Panic broke loose.
People ran everywhere, scrambling to reach their cabins. Some tripped. Some screamed. Children cried. Luggage flew open. Some passengers fell to the floor and were trampled. It was chaos.
Lia turned, trying to make sense of the moment, but someone crashed into her. She fell hard onto the floor. Her hip slammed against the deck.
Before she could get up, a heavy boot landed on her ankle.
She cried out in pain.
"Lia!!" Anna's voice came sharp and terrified.
Lia tried to stand, but her ankle twisted the wrong way. It hurt so badly she almost passed out.
Tomie saw her crumpled on the floor and ran over. He grabbed her arm just as Anna dropped beside her.
"Get her up!" Anna said, panicked. "We have to move!"
Tomie pulled her up and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. Anna took the other side. Together, they started dragging her across the deck.
They stumbled forward, every step a battle. Lia's ankle screamed with every drag, but she bit down hard, trying not to slow them down.
Around them, chaos boiled. People slipping in puddles of blood, luggage split open, the sharp scent of burning wires thick in the air. A child wailed somewhere behind them. Another voice cried out a prayer.
"Keep going" Anna breathed, her voice cracking. "We're almost there."
But Lia wasn't sure. The deck tilted again, and the metal beneath them felt like it could split open any second.
But then, another wave hit.
It slammed into the ship, tilting it to one side. Throwing the three of them sideways, straight into the steel ladder bolted to the deck. They hit hard, the metal cutting into their skin. Screams were everywhere.
And then came the sound.
A loud, horrible crack.
Like an axe through wood, the ship broke apart.
Just like that. It split into two.
The front groaned and sank faster, dragging everything and everyone down with it. Water surged into the cabin levels. People who had obeyed the order to return inside were now trapped.
And drowning.
"Roy!" Tomie shouted and ran toward the wreckage, trying to reach the last place they'd seen her.
Lia cried out, trying to follow, but her ankle gave out again. She couldn't move. Her hands trembled.
Anna grabbed her arm, holding her tightly. Fear was written all over her face. Around them, people were falling, shouting, running. Some wore life jackets. Many didn't.
Minutes passed in chaos.
Then Tomie returned, wet and breathing hard. He had two life jackets in his hands.
"I couldn't find her" he said, breathless. "Here, put this on."
He crouched and strapped the vest tightly over Lia's shoulders.
"What about you?" she asked, panicking. "You don't have one!"
"I'll get another" he said, already standing. "But you need to wear this. Now."
He scanned the broken deck, eyes sharp. Then he pointed. "There! That corner, see the steel beam? You two get over there and hold on, no matter what."
"Wait! Tomie, please..."
"I'm going back for Roy!" he shouted. Then he ran off before she could stop him.
Anna tried to pull Lia to her feet. But Lia screamed as her ankle twisted again.
"Shit" Anna muttered. "Your ankle is getting worse."
"We... We can't stay here" Lia gasped.
"I know." Anna took a breath. "We're going. I've got you.
They moved together, stumbling toward the metal railing Tomie had pointed at, but they didn't make it.
The third wave came.
The biggest one yet.
It crashed down with all its weight, ripping apart everything in its path, and tossing passengers into the sea like toys. The deck disappeared under water.
Lia felt herself go under.
The cold hit her like knives. The world spun. Her ears rang. She couldn't breathe. Couldn't see. But her life jacket yanked her back up. She burst out of the water, coughing, choking. Her head spun. Her teeth shook from the cold.
"MARIO!!" someone screamed behind her.
"JAMES!!" another voice cried out.
Bodies were everywhere. Floating. Struggling. Sinking. Some wore life jackets. Others screamed for help until they were pulled under.
Her skin burned from the cold. She couldn't feel her hands. Her teeth chattered.
Lia turned and saw her.
Anna.
Fighting to stay up. Struggling like something was wrapped around her leg.
"ANNA!" Lia cried out, swimming toward her.
Anna turned sharply. Still struggling with her legs. Then suddenly her eyes widened and...
"LIA! WATCH OUT!" she screamed.
But it was too late.
A sharp piece of metal ripped from the ship, hurtled through the water and slammed into Lia's face.
The cold dragged her down again. Her arms flailed, but the life jacket kept her afloat. Somewhere in the blur, she heard her name. Anna's voice, sharp and broken. Her vision blurred. Her limbs went numb. The sea swallowed the sounds.
Lia's last thoughts weren't about fear. Not even about the dream.
They were about Anna. Tomie. Roy.
"Please... let them live" she mumbled.
And everything went black.