The ship was easily the biggest one of its kind ever made, larger then the QMII and much taller, some labelled it as "The Behemoth of the Sea." In reality, its christened name was "The Angel of the Sea." The bottle was broken off the coast of France, near the Brittany peninsula. Now in Sydney, its first stop, it was almost ready to take its first paying passengers on a long cruise back to its homeland France.

Docked at a temporary dock at the Opera House it dwarfed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which it was originally planed to be photographed under, but upon seeing the size of it, the photographers plans were scraped at new ones draw up staring the Opera House instead. The on-site temporary dock and facilities were constructed in record time.

It was little under an hour until the gangways would be opened, and the cruise company were putting on a brunch for the first class passengers due to its re-located dock, as if to say 'sorry for the inconvenience.' Only 200 of the 2000 first class passengers turned out, among them was a young lady named Anne Hackett, still in her late teens, she was more than happy when she won a competition on the telly for a round the world trip, all expenses paid and all the rest of it. Although exited, she was apprehensive because the trip was for one, so only Anne was to go, since the family wasn't prepared to take out another mortgage on the house to join her.

But the kind folks at the shipping company had let the whole family attend the brunch before boarding. Many times Anne asked to stay and the trip be given to someone else, but her family insisted that it was hers alone, all apart from the big sister, who was very much on the side of her younger sibling. At only 5'5", with shoulder length shimmering red hair and inviting hazel eyes and face to melt hearts, she was everything any young man could ever want.

The time came to say goodbyes, Anne couldn't refrain from crying, but her mother had one last thing to cheer her daughter up; "I know you would be scared with no one to keep you company, so I asked a young man from the crew to keep and eye out for you, his boss ensured me that there isn't anyone better."

"Madam, sorry to bother you, but the door will close soon, this way." A mans voice came from behind Anne, "That's him now. Love, do take care." Her mother said leaning over and kissing her daughter. As to hide the tears, Anne turned to the ship to walk up the gangplank, but almost fell overboard when she saw the man who's voice she had heard seconds earlier, He was taller then most, at least a head above herself, short and very fair light blonde hair. Although not built like Mike Tyson, it was obvious he had put in hours at the gym. But his most prominent feature were his deep blue eyes, so deep any girl could easily get lost in them, which Anne did with ease.

"Madam? Are you alright?" his deep voice making her fall deeper into her own world. He stepped forward and grabbed her hand, breaking her out of the spell, "This way, the doors are closing soon, and I don't really want to swim to France." A small smile crossed his face, Anne wouldn't usually laugh at such lame jokes, but this time she couldn't help a giggle.

Off the walk they went, and inside the great ship. Anne's mother waved goodbye, but her youngest daughter didn't take notice, she was too busy to look.

"So lets look at your room… number 22, deck A, hey not a bad room, would you like me to walk you there?" The young man asked. "Um yeah, I-if you wouldn't mind that is, that would be great, but if you don't have the time-" Anne blurted out before being cut off, "Of course I have the time, right this way madam." "Anne, could you call me Anne. Madam doesn't suite me." "On contraire, I think you look quite the lady. Shall we?" He held his arm out, Anne hooked her arm into his, and the set off. Although a long walk, it was not long enough for Anne, this man she had knew for barely 10 minutes had swept her off her feet and she had landed right in his arms, although this was not intentional, it had happened. Either he was trying or get very close very quickly or was just a very nice guy.

When they got to her door they un-hooked arms and he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket; "Heres my pager number, anytime you need something, anything, just give it a buzz, use the phone near the door, all your bags should be inside. Take care and I'll see you soon." He turned to walk back the way they had came, but Anne stopped him by asking; "What's your name? Your not waring a name badge." He paused for a second, as if in thought, "Just call me sir." He turned long enough to wink at her and walked off. "So chivalry isn't dead." Anne muttered to no one in particular.

