"Should we call the cops?"

Mike and Jeff had been best buddies for most of their life. They'd sworn a pact to always be together from elementary to middle and then high school. And never could you find one without the other.

Having a best friend means sometimes saying yes to the craziest ideas. So when Jeff suggested they go diving in the part of the sea where an abandoned cruise ship had turned up, Mike couldn't say no to him. If only they'd realized their journey would get them wrapped up in a deep conspiracy, would they have left the house that day?

How Did Their Diving Trip Go Wrong?

Like many best friends, Mike and Jeff had similar hobbies and interests. And diving was at the top of that list. It's not difficult to understand their obsession with the sport. After all, diving is one of the easiest ways to gain strength and flexibility while improving focus and situational awareness.

Of course, this wasn't a regular diving trip. No, Jess wanted to explore a different area of the sea, saying it would make for a fun adventure. So the teen divers got their gear and some other essentials before setting off on the watery adventure. Everything was going right.

Finding the Abandoned Cruise Ship

It wasn't too difficult for the boys to find the ship. They'd heard the news of the massive cruise liner that had capsized at sea ten years before. No one knew why the forgotten ship had suddenly resurfaced. Yet it was trapped between a few underwater rocks and couldn't move from its position.

This was an ideal situation as far as the boys were concerned. While they knew they were not supposed to be anywhere close to the partially sunk craft, they couldn't resist the chance to explore its hidden depths. Thankfully, they had kept their plans a secret from everyone else.

Who's Here to Stop Us?

Mike and Jeff had shared many secret adventures throughout their friendship. So it was pretty easy for them to keep their plans lowkey. Their families knew they were avid scuba divers, so nobody thought it was weird for them to spend a day at the sea. But when asked what area they'd be diving in, the boys shared a false location.

They believed everything would go well if no one else knew about their plans. Fueled by curiosity, they packed their diving suit and other gear into a small boat and began the journey. The ship was far from the beach, so they left early in the morning.

Passing Through the Upper Deck

The boys had heard the ship listing to the side, leaving the lower deck and some parts of the upper deck visible while the rest remained submerged in the water. So to avoid catching unwanted attention, they decided to get in from below. They weren't worried about running into any complications. After all, the water was their domain.

They secured their boat to a railing on the cruise and prepared to go in. The plan was to find the entrance, wear their diving suits and explore the waterlogged areas. Soon enough, they came upon the part of the upper deck that was in the water.

Mike Didn't Want to Go In

Something about standing before the giant craft that had fallen victim to the might of the liquid depths made Mike hesitant to continue with the plan. He brought up many worst-case scenarios to dissuade Jeff from diving headfirst. What if they got stuck and no one could find them?

While Jeff wasn't eager to turn around and head back home, he still wanted to explore the ship with his friend. So they agreed on a compromise. Rather than diving into the hidden depths to explore, they would avoid the submerged part of the ship and just climb in from the top.

A Sense of Foreboding

Mike did nothing more than sigh and shook his head after listening to Jeff's idea. It was no less dangerous than the original plan. But at least this way, they could easily call for help if anything went wrong. He nodded his agreement and followed Jeff as he climbed up the deck.

He could have stayed in the boat, waiting for his friend to assuage his curiosity. But neither was comfortable with leaving the other alone to fend for themself. So up to the deck they went. They had a strong sense of foreboding as they got onto the ship.

Jeff Goes Exploring

A ship that had remained untouched for a decade would have an eerie atmosphere. So while Mike had his guard up, waiting for something terrifying to happen, Jeff wrapped it up to paranoia and insisted they begin exploring.

The wood creaked as they stepped foot aboard. And even the sounds one hears at sea are somehow muted. All that could be heard was the constant creaks as they walked around and the sound of water dripping against metal. "Wow," both boys exclaimed, entranced by the eerie majesty of the empty ship. "Maybe we should…," Mike began, but Jeff had already left the room.

Finding the Main Hall

Hurrying after him, Mike tried grabbing Jeff's hand as he rushed speedily down the empty corridors. "Stop moving so fast. We don't know how safe it is." Jeff laughed at the fear in Mike's voice but slowed down anyway. He also found it interesting how his voice resounded in the open space.

As if by chance, the boys came upon the ship's main hall. It was large enough to fit their entire school cafeteria, and the high ceiling had the remnants of what was once a huge chandelier. There was also a staircase leading up to the upper parts of the ship.

