Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 58: Morning Misunderstanding

Mariel gripped the sword tighter with every swing, her body twisting slightly, her breath coming in light bursts. She was learning fast. Her posture was better now, her grip firmer, the way she moved the blade more fluid than when she first held it.

But there were moments—Liam couldn’t help but notice them.

Every time she lifted the sword a little too quickly or spun with too much force, her full, perky breasts would bounce gently beneath the red dress. The fabric clung to her body with each movement, outlining every curve, every sway. It wasn’t intentional—she was too focused for that—but Liam’s eyes betrayed him a few times, catching glimpses that made his throat tighten. He’d quickly look away each time, scolding himself silently.

Then, as she readied for another mock swing, the breeze picked up and swept through the deck. Her red dress fluttered slightly—then lifted more than it should have, revealing the soft, flawless skin of her upper thigh. Liam’s eyes flicked toward it before he could stop himself. Her legs were smooth, her skin lightly kissed by the moonlight. He turned away immediately, swallowing hard.

Don’t be a creep, he thought. You’re just teaching her.

Mariel, unaware of his mental battle, grinned brightly. "This is... actually fun," she said, panting a little as she lowered the sword. "You’re a good teacher. You ever consider taking that up full-time?"

Liam smirked. "Not unless swords start paying well."

She laughed, twirling the blade in her hand with surprising ease. "Still, I think I’m getting the hang of it." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Liam was impressed. Truly. She had natural balance, and her willingness to learn was refreshing. Most people like her—wealthy, beautiful, clearly used to a certain comfort—would’ve whined after five minutes. But she kept pushing, curious and hungry for more.

Eventually, after one final swing, Mariel let the tip of the sword lower until it tapped the wooden deck. She exhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling, then looked around before flopping down onto her back on the cool planks.

With a soft sigh, she rested her hands on her stomach and gazed up at the stars.

Liam watched her, standing there silently for a moment. Her long hair spilled around her shoulders like dark silk, catching the silver of the moonlight. She looked peaceful, more like a girl dreaming of the world than a stowaway on a ship bound for danger.

"Quit staring at me like that," she said suddenly, her tone playful but tired. "Come on, join me. Let’s stare at the moon together."

Liam chuckled, rolling his eyes as he crouched down. "You’re bossy for someone who just hijacked our trip."

Mariel didn’t even argue. She just smiled with her eyes closed.

Liam laid down beside her, folding his arms behind his head, letting the silence stretch between them. Above, the moon watched like an old friend. Around them, the ship drifted forward across the endless dark sea.

They didn’t speak again for a while. They didn’t need to.

Just two strangers under the stars, brought together by fate and waves. Before the duo knew it, they were fast asleep.

Below deck, the group remained asleep. The girls’ quarters were quiet, save for soft snores and the occasional rustle as someone shifted under their blanket. But in the boys’ quarters, Marcus stirred awake, rubbing his eyes and groaning from the lingering effects of the previous day’s rum.

"Damn... my head," he muttered, sitting up and holding his temples like the ship itself had struck him.

Still squinting, he noticed Liam’s hammock was empty.

He blinked. "Where the hell is this guy?"

Driven by sleepy curiosity and a sharp sense of mischief, Marcus wandered topside, dragging his boots lazily as he stepped into the daylight. He yawned, turned toward the rear of the ship—and stopped dead in his tracks.

There, on the wooden deck near the railing, were two figures lying side by side.

Liam... and Mariel.

She was curled slightly, a soft, relaxed look still on her face. Liam lay beside her, his arms behind his head, completely unaware of the ridiculous image he presented to anyone watching.

Marcus’s jaw dropped.

"No fuckin’ way."

He didn’t hesitate.

"HOLY SHIT!"

His voice cracked the peaceful morning like a cannon blast.

"LIAM, YOU’RE A FUCKIN’ BADASS!"

The words echoed across the deck, sending birds flying off the ship’s mast and crewmates pausing mid-task to glance their way.

Liam jolted awake with a start, eyes wide and groggy. Mariel stirred next, blinking against the sun. Her face flushed instantly when she realized where she was—and who was screaming.

Mariel groaned, sitting up and pushing her long hair from her face.

Marcus was grinning from ear to ear like a kid who had just caught his friend sneaking candy at midnight.

"Shut the hell up," Mariel snapped at him, brushing her dress as she got to her feet. "It’s not what you think."

She turned to Liam, still blinking and dazed on the floor. "See you later, Prince Charming," she said with a teasing smirk before walking off with more grace than someone who had just slept on hardwood should have.

Liam rubbed his face, still trying to gather his thoughts.

Marcus stepped closer, squatting beside him like a detective interrogating a suspect.

"Bro..." he whispered. "Did you bang her?"

Liam rolled his eyes, exhaling sharply. "For god’s sake, I didn’t. I was teaching her a few sword swings last night. She got tired and passed out. So did I."

Marcus leaned in like he hadn’t heard a word. "No, man... no. You don’t sleep that close to a girl unless there’s some magic happening. Come on, her leg was practically on you. That wasn’t sword swings—that was swings of your dick, yeah?"

Liam sat up, glaring. "Could you shut the fuck up and stop embarrassing me?"

Marcus burst into a fit of laughter, slapping his own knee like he’d just heard the best joke ever.

"Hey! No judgment, bro. If I had that chance, I’d be unconscious from happiness."

Liam groaned and shoved him lightly, getting to his feet. "You’re an idiot."

"And you’re a lucky bastard," Marcus said, still chuckling as he followed Liam back toward the center of the ship.

The sun had fully risen by the time the group gathered together on the upper deck near the ship’s bow. The sea shimmered under the morning light, waves rolling gently like a lullaby still playing from the night before. The crew went about their business, tightening ropes, adjusting sails, and shouting occasional commands to one another. The ship had truly come alive with the break of dawn.

Liam joined the others last, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. But the second he walked into view, Marcus’s face lit up with mischief again—he’d been waiting for this moment all morning.

"There he is!" Marcus shouted, clapping his hands. "The lover boy himself!"

Jason turned with an arched brow. "what?"

Marcus didn’t even hesitate. "Caught him sleeping beside the Captain’s daughter last night. Side by side. They looked like a painting."

Jason’s mouth fell open, and then a crooked grin slowly formed across his face. "No way. Liam, you absolute badass."

Liam let out an exhausted groan. "Can you stop making this into a whole thing?"

"Oh, it’s already a thing," Marcus said, wagging his eyebrows like a gossiping aunt.

Across the group, Eleanor raised a brow but didn’t seem too fazed. She leaned against the rail, arms crossed, quietly observing the exchange with mild curiosity but no particular emotion.

Sophia, on the other hand, went still.

Her bright blue eyes darted from Marcus to Liam, then briefly toward where Mariel had disappeared earlier. She laughed lightly, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Must’ve been a cold night," she said, her tone dry.

Liam caught it.

He looked at her for a second, but she had already turned her gaze to the horizon, pretending to admire the waves. The wind played with her blonde hair, and though she wore a neutral expression, Liam noticed the way her fingers were clenched slightly at her sides.

He wanted to say something, to clear things up—but Marcus was still going on with exaggerated retellings of what he "witnessed."

"I mean, they were practically cuddling. I thought about covering them with a blanket—thought about it, didn’t do it. Figured Prince Charming earned the night."

"Can someone throw him off this ship?" Liam muttered under his breath.

Jason laughed again, slapping Liam on the back. "Relax, man. We’re just proud."

But Liam’s eyes found Sophia again. And even though she wasn’t looking his way, he could tell.

She felt something.

Jealousy.

He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but the moment had already changed the air between them.