21 The Island Disappeared
Amaya went inside the bathroom. She took off her clothes folded them neatly and placed them on top of the sink. She went under the shower and rotated the knob as Marx showed her earlier. A strong spray of cold water came out of the shower head.
Amaya was shocked by the cold. She frantically turned the knob and the water turned hot she was almost scalded.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed. She instinctively stepped out of the shower to escape the hotness. She learned her lesson so she adjusted the water temperature and tested it with her arm. When she deemed the temperature to be just right she stepped back and continued showering.
Amaya saw three strange-looking jars at the side. She remembered Marx mentioned she can use them during her shower and he showed them how to flip the cap to open them. She read the label. The first one was a conditioner, the second one a shower gel, and the third one a shampoo. She smelled and tested each one. She used the conditioner to wash her body. While it smelt good, the lather quality was not good.
She finally noticed the fine prints on the label written in Usturian. While she learned how to read, she still struggled with so many words at once. In the end, she used her sense of smell and just used the body wash to clean her hair and body. It took her an hour to complete her shower.
She took a towel from the top of the rack and rubbed her wet hair and body with it. She loved the feel of the towel on her skin. It was so soft and fluffy. After rubbing her hair dry, she hang the towel and studied herself in the mirror. She had seen her reflection in the pools on the island but the wall before her was reflecting her face clearly, she felt as if she was looking at another person who looked like her.
She used her fingers to comb her hair like she always used to. She did not realize that there was a comb and a brush in the drawer.
She left the bathroom fully naked. She slipped on the underwear and it felt soft and comfortable. She then wore the skirt. It has a garter at the belt and there was no need to tie them with strings to secure them.
She attempted to put on the bra but struggled for a long time. She had difficulty reaching the strap at the back. After a few attempts, she finally succeeded.
She heard a knock on the door. She did not know what to do so she just waited. The door opened but Marx stopped on his track when he realized she was half naked and closed the door again.
"I'm sorry. Let me know once you are done changing." He mumbled.
Amaya's upper garment which was a short-sleeved cardigan was very easy to wear. She was done in no time. She opened the door and flashed Marx a girly smile.
"Come, I'll take you to the deck." He held her hands and led her to a few flights of steel ladder until they reached the deck.
It was almost sunset. Amaya scanned the horizon but all she can see was water everywhere.
"Where is the island?" She asked.
Marx pointed to the direction of the south. "We traveled at maximum speed so we will have a safe distance when the volcano erupts. It is a major eruption that will affect the world's weather in the next few weeks."
Marx visited the lowest deck of the ship earlier where seismic activities were recorded. He knew that within an hour the volcano will erupt and all life on that island will be terminated.
Marx just finished speaking when they heard a loud rumble from the south. Amaya saw fire spew out of the endless water into the sky. She was mesmerized by the spectacle. The darkening sky was lit by different shades of the color of fire, bright orange, bright red, dark red, brownish red and a tinge of yellow.
Amaya cried out in anguish. She understood that such devastation has wiped out all life on her Island of Miraga. She could have died as well if not for Marx bringing her away in time.
Marx and Amaya stood in the deck in silence. The spectacle continued for some time before the fire seemed to recede back into the water.
The ship jolted. Marx reached out to steady Amaya.
"There is a disturbance on the ocean's current. While we will not feel it here, nearby continents will experience tsunamis." Marx explained to her.
Amaya nodded but was not really interested in what he said.
"Can I go check the animals?" Amaya asked.
Marx nodded and led her down the lower decks. They were inside an enclosure secured by iron railings. The door was secured by a thick iron chain. All five animals were still heavily sedated.
"When are they going to wake up?" Amaya was worried.
"Tomorrow morning perhaps. Let's have our dinner now." Marx led her to another area in the ship.
"This ship is pretty big. It's looks like a floating island." Amaya kept looking around.
They reached the dining area where the captain and other high-ranking officials were already waiting for them.
Marx pulled a chair for Amaya. She was the only woman sitting at the table but it did not make her uncomfortable at all. They were served steaks in apple sauce with mashed potato and broccoli.
Amaya looked at the utensils arranged neatly beside a pretty nice-looking plate. The spoon, fork and knives were well-polished and they glistened under the light.
The men at the table were looking at Amaya curiously.
"Enjoy your meal, Miss Rocas." The captain broke the silence.
"Thank you. You can just call me Aya." She replied politely. Marx looked at her with a frown.
'This girl..'
"Just call her Miss Rocas," Marx said briefly and the captain nodded.
Marx took the plate from Amaya and cut the steak into bite-size pieces before placing it back in front of her. She observed him closely.
"Eat it, while it is still hot."
Amaya complied. She tasted a very rich aroma she had never tasted before. She felt hungry and using the metal fork she ate in a hurry, the sauce dripping from the corner of her lips.
The men at the table eat rigidly and in silence. They studied the girl sitting beside their boss with lowered gazes. They did not dare raised their head and looked at her directly.
Marx took a napkin and casually wiped the corner of her mouth, his thumb slightly grazing her skin.
Amaya gave him a bashful smile.