So Much Luggage

The boys walked up the steps to continue exploring, yet they couldn't resist staring around the hall. They imagined the events that may have been hosted within it in the past and the elegant travelers who must have graced the floor in their best dresses, ready for a long night of celebration.

Their imagination ran wild even as they came across a corridor full of rooms. Within every open door was a dingy room coated in dust that had accumulated for many years. None of the lightings worked, but they could see much luggage scattered across the floor. As if the residents had left in a hurry.

They Hear a Sound

The boys stayed silent as they explored each room as if by mutual agreement. They kept thinking about how scared the people onboard the ship must have been after hearing they had to abandon them at sea. How had they known what to take with them and what to leave behind?

Had some of them been worried about getting stuck in the shipwreck? The horrifying signs of abandonment were almost too much to bear. The boys were lost in thought, walking around the cabin and trying not to step on the clothes strewn about, when they heard a strange noise in the distance.

Let's Check It Out

Not to say that strange sounds don't par for the course on an abandoned ship. After all, the creaks, groans, and echoes were expected for a vessel that old. But something about that noise was odd enough to stir the boys out of their vivid imaginations.

"Did you hear that?" they both asked simultaneously. Mike was already shivering in fright, while Jeff was merely curious. "Do you think we ought to check it out?" Jeff asked, knowing Mike would probably suggest they retrace their steps and return home. So imagine his surprise when Mike replied with a shaky yes. "Let's check it out."

Trying to Trace the Scream

The boys were in agreement. They would try to investigate the source of the sound, and if it were nothing serious, they'd resume their exploration. They heard the sound again as they tried to figure out how to begin their search. Though it was a little muffled, they could both tell that it sounded like a scream, and it was coming from the lower decks.

Moving hurriedly away from the empty cabins, they came upon a narrow staircase leading down. But the light that had been streaming through the windows allowing them to look around couldn't penetrate the deep darkness surrounding that area.

Mike Begins to Worry

Mike began regretting saying yes to this. The area was completely dark, making the staircase look like the entrance to hell. But the ever-resourceful Jeff pulled out his phone and turned on his torch. Feeling relieved, Mike copied his actions, adding an extra beam of light to the otherwise dark corner.

It's amazing what fear does to a person. Mike had somehow forgotten about his phone in his pocket. If his friend hadn't taken the initiative to turn on his torch, he would have been stuck, shivering in his boots. But he felt more relaxed, knowing he was not alone.

The Stuff of Nightmares

Almost every horror movie has a scene where the characters explore an abandoned house, but it never ends well for them. All that time spent watching scary movies began haunting the boys as they walked down the narrow staircase. But if anyone had seen them in that moment, it would have been impossible to tell how scared they were.

The staircase came to a sudden end, and the boys found themselves in what appeared to be a mechanical area. There was water dripping down in some corners. The floor was also covered in a few inches of water. Things were going from bad to worse.

Finding a Dead End

Maybe Mike would have felt much better knowing he wasn't the only one scared out of his mind as they descended further into the ship. The wet floor was uncomfortable to walk through, and the best the boys could do was roll up their pants to prevent the hem from being dragged in the murky water.

The damp and rusted walls of the room didn't do anything to detract from the overwhelmingly creepy atmosphere. And the boys couldn't wait to get out of the space. But imagine their shock when they finally arrived at their destination only to meet a dead end. Could they have imagined the sound they heard?

Is That a Secret Door?

Jeff and Mike had similar looks of confusion as they worriedly looked around. The scream had come from this direction, but there was nothing to see there. How could that be? Almost immediately, Mike noticed something weird about the wall. A small latch was attached, and it looked so out of place.

Why would there be a latch stuck in the wall? Jeff couldn't see what his friend was talking about, so he had to rely on his hands to inspect the wall. Soon his fingers grazed the latch Mike had mentioned. Once he found the latch, it was easy to make out the outline of a door.

What Do to With a Jammed Door?

Someone had done a good job of making the door somewhat invisible. If the boys hadn't inspected it thoroughly, there's no way they would have found the secret door. That raised many more questions in their minds. What could be hidden behind the door?

Lifting the latch, Jeff tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. That's strange, he thought. He moved aside for Mike to give it a try, but he had even less luck opening the door. They hadn't expected to run into something so unexpected on the ship. It was at this time that they realized something sinister was afoot.

