands as though this would be their last trip together; and it probably was.

I guess you’re right. Should we go in now?

Let’s wait a second, Damien said.

Tasan looked annoyed as he stared at people huddling around the entrance of the ship. Most of them looked vibrant and ready for a cruise. It was obvious most of them have been on one before. Kids ran in circles. A group of silver-headed ladies huddled together and shared a cigarette, the last one before going to their rooms and taking a nap.

Are you going to be like this the whole trip? Tasan did a head roll in Damien’s direction. This is killing my buzz.

What do you mean? Damien’s eyes darted in every direction when a new car approached. I’m people watching like they do at airports.

No, Tasan corrected. It seems like you’re looking for someone.

I’m looking for my boss, Damien admitted. He said he’s going and I want to surprise him. What kind of surprise would I make if I saw him before the ship left? My boss wouldn’t go if he saw me. Let’s have a shot and head up to the rooms then. Let’s mingle.

Tasan seemed to like that idea and dug from his breast pocket a flask of alcohol. He uncapped it with ease and took a healthy swig. He handed it to Damien.

Thanks, he said.

Tasan unbuckled his seatbelt and looked at his friend. What is it with you and your boss? What’s his name anyway?

His name is Sergio. I’ve already explained to you about the raise he gave me. Damien tilted the flask toward his mouth and stopped. I was laid off. Sandy, the executive assistant, told me a few days ago. I wasn’t supposed to know but it still hit me in the gut. He took a swig, holding the booze in his mouth.

Shit man, Tasan said. I’m sorry.

Damien swished the liquor around his mouth a few seconds and swallowed in one gulp. I wanted to make an impression with my boss and do a good job, you know? Damien unfastened his seatbelt. I thought if I did that, and literally did everything he asked, he would defend my position and save my job. It didn’t happen. I think the decision came from corporate. Damien shrugged. I think if they really wanted to keep me they could’ve. This is my only chance to have some fun before I’m unemployed and really broke.

Tasan chuckled. I was going to ask why you’re taking a cruise at a time like this. Doesn’t seem like an ideal time.

I’m probably going to regret it later, but in my opinion it’s the best time. I don’t have to work around a job. I’ll be a slave finding a job and a slave after for the first year. Damien cocked his head as though he thought of something profound. It makes sense to me. Thanks for joining me. I had no other friend to ask.

Tasan seemed taken aback by this. You’re literally the only friend who’d invite me on a cruise anyway. Are you going to talk to your boss if you see him?

About the job?

Tasan nodded.

Maybe, Damien replied. They had to escort me out of the building. I wasn’t allowed to say goodbye to anyone. Next week would’ve been my tenth year anniversary.

Shit Damien. You should’ve told me.

I probably won’t talk to my boss about the job. I’m here to turn a new leaf. Damien pondered for a moment and came to some conclusion. He smiled, handing the flask back to Tasan. It wouldn’t matter if I talked my boss anyway.

It was true. When his boss made up his mind and his decision solidified, anything said beyond that was unsuccessful. His boss had the memory of an elephant when it came to decisions; he never forgot.

Damien stared out of the windshield. In front of him, numerous people walked briskly inside the port. They looked happy to be alive. It was something to do and a place to go. It was an exact opposite how he felt. The idea of unemployment, coupled with the poor raise, made him feel sick to his stomach. It made him angry. How could his boss not fight for his job after all of this time? He had proven his worth time and time again. It was never about coming here to get his job back. It was already gone.

Damien looked his friend in the eyes.  I’ll tell you more later. Come on. Let’s get to our cabin. 

Chapter Two

Their cabin was in the fourth deck, and nicer than Damien imagined. This was his first cruise. He had no desire at all to go on one after numerous articles mentioned disease and viruses on cruise ships, and once, he read where a rogue wave had hit the ship and instantly killed a person. How often did that happen? He had no idea if this was Tasan’s first cruise. It probably was.

Dude, Tasan said. Will you look at this room? He walked inside and dropped his bag on the floor. He plopped down on a bed. He officially claimed a bed as his.

Damien tried to look at the room, but all he wanted to do was laugh. Getting past security in a 80s outfit proved difficult. They had finished the flask before boarding the ship. Nearly every person on duty looked at them as though they were terrorists. Every person who had stopped them was forced to try on Tasan’s sombrero. By the fifth person, they laughed and waved them on, appreciating the fact it was a 80s cruise gone wrong.

I’m drunk. What time is it? Tasan asked. He still was laid flat on the bed.

Damien complacently sat down his bag near the end of his bed and looked around, finally resting his eyes on his friend. Just past noon.

Did you see your boss?

I wasn’t really looking, Damien answered.

Good, Tasan said. We’re here to have fun. I’m glad you weren’t looking.

That wasn’t true, though. When they first entered the building, Damien pegged him out right away. He was standing nearest the ramp. A few feet away stood a woman with light hair. She looked familiar to him, but they didn’t look together. They appeared like complete strangers and that suited Damien just fine. He didn’t want complications.