The room was almost bigger than her whole house, it consisted of a sitting room, a bedroom, on-suite lounge room and small kitchen, and just as was said, her bags were sitting on the bed, the linin crisp and new, never been slept on. A series of brochures and booklets on the table in the sitting room kept Anne occupied for almost an hour, reading about the onboard facilities and activities. The ship set sail out of the harbour just before dusk, knowing it would be a long time before she saw her homeland again, Anne took a walk out to the A-deck balcony and watched the sun set over the hazy city of Sydney. Much to her surprise, she was only joined by two other couples, both easily in their late 20's, these were the who's who of the what's what in Sydney and indeed Australia, a simple Darwin girl was utterly out classed from the get-go.

The light was fading and Anne was about to turn in for some room service and some shuteye, merely a second before turning and leaving, she noticed a young man, also by himself, on the opposite side of the deck, he was much taller then Anne, at least 6'4" to Anne's 5'5". From the distance he looked lanky, slightly under filled for his height, from the distance he looked very much like the man who had taken her hand on one arm and her heart in another. Even with the likeness of the two, it was obvious they were very different, although head over heels for the man she had met earlier, something put doubt into her mind. It wouldn't last long.

Anne punched the pager number into the phone and in barely a minute there was a knock at the door and a call "You called madam, sorry, Anne?" The voice was familiar, she opened the door to the man she wanted to see, this time he had a nametag on, "Daryl."
"So your name is Daryl?" He sighed, "Yeah, that's why I didn't ware it, I don't like it much myself, but enough about me, what can I get you?" he said with a smile. Anne gave her order, then went and sat back down. What seemed like an eternity later the knock came at the door, and the voice came again "Room service!" Daryl was let in and put the two-course dinner on the dining table in the kitchen. "Is there anything else you would like?" he asked. Anne thought for a second. "Wait right here will you?" she asked, it was easy to detect the seductive mood in her voice. She turned to walk to her room, thoughts of seducing the hunk in the kitchen turned her walk into a skip, but she couldn't do it in a tee shirt and an old skirt, she needed something sexier. On the way, she noticed the door was open.

Just as the door swung shut, out of the corner of her eye she saw the person she had seen on the balcony, down the corridor, staring into the room. Momentum brought the door shut but Anne opened it a split second later, and stepped out to look at the familiar person, but the corridor was empty, not even any footsteps, A shiver flew down her spine as she closed the door and turned back to the kitchen.
"Everything ok? You look pale Anne." Daryl asked, slightly concerned. "Im fine, um, on second thoughts I think that is all, sorry to keep you here longer then I needed." "That's no problem, anytime you need me, you know what to do. He walked out the door, turned and closed it himself, smiling at her the whole time. "Goodnight Anne." He said as the door closed, "Goodnight..." She said in reply, walking to the door and leaning on it; "…sir." Thoughts of what could of happened made her think; 'What happened? Why did I send him away…'

Over the next few days, Anne only saw Daryl twice, both times for an afternoon snack, breakfast and dinner were left to the many restreounts that were featured in the brochures. Both times Daryl seemed in a rush for something, only small talk was exchanged. By now it was the 4th day of the trip, although not sure of exactly how long the trip was, Anne knew it wouldn't be long, and this opportunity of a man like Daryl was too much to pass up. It was decided, that night she would try to start something with Daryl.

Anne buzzed the number into the phone; Daryl was there in under a minute. "Come in will you?" Anne asked, not one for letting customers down, he happily obliged. "Good morning, what can I do for you today?" "Hey, um, I was wondering, are you working tonight?" she said, her nerves obvious. "Me? Tonight is my night off lucky me,"
"Oh really?" a lump formed in Anne's throat, "We-well would you like to join me for dinner? Just to thank you for your service of course." "Well I would be flattered, I have always wanted to try out the all you can eat steak." Daryl said, the joy of the moment almost becoming too much to bare, "I've never been offered dinner by a guest in my whole career before." "About that steak house… I was wondering if we could have it here? Im not really a big fan of eating out." She said this while looking up at him in her cutest face she could pull. Ah, sure, hows 7:30 for you?" He asked, his voice changing pitch more than once. "That's fine, see you then, Sir." "Bye Anne." He said, exiting the room.

