First Encounter Gone Wrong

As Trisha stood on the ferry bound for Azure Bay island, her stomach churned with a mix of emotions. Among the crowd, she felt the weight of her troubles. She struggled to contain her feelings as she needed time to compose herself and sort through the turmoil in her mind.

Like a broken record, her mother's hurtful words from their earlier conversation on the phone echoed in her mind, none of it making sense.

Why was her mother against her visit to Azure Bay Island? Didn't her mother understand that she didn't choose this herself?

Her mother didn't seem to get that Trisha was at a crucial point in her life.

All her mother seemed to care about was Trisha's financial success, regardless of the challenges she faced.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she moved away from the other passengers, seeking solace and solitude at the stern of the ship. The tumultuous wind there was incredibly fierce, whipping around with relentless force. The air seemed charged with an intense energy, almost as if nature itself mirrored the turmoil within her soul.

Standing alone at the stern, she watched the mainland she left behind, feeling empty and dejected as if she left it for endless time. The salty breeze whipped through her hair as she gazed at the horizon, the waves crashing against the ferry's hull. With each passing moment, she felt uncertain but determined to face whatever challenges awaited her there on this remote and daunting journey.

A frustrated growl rushed from her throat as she held onto the handrail tightly, blaming herself for this new mistake. It wasn't just the argument with her mother last night as she'd made such similar errors countless times before.

Trisha rubbed the dull ache building in her glabella, an area between her eyes, and stared at her surroundings.

She found herself traveling to a foreign location on a quest that seemed more bizarre than fiction. Azure Bay Island did not even appear on any map, so she was completely lost and felt as though she had been thrown in the middle of nowhere with no idea where to go.

Why must she have today, of all days, to start her journey, to unknown place with strangers? 

Escape.

The desire to escape weighed heavily on her mind. She wanted to vanish, to travel far away from painful memories.

A stray tear wandered down her cheek again and she banished it with a swipe. It was the tenth anniversary of her father's passing—a day that had stolen not only her dad but also her hopes and dreams. The word "FAILED" seemed to etch itself angrily on her heart.

Her dreams of building a life with Damon fell apart, making her feel deeply down in the dumps. His betrayal left a void, mingled with the pain of her impending banishment to the distant island. This sudden change left her lost and miserable, uncertain about what the future held.

The thought of starting over in a strange place added to her worries, making her feel alone and overwhelmed by how quickly everything had changed in her life.

Amidst the crashing waves, she couldn't hold back her tears and pain any longer, crying out in distress. "Arrgh!! Why does everything fall apart? Why life is always unfair to me?" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

Trisha was immersed in her emotions near the stern, while Dashiell wandered aimlessly from a distance, en route to Azure Bay Island. His journey from the city to the harbor center took nearly two hours, followed by a ferry ride for another boring hour. Upon reaching the sea port on the island, he needed another mode of transport to reach his final destination. It was really a long, exhausting journey.

Gazing out at the sea, Dashiell murmured to himself, "Such a dull day. I wish something exciting would happen."

At the same time, tears streaming down her face on the deck as Trisha muttered, "This day is just awful! I wish something good would happen."

Startled by her crying, he spun around, muttering, "What's that noise? Who's that girl?"

Deeply engrossed in her distress, Trisha remained unaware of his presence, but he seemed concerned about her feelings, silently watching from a distance.

Seeing her gaze fixed on the sea below while standing on her tiptoes, he muttered to himself, "What the fuck is she doing there?"

Watching her in such a miserable state, a thought flashed through his mind: she might be attempting suicide.

With the notion firmly planted in his mind, he cautiously approached her. At some point of carelessness, Trisha's knees went weak and wobbly, making her trip over a rope nearby.

The sudden imbalance almost sent her plunging into the sea below before a strong hand swiftly gripped her waist, preventing the imminent fall.

Trisha gasped in shock as the strong hand firmly clasped her waist, keeping her from the fall. She turned to see a handsome stranger staring at her with concern.

"Hey, are you okay?" Dashiell's voice carried genuine worry.

"Yeah, I... I think so," she stammered, still reeling from the near-miss.

"Be careful, that was close," he cautioned, his eyes scanning the area for potential hazards.

Dashiell offered her a reassuring nod before glancing around warily, as if guarding her from an unseen threat. Trisha couldn't shake off the sense that there was more to this man than what it seemed.

With a concerned expression, he asked, "You looked so desperate just now. Were you trying to—"

Trisha interrupted, shaking her head vigorously and snapped, "No, no, I wasn't trying to... I mean, I'm not..." Her face turned as red as a tomato, feeling awkward and embarrassed as he thought she had a failed attempt of suicide.

His brow furrowed in confusion, "Then what—"

"I didn't mean to jump. I just lost my balance," she retorted quickly.

His expression softened as he realized his assumption. "I'm sorry, it must be misunderstanding. I thought... you were trying to kill yourself."

