Twenty feet from the tender bay.
Yanshuo's eyes locked on it leaning against the galley door, shoulders rolled forward like it was carrying weight. Head tilted to one side, like it was listening to something no one else could hear.
He flattened himself against a steel pillar. Held his breath so tight his chest burned.
The thing didn't move. Eyes white as overcast sky. Uniform stained dark at the collar.
Slow, he thought. Just move slow.
He slid left, foot by foot. His jacket caught on a loose bolt sticking out of the pillar.
SCREECH—the sound sharp enough to cut through the yacht's low hum.
The creature spun. Fast. Jaw split open wide
SNAP like a hinge breaking.
Yanshuo didn't think. He turned and ran. Feet slamming hard on marble. The nearest door was ten feet away he kicked it open, dove inside and slammed it shut behind him. Fumbled with the lock just as the thing hit the wood with a thud that shook the whole frame.
Safe.
He leaned against the door, chest heaving. Sweat ran down his neck.
"This is harder than I thought."
Then SCREECH.
High, sharp, nothing like a human sound. He spun around fast.
Another one. Huddled in the shadows by the far wall. Chef's coat splattered black and red. Face twisted so far to the side its jaw was almost touching its shoulder. It stared at him for half a second then launched forward, claws outstretched.
Fuck!
Yanshuo raised his towel-wrapped arm to block. Claws raked across the fabric RIP tearing through layers. He slammed his free hand into its chest, shoving it back a step, then snapped a hard kick into its gut.
It staggered, but didn't go down. Snarled and charged again, teeth bared like broken glass.
His hand shot to his belt for the knife, but closed around the cold glass of the whiskey bottle in his jacket instead.
Fine.
He swung it hard, right at its head—CRACK. Glass exploded. Whiskey sprayed hot and sharp across his face and eyes. The creature reeled back, shaking its head like a dog trying to shake off water, dark liquid streaming down its cheeks.
Now.
Yanshuo ripped the knife from his belt. The thing lunged again he stepped to the side, swept his leg out low, and knocked its feet out from under it. It hit the floor hard, cracking its head against the tile. Before it could push itself up, he grabbed a handful of its hair, pulled its head back, and drove the blade straight down into its skull.
SQUELCH.
It went still instantly. Body slumping heavy against the floor. Knife buried to the hilt.
Through the door behind him, the first creature kept hammering.
THUD. THUD. THUD. Each hit shaking the lock.
He wrenched the knife free, wiped the blood on the chef's coat, and slipped it back into his belt. His eyes fell on the broken bottle on the floor jagged edges glinting in the emergency light. He picked up what was left of the neck, wrapped the sharp end in a scrap of cloth from the torn towel, and stuffed it into his pocket.
Spare.
He moved to the window, pressed his face to the glass. Looked left, clear. Looked right, clear. The tender bay was just down the hall, control lights glowing soft green through the porthole.
The door shuddered again, harder this time. The lock was holding, but not for long.
He pulled the door open just a crack, slipped through and slammed it shut behind him. The creature inside let out one last high screech as it crashed against the wood.
Yanshuo didn't stop. He broke into a full run, feet slamming against the floor, eyes fixed on the tender bay up ahead.