Chapter 17 – Sinking Pact
12:20
Sirens die.
The ship lists like a wounded whale, its steel spine groaning.
Darkness swallows every corridor.
I grope for the emergency cord—
Lin Yi's voice crackles in my ear, barely a whisper:
"Escape pod at C3. Key in my pocket. Three minutes until auto-scuttle."
12:22
A blue flame flares—Shen Yan's lighter.
"Hull breached. Water's at the second engine."
He throws his coat over my shoulders, calm as ice.
"Die together or live together."
12:24
Seawater sloshes to our knees.
Qi Si lifts a cold flare, lighting the corridor like moonlight.
"Pod takes four," he says.
"We choose who stays."
Fei Ye cracks his knuckles.
"Draw lots or throw punches?"
I raise the scanner.
"Heartbeat decides. Steady pulse boards. Machine doesn't lie."
12:25
I press the sensor to each chest.
Numbers scroll:
Shen Yan 68
Qi Si 71
Fei Ye 82
Me 74
Fei Ye laughs, low and rough.
"Looks like I stay."
He shoves the safety pin into my palm.
"Live for me."
12:27
Water at our waists.
We sprint to C3. Door card fails.
I kick it open.
The pod floats in black water like a ghost.
The keyhole is submerged.
I take a breath, force the key in—
The lock clicks.
12:28
Outside, waves roar.
Inside, three heartbeats echo.
Shen Yan at the helm, Qi Si on the release.
I glance back.
Fei Ye stands in the hatch, water to his chest.
He lifts one finger—a silent goodbye.
The pod drops, swallowed by the night.
12:30
The ocean splits.
The ship slides beneath the surface.
Last image:
Fei Ye lights a cigarette, flame winking once.
His smile says—
"Game continues. See you on shore."