I thought you’d be looking for him. I’m glad you weren’t. This is going to be fun. We’re here to have a blast and get away. Tasan was still on the bed.

Damien said nothing at first and instead walked to the balcony. He’s always late to everything. He’ll be here at the last minute. Maybe he changed his mind? Damien spun around. A broad smile struck his face as he chuckled. Maybe we’ll meet some ladies.

Tasan rubbed his eyes with his hands and yawned. Remind ne to finish my story about my date. I started to tell you a few days ago. Tasan began to sit up. You still should have told me about your job. For support or something.

Damien smiled. Would you have joined me on the cruise if I had?

Tasan looked him square in the eye. "Yeah, man. Have you known me to not go to a party? "

Damien’s smile quickly faded. He knew he would normally catch hell for keeping a secret from his friend. Some things were left better unsaid until the right moment.

Chapter Three

If Damien wanted to be truly honest with Tasan, he could’ve told him a few reasons for wanting his boss on the cruise ship. He wanted to make the trip miserable for his boss.

It probably happened four months or so ago when, much to Damien’s surprise, he really didn’t want to go to work. This happened to everyone. Some people woke up, and they weren’t sick at all. They just didn’t feel like working. What’s a person to do when personal days weren’t given, or a boss who’d be too hardheaded to give some much-needed time off?

So, on this particular day, Damien called in sick when he wasn’t. In fact, he felt pretty damn spry. He just didn’t feel like working. Granted, it was the beginning of the semester for school, but becoming sick, or being unable to work, was never on a timely manner. On this day, Damien said his tooth was infected and he needed antibiotics. It seemed like the perfect excuse, right? Antibiotics were powerful and cleared up things quickly.

Much to Damien’s surprise, his boss flipped him off when he returned to work the next day. Sergio did one of those slick maneuvers and pretended to wipe something from his eye.

You have something right here, Sergio had said. With his fat middle finger, his boss proceeded to wipe something from his eyelid. 

A poor raise and being dismissed were things Damien couldn’t let go. His boss was an odd duck. That much was for sure. He also had these terribly burnt scars on his hand. Damien never asked what had happened, as he was highly sensitive about them. Damien assumed he was fishing for money he had thrown away or something dropped inside a fire. Only a blood sucking fool would do such a thing, and that fit his boss perfectly.

Did you see that kid? Tasan asked. He abruptly sat up in bed and shook his head as though to clear the cobwebs. He stumbled toward the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

No, Damien replied.

Damien picked up his bag and placed it on his bed. Only then did he permit himself to really look the room over. It was a cruise ship from the 80s all right. The bedspreads were tied-dyed and two enormous pillows were propped against the headboard on each bed. The pillowcases weren’t tie-dyed; they were a mishmash of designs, stars, moons, animals and neon colors. They were hideous. He undid the latch on his suitcase and slowly lifted the lid.

The bathroom door opened quickly and Tasan stood there stupidly.

Dude, he said. You’ve got to check out the bathroom.

I’m gonna have nightmares from those pillowcases. What about the kid?

Tasan ran and jumped on his bed. He grabbed a pillow, snuggling up to it. The other was shoved between his legs. Tasan broke out in a smile.

I love our room, but don’t let me fall asleep.

I won’t, Damien replied. Where’s the liquor?

Tasan heaved himself up and shook. He ran his hands down his face and stretched. We finished it, man. So, did you see that kid?

I said yes. I’m waiting for you to talk about it. You obviously have a story to tell.

Don’t be curt with me, Tasan snapped. He was still on the bed with the pillow tucked between his legs.

Damien and Tasan’s eyes met as they broke out in laughter. Tasan stood abruptly and snapped his fingers in a zigzag motion. He placed his hand on his hip. Don’t be curt with me! His head rolled around eyeballing Damien who stood a few feet away.

Damien laughed. It was good to see Tasan in a good mood. How long has it been since they were able to get out and get away? Maybe unemployment wouldn’t be so bad after all? Still, the thought of having to find another job and work again from the beginning wasn’t going to be easy. He had worked hard to secure his position and do it right.

Damien frowned, shutting his suitcase once again. I’m going to need another drink soon. 

Tasan stumbled to his suitcase. It was a huge affair watching him heave it on the bed as though he hadn’t worked out in months. On the third attempt, Tasan’s face tightened and a blood vessel protruded from his forehead as his arms dropped it on his bed. He sighed heavily with exhaustion.

Damien set out to work on his own suitcase. He began to open it again but stopped.

Let’s find the bar and wave goodbye to people outside.

Damn straight! Tasan looked more than eager to have another drink. He shut his suitcase enthusiastically and was already to the door that he quickly opened.

Let’s get a drink first, Damien said. You can tell me about that kid over a drink.

Tasan stumbled out the door