There's Something in There

Mike and Jeff made a lot of noise as they tried to force the door open. But all of their efforts were in vain. No matter how much force they extended in dragging it open, the door wouldn't budge. Amid all the grunts they made as they pushed their arms to the limit, they heard the sound again.

There was no doubt about it. Someone was in there! The boys had thought they were the only ones on board the abandoned ship, but now it seemed they weren't alone. "Hello," they called. "Can you hear us?" But all they got in response was a muffled scream.

Someone's Coming

At first, Mike and Jeff assumed someone had come to explore the ship and gotten stuck in that room. But seeing as whoever was inside the room couldn't talk out loud, they imagined something terrible was happening.

Unfortunately, they didn't have time to voice their opinion. Because some sounds were coming from below. The boys had been too busy trying to force the door open. So busy, in fact, that they didn't realize a group of people had entered the ship. The sounds heard were a couple of men involved in an argument. And the men were heading their way.

Hiding From the Strangers

"Shit." Mike was so frustrated and scared. "I knew this was a bad idea." He began pacing. "What if they are the bad guys? What if they lock us in the room too? What are we going to do?" Jeff was just as afraid as Mike, but he didn't think it was the right time to complain.

"Stop pacing!" he held onto Mike's arm, stopping him in his tracks. "We need to figure out where to hide!" The boys hurried back the way they'd come, and just in time. Because the men began walking down the stairs just as the boys ducked beneath the staircase and turned off their torches.

The Three Men Make an Entrance

Thundering footsteps echoed down the stairs as the boys stifled their breaths in anticipation. They fervently hoped the men wouldn't notice them, and somehow their prayers were answered. The men descended the stairs and soon reached the puddle of water on the floor.

As if confident that they were alone on the ship, the men splashed through the water with no care in the world. They were heading directly for the hidden door. Jeff bravely peeked out of his hiding place to see what would happen next. And the shock was evident on his face as he watched the men unlock the door and pull it open.

The Screams Get Louder

Something even stranger happened the moment the men walked in. The muffled screams they'd heard earlier became louder. It was Jeff's turn to mutter a soft "shit" under his breath. "We have to get out of here." He said to the curious Mike.

"What did you see?" Mike was concerned about the look of fear on Jeff's face. His friend was the brave one. The one who was always unruffled by unexpected situations. Something terrible must have happened for him to look visibly frightened. "They have someone tied up in there," Jeff replied. "I think we've stumbled upon a kidnapper's lair."

Do We Leave or Do We Help?

The screams they'd heard earlier must have come from the victim. And now the criminals had returned. The boys were stumped. Should they try to leave the ship now and call for help once they got back to the ship, or would that be too late?

Mike was more interested in how they could climb up the stairs and escape without drawing the attention of the two men. But Jeff felt it was up to them to help the victim. It was two teenage boys against a group of hardened men. It was laughable to think they could outsmart the criminals.

Outnumbered

Jeff began to regret the actions that had led them there. Why had he thought exploring the abandoned ship would be a good idea? They should have just remained at home, bingeing "Rick and Morty" or playing video games. Why had he refused to listen to Mike? If he had, they would have never gotten on board the cruise.

But it was too late for regrets. The two men were bigger and stronger than Mike and Jeff. And they must be armed as well. Now they had to figure out how to make a run for it without alerting the bad guys.

It's Time to Call the Police

Mike and Jeff agreed the smart thing would be to call the police. That way, even if the criminals discovered their location, help would be on the way and their chances of being rescued would improve drastically.

Jeff was the one to make the call. "911, what's your emergency?" Knowing that any slight sound would be terrible, he whispered their location to the dispatcher. Jeff explained that he and his friend were stuck on the ship's lower deck and that some men had tied up someone in one of the rooms. The dispatcher understood the sensitive nature of the call and assured them help was on the way.

The Badmen Go Searching

Mike had been on the lookout while Jeff called the police. Once he noticed that his friend had stopped speaking, he turned around to ask him what to do next. Just then, he caught the latter end of the men's conversation.

One of the men commented that someone else was on the ship with them. "Didn't you guys notice the other set of footprints in the main hall?" The other voiced his agreement and said he would go check things out. Mike panicked once he heard this. But he didn't have to give an explanation because Jeff had heard it too.

Is That a Gun?