It took quite a while for Anne's heart to exit her throat and return to her chest, when it did, she decided to take a walk. It was quite a ship; easily the biggest thing that she had ever been inside, it was at least twice the size of the shopping centre at Darwin. It took at least half the day to see it all, simply marvellous piece of machinery. In the corridor of her room, she seen the man who was staring into her room when she had Daryl in there, as he had done outside the door, he disappeared into thin air again, and a he had done previously, brought second thought about Daryl to her mind, the difference was this time she knew why.

Her ex boyfriend, one she had loved dearly, had passed away two years ago, although many thought of them as teenage lovers, they both knew it was much more, almost without warning, Skinna had tragically died to a tumour. At his bedside, she had sworn that she would not touch another man as long as she lived.

Now back in her room, the night it happened re-lived itself;

The heart rate monitor beeped at regular intervals. The teenager lied on the bed, every conceivable tube hooked up to him in one-way or another. The room was dark and quiet, the usual cheerful white walls replaced with the red and blue neon glow from the machines and no ambient noise, due the fact that hospital's of this calibre simply don't skimp on the furnishings and sound proofing.

Apart from the lone boy in the bed, the room was empty, his parents had left him for the first night since his admission, a little under a week ago, he was brought in with a very bad migraine and quickly and heartbreakingly diagnosed with brain tumour, which even with surgery could not be guaranteed to save his life. The condition had stabilised the last day, so the parents had taken a much-needed break.

That night, around 11:30 Skinna gained conscious and looked around to notice that he was in an empty room, seeing the same dark and dull room, he tried to move and call out but his body wouldn't let him, confusion filled his mind before darkness engulfed him again.

Anne looked at Skinna for quite sometime, unblinkingly, wondering if he would ever awake. She had been at his bedside ever since his parents left. Her deep loving eyes looked at his face and discovered that his eyes had opened. She rushed towards his bed as she could tell he could not move; her heart beat heavily as she thought about what she could say to him. No words could come out of her mouth. Anne watched him as he looked at her.

Skinna noticed her looking at him and his lips quivered as he tried to smile. It was amazing how much he wanted her to be happy, live a beautiful life, whether he lived or died. Anne kissed Skinna softly on his forehead as his eyes opened one last time, to see Anne's beautiful eyes staring at him, before they closed and Skinna passed away peacefully, he mumbled a string of incoherent words. She pulled away as she heard the heart rate monitor go flat. Her heart broke by his bed; her knight in shining armour's life was no more.

Flanked by doctors, but feeling alone, Anne repeated what she had said to Skinna moments before his eyes closed, "I would remain faithful Skinna, always."

Only then the last thing he had said to her became clear; "Love is the only key out."

Nevertheless, that was years ago, how could now, in the prime of her life, Anne be expected to keep the vowel. It wasn't as if he had heard it and they has shook on it, it was time to move on, starting tonight.

The knock came at the door at exactly 7:00, Anne moved to the door, now dressed in a slinky cocktail dress. "Who is it?" She called out leaning against the door, "Its Daryl, did I get the right time?" Anne opened the door and ushered him in, "Yes, right on time to be exact… your very punctual aren't you?" Daryl just gave a smile that could melt the heart of a steel wall and said, "Where do you want the wine?" Anne started to speak before being interrupted by another heart melting smile; "I don't drink… Oh just put in the fridge, I-its just through there." On his way to the fridge, Daryl brushed past Anne, letting her smell his cologne. If there was any doubt in her mind about what she wanted to do, it had been smashed in a whiff.

The dinner went perfect, they had a great juicy steak, more than making up to Daryl for not going to the steak house, the table was candle lit, with soft fold music playing in the background, they almost never stoped talking the whole time. Anne was becoming very comfortable with Daryl, and she knew the feeling was mutual, so it came as a shock to Daryl when Anne mentioned turning in for the night; "Well, I guess I should be going then…" Daryl said, obviously deflated. Anne, now with a mischievous smile asked him "Would it be ok if you would stay instead? There's still room in my bed…" Daryl's head shot up, "Its fine by me." He said.

They both got up from the table and made their way into Anne's bedroom, kissing the whole way, it was to be a night of passion and of great pleasure, but in their rush, neither saw the shadowy figure standing in the doorway to the dark lounge room, the figure of Skinna.