She frowned, irritation evident in her expression. "What? No! That's ridiculous! I wasn't trying to do anything like that!" She was edged with both anger and annoyance at the misunderstanding. "Sir, who do you think you are? Stop interfering in situations you don't understand."

His expression shifted. Damn! That woman really had sharp tongue! But of course, he didn't voice his frustration loudly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to intrude or upset you. I misunderstood the situation entirely."

"Clearly," she replied tersely, still rattled by his mistaken assumption. "I appreciate your concern, but I was just clumsy, I wasn't trying to end my life."

Dashiell couldn't resist a witty response with sarcasm. "Well, that's a relief. We can't have you haunting the ferry, scaring off the passengers with your ghostly presence now, can we?"

Rolling her eyes widened, Trisha shot back with a hint of irritation. "Trust me, Mr. Stranger, if I were a ghost, I'd find better places to haunt than this rickety old ferry."

Dashiell offered a solemn nod and then simply turned away, leaving Trisha to her thoughts. As he walked away, he muttered to himself, "What a crazy woman! I clearly saw she was trying to harm herself. She's just too embarrassed to admit it."

Trisha watched him leaving with a swirl of emotions churning within her, until his figure became a distant silhouette on the horizon. "Unbelievable! I never asked for any help," she grumbled irritably under her breath. 

An hour later, Trisha climbed down from the ferry among the crowd. Following the company's instructions, she was to find a blue SUV car waiting for her in front of the port and drive it to the Azure Bay Resort project site. There was no reception or any person to pick up.

While driving the car, she enjoyed the view, taking in all of its peace and beauty and allowing her senses to be fascinated with the gorgeous terrain.

After a few minutes drive, the blue SUV jolted and faltered, catching her eye with the neon-orange needle resting on the gas gauge. Empty. Damn it!

Frustration boiled within her, releasing a growl of annoyance as she guided the car onto the fresh spring grass beside the country road. She switched off the ignition, leaning her head back against the seat in disappointment, scolding herself for the oversight.

"Stop grumbling, Trish," she scolded herself, grabbing her cell phone and checking it, only to find no signal, as expected.

She stepped out of the car to survey the surroundings. Standing amidst a valley, there were nothing but tree-dotted pastures and a few cows, and the sea far off in the distance.

Suppressing the surge of panic, she took deep breaths to calm herself. Closing her eyes, she imagined a kind grandmotherly figure pulling up in a car to offer a kind help. Her eyes blinked open with a scoff. "Yeah, right. I'm no village girl. And Prince Charming? It was just a fairy tale," she muttered, dismissing the improbable scenarios.

Her failed relationship was a proof enough. She didn't believe in that kind of romance anymore.

Waiting around for a rescue just wasted daylight. Grabbing her purse from the seat, she slammed the car door shut and marched towards the project site.

Pain shot through her toes, creeping into her feet, prompting a frown as she glanced at her shoes. High heels were definitely not ideal for trekking along country roads.

Juggling her purse from the discount store on her arm, she rummaged inside, hunting for the keys while hurrying back to the car. An abrupt realization struck, compelling her into an awkward run, and a choked sound escaped her throat.

"Oh, hell no, not again!"

The keys swayed from the ignition, taunting her like a treat just out of reach.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Trisha tilted her face toward the cloudy sky.

"Why does everything seem so unfair?"

The quiet countryside offered no reply, enveloping her in silence.

As she continued on the journey towards Azure Bay Resort, a serene quietness enveloped her. The only sounds were occasional bird songs and the steady thud of her heels on the rugged pavement. It was peaceful, a stark contrast to the constant bustle of the city.

The early spring trees adorned the countryside, extending beyond the barbed-wire fence into vast open fields, while the breeze tousled her hair. Inhaling the fresh air, her tense shoulder muscles relaxed. A distant rumble caught her attention, drawing her gaze to the cloudy sky.

"Great, just great!" she muttered to herself, exasperated by the string of mishaps.

Heavy raindrops struck her face and speckled her shop designer jacket. In no time, she was soaked, the taste of makeup running into her mouth. She kicked at a rock, a sense of self-pity washing over her just like the rain soaking through her dry-clean-only suit.

Shivering, she huddled and drew the damp jacket closer, trying to ward off the chill.

A stinging sensation in her left little toe suggested a blister forming, but she continued limping forward, her mind fixated on the prospect of being rescued. Could anyone happen passing by and lend her the much-needed help?

She tried to push the thought away. One thing was clear: her drenched-like-rat appearance wouldn't leave a forgettable first impression. Unfortunately, not in a positive way.

A distant engine's faint rumble grew louder behind her. Finally. A small relief trickled in, but then fear clawed its way into her heart. What if it wasn't a kind grandmotherly woman? What if it was someone dangerous, a masochist, or a serial predator killer who preyed on women who were walking alone?