They rushed deeper into the shadows, watching as one of the men walked out of the room and back to the staircase. He had a cigarette in his mouth, and his jacket couldn't hide the bulging muscles of his upper body. This was someone you wouldn't want to mess with because he looked like he could crush an opponent with a single blow.

But the man's size wasn't half as scary as the gun they glimpsed tucked into his belt. Mike and Jeff had a clear view of the weapon as the man made his way up the steps, and they swallowed hard.

Mike Starts Panicking

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Mike whispered repeatedly. "Things just keep getting worse." Jeff understood his frustration but remained level-headed. "I need you to stay calm, man." He hushed with a gentle voice. "You can't freak out now. Wait until we get out of here first."

Jeff believed they just had to remain hidden until the police arrived, and then everything would be okay. But he couldn't help thinking about the person stuck in the other room with the other man. What if they were hurt before the police arrived? He felt a sudden surge of inspiration, and a plan began to form in his mind.

We Need a Distraction

"I have a plan." Once Mike heard Jeff utter those words, he knew his friend would suggest something near impossible. "We need a distraction to lure that man out of the room and release whoever they've tied up in there."

"But it's just two of us," Mike muttered. "Who are you? Batman?" But Jeff wasn't dissuaded by his friends' doubts. He had complete faith in his plan. "Just take our cues from me. I promise this will work." There were no other options. Mike had to trust his friend or risk getting hurt. He nodded and watched Jeff pick up a small rock.

Mike Loses Sight of Jeff

Before Mike could utter a sound, Jeff threw the rock up the stairs and the bang resounded across the ship. The boys retreated into the shadows as the man ran out of the room, heading towards the stairs. "Is that you, Derek?" he yelled. The man waited for a second before running up the stairs.

The boys waited until the sound of his footfalls faded before running towards the room. But things went wrong almost immediately. Jeff had just pushed the door and entered the room when Mike heard the men return down the stairs. He rushed to the side and hid behind a large metal fixture.

Jeff Gets into a Fight

The men were arguing again. "Why the heck did you leave her alone in the room?" The man with the cigarette yelled at his partner. "I told you I would handle it!" The other one replied, "Stop yelling, man. I heard something and decided to check it out."

The men pulled the door open and walked in before slamming it shut once again. Mike heard the sound of a lock, and his fear skyrocketed. Someone slammed against the door, and he heard Jeff shout, "Mike, run!" Mike froze in shock. As insane as it sounded, he was sure Jeff was fighting with the men.

Mike Goes on the Offensive

Fighting seemed like an overstatement because the men were big enough to handle Jeff with ease. Mike couldn't let his friend receive a beating alone, so he ran up the stairs and began yelling, "Derek! Hey Derek! Where are you, man?! I hear you've been looking for me."

Mike knew that if the men realized someone else was out there, they would stop focusing all of their attention on Jeff. And true enough, one of the men came rushing out. Mike was about to yell again when someone roughly grabbed him from behind. It seemed Derek had answered his call at last.

Finding the Woman

Derek dragged Mike down the stairs and into the room, dumping him on the floor next to Jeff and a tied-up woman. Mike was shocked to see his friend so beaten up. Thankfully he still had full control of his limbs and was strong enough to yell at him. "Didn't I tell you to run?!"

Derek and his partner were not concerned with the boys' sentimental reunion. "So you're the ones who've been skulking around the ship, huh? You boys have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." But luck was on the boys' side. Because Derek had hardly spoken when they heard, "This is the police! You're surrounded."

The Police Arrive

Derek and his partner realized that they'd made a big mistake. All Mike had done was buy time for himself and his friend. He knew the police were already on their way, which is why he let himself get captured. Now it was too late to escape. Knowing this didn't stop them from trying, though.

Choosing to cut their losses, the men abandoned their hostages in the room and ran up the stairs, hoping to elude the officers. At the same time, Mike caught sight of the woman who must have been doing all that screaming. He rushed to untie her bonds as they waited for the officers.

Our Heroes Saved the Governor's Daughter

A chance exploration led our boys to a kidnapper's lair. But they were saved by the police. It turned out the abductors had been on the authorities' radar for a while, yet no one could figure out where they were hiding.

But the most shocking thing of all was discovering the identity of the hostage. Mike and Jeff would never have guessed that the woman they'd tried to rescue was the governor's daughter. Funny how things turn out, isn't it? Though the criminals were arrested, Mike and Jeff promised to always avoid abandoned ships in the future. They'd had enough excitement to last a lifetime.