Anne woke to an empty bedroom, apart from a not on her dresser, there was no trace of Daryl, Anne stood up, walked to the dresser, and read the note; "Thanks for the great night, will never forget any of it, had to work early, will see you later. From 'Sir.'" Anne relived the night before, what had happened in the bedroom had been more than she had ever imagined possible, it was total ecstasy from start to finish and beyond, the single greatest night of her life.

Anne walked out and ordered breakfast, Only fitting was it that Daryl served her, 'Good mornings,' silly grins and giggles were exchanged, they agreed that they would meet on the first class deck later in the day and go from there. Anne spent the rest of her day in the lounge room, thinking of what had happened and what might happen, so much so that the time almost got the better of her and almost missed the rendezvous. Up she jumped and into the bedroom to put something more fetching on.

On her way out, she noticed another note on the dresser, thinking the Daryl had pulled a trick and placed another one, she walked up to it and started to read it; "Im not gone yet… Skinna." This shocked Anne to the core, froze her to the spot, it was Skinna's handwriting, and it sounded exactly like Skinna's voice as she read it. 'Sounded like Skinna's voice?" She thought… it came again, "You thought I was gone didn't you?" The voice in her head wasn't in her head at all, it was behind her… Skinna's voice.

"Well you thought I was gone, but ya cant get rid of me that easy mate." Anne turned to again be froze to the spot, on her bed, sitting down, looking directly at her. "Im not disappearing this time, I want to have a talk mate, sit down." In a trance, Anne could do nothing else but sit down. "You swore to me that you wouldn't do anything with anyone else… you broke it." Anne bravely spoke up; "I… I couldn't keep it forever, I had to break it sometime." Was her weak defence. "There was a way to be with someone else without breaking the agreement, if you had loved him it would have been different, last night was lust… I can see it in your face and feel in sprit, there was no love, what was the last thing I said to you before I died?" Anne looked at him and repeated, with a tear rolling down her cheek; "Love is the only key out…"

No one spoke for a second. "How do you feel now Anne?" was Skinna's next taunt. Anne was still coming too terms with what was happening. The sprit of her last real boyfriend had just come fourth and reminded her of a now broken agreement. The whole experience was so surreal; for some reason she wanted to stay like this forever. "Are you real?" she ended up saying in response. "I am dead, but not my spirit, I have been watching over you since I died," It seemed to Anne that the room was foggy. "Think of me as a ghost, but a real one." "Am I still alive? Or am I dead too?" Anne asked, Skinna simply pointed to the ground near the dresser. Anne's body was lying face down. "Its not to late to go back." Skinna said, "Or you can join me." Anne just let out a whimper; "Let me go back.

The world went dark, then suddenly it was ripped apart with light and noise. Anne shot upright, She was back in her body. Skinna was no where to be seen. A trickle of blood moved down her face. "I hit my head, does that mean it's a dream?" the sensation she had felt moments before had gone, sadness and emptiness engulfed her, The feeling of being dead, it felt careless, wild. Free…

The noise that woke her brought Anne back to the present. A note was in her hand. "It was real... all of it." It was Skinna handwriting again. He was real, the place she had been was real, death was real, a moments thought decided to make it a reality.

The knocking at the door was irreverent now, Anne held a large kitchen knife in her hand, anything she could do to be back to that sensation. It was more addictive then anything else, one taste and all control was lost. The Knife plunged into her heart, within moments it had stoped beating.

But Anne was still conscious, the pain numbed, all senses also numbed, her vision became hazy, foggy, Then it hit her, the sensation she had ended her earthly life for.

Better than anything, she had died for and done so at her own will, "A lust for a feeling." Skinna's voice entered her head. "Lust again has made you do something you now cannot un-do, I said "love is the key." You do not feel love for me or this world, only lust." Skinna was standing in front of Anne now. "You have ended any chance you have had of living in the physical world, or this world. Your sudden addiction has led to your final resting place…" a veil of darkness engulfed Anne, the sensation she had felt was now gone. All control lost, "Here is will you will stay, alone, cold. Forever surrounded by darkness, not being able to move, not being able to cry out, not being able to leave, this is what you deserve. Goodbye."