A.D. remained deep in thought for a few minutes. Then, a spark ignited in his eyes. "Hey guys, I have a plan!" he announced.
"Yeah, I know you'll save us!" David exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.
From outside the game, Jane's voice echoed, "What is that, A.D.? What are you going to do?"
"Don't worry, it will work," A.D. reassured her, though he couldn't hear her. "Listen, you have to swim to the ship, two by two."
"What about the sharks?" Shin asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
"You know, when I fell near the quarters, I threw a packet of something, and then they turned around," A.D. explained.
"Yeah, I'm also curious what that was!" David admitted.
"It was blood," A.D. revealed. "You know sharks are attracted to blood. We will go two by two. One person will be at that corner, far from here," he pointed to a distant section of the wall. "That one will tip some blood to attract the sharks to him, and then the remaining will swim to the ship, two by two, for safety."
"And what about the last one?" Shin asked.
"When everyone gets on the ship except one," A.D. explained, "then from the ship, one of them goes to the other corner and tips some blood, and the last one can get on the ship."
"Then it will be done," Shin said, a grim understanding dawning on him. "And you all go first."
"No, I will be here, and you all go," A.D. insisted.
"A.D., no!" Jane's voice cried from outside. "It's too risky!"
Sharleen protested, "No, you won't do this!"
"No, I will," A.D. stated firmly. "It's my responsibility to get you all out safe."
Then, Lisa's voice, Jane's mom, came through. "A.D., no! Then," she instructed Shin, "you will not allow him, okay?"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Shin responded.
"Okay then," A.D. conceded, "we will both go last." Everyone agreed.
Sharleen hugged A.D. tightly, then kissed him on the cheek. "You have to come, okay?" she pleaded.
A.D. gently pushed her away. "Hmm," he murmured.
A.D. and Shin left for the other corner. They reached their position. From a distance, A.D. held a knife, pointing to Sharleen, signaling her to tip some blood. "Go!" he mouthed, urging the first pair to swim. The sharks, drawn by the scent, turned towards A.D.'s corner. Two by two, everyone safely swam to the ship.
Then, it was Shin and A.D.'s turn. A.D. felt a sudden, overwhelming weakness in his legs and slumped against the wall, unable to get up.
"What happened?" Shin asked, alarmed.