Seawater splashed in every direction as something broke the surface with terrifying speed. Axel nearly tumbled out of the lifeboat when a huge wave slammed into them.
Nova gripped the side of the boat, gasping for air. Her eyes were wide, her body rigid. Carter screamed in fear, trying to hold on to keep from being thrown overboard.
Axel quickly drew his knife, ready to face whatever emerged from the water.
Then, silence.
The waves rippled slowly, leaving foam floating around the boat.
Nova swallowed hard. "What was that…?"
No one answered. Axel still stared at the water, vigilant, but there was no sign of anything. It was as if the creature had appeared for a moment and then vanished.
Carter panted, his body still shaking violently. "We have to get out of here… we have to find land…"
Axel nodded. He began searching for the oars stored in the lifeboat. But before he could reach them, Nova suddenly made a strange noise.
Axel turned.
Nova clutched her head with both hands. Her body trembled, her breath rapid. "Cold…" her voice was soft, almost a whisper.
Carter looked at her, confused. "What's happening to her?"
Axel moved to her side immediately. "Nova, what's wrong?"
Nova lifted her face. Axel's eyes widened.
Nova's eyes… had changed.
Pitch black, as if there was no white left in them. Like bottomless holes swallowing light.
"Nova…?" Axel touched her shoulder, but Nova's body suddenly jerked.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
She screamed so loudly that Carter covered his ears. Nova slumped into the corner of the boat, her body shivering uncontrollably. Her skin turned pale, cold sweat flooding her face.
Axel tried to stay calm. "Nova, listen to me. What's happening? Are you hurt?"
Nova shook her head quickly. She clutched her chest with both hands. "I… I feel strange… my body is hot… but I'm shivering…"
Axel looked at her with concern. He knew this wasn't just a regular fever.
"The virus…" Carter whispered, his voice trembling. "The virus we found in the bunker… you think maybe she…?"
Axel tensed.
No.
It couldn't be.
But… what if it was?
Axel stared at Nova intently. Her breathing was ragged, sweat pouring down her forehead.
"Hold on, Nova," Axel said softly. "We'll find a way. Don't panic."
Nova didn't answer. Her eyes began to cloud over, as if she was fighting something inside her body.
Carter swallowed hard. "What do we do if she… changes?"
Axel didn't answer. He didn't want to think that far ahead.
Then, from the distance, a scream echoed.
Far in the darkness of the night, a human scream resonated from the direction of the island.
Axel and Carter froze.
Nova still shivered in the corner of the boat, but her eyes opened slightly, as if she heard something they couldn't.
The scream… sounded like pain.
Like someone was being tortured.
Axel turned towards the island. Its silhouette was faint in the distance, dark and eerie.
Then, the scream stopped.
Carter bit his lip. "What's happening over there…?"
Axel gripped his knife tightly. The night air on the ocean felt colder, mixed with the sharp smell of salt.
Carter still tried to calm himself, but his gaze didn't leave Nova, who continued to shiver in the corner of the boat. Sweat poured down his temples, his face pale, and his body trembled as if he had a high fever.
But that wasn't the most worrying thing.
Nova's eyes… remained pitch black.
Like bottomless holes, empty, without a light of life.
Axel tried to calm his mind. This was not the time to panic. If Nova was indeed infected with the virus, they had to find a way to stop it before it was too late.
But how?
He had no medicine. He didn't know how the virus worked. And worse, they were still trapped at sea, far from safety.
Then, the scream came again.
This time it was closer.
Axel tensed. Carter froze as well, his face growing paler.
The scream came from the direction of the island… and it wasn't just one.
Several other screams followed, sounding like humans being tortured or in extreme pain.
Axel turned to Nova. She was now clutching her chest, her eyes closed, her breathing heavier.
Then, suddenly something hit the boat from below.
Carter screamed in panic. "What was that?!"
Axel immediately raised his knife, ready to face the threat. He looked down, at the sea surface that was now rippling strangely.
Then…
TAP! TAP! TAP!
The boat was hit again, harder than before.
Axel immediately pulled Nova from the corner of the boat and hugged her tightly. "Hold on!"
Nova could only groan weakly, cold sweat flowing down her face.
Meanwhile, Carter began to cry in fear. "Axel… we have to get out of here!"
Axel gritted his teeth. He knew Carter was right. They couldn't stay here too long.
Then… something rose to the surface.
The seawater swirled violently, forming a small vortex. Then, slowly, something's head emerged from the water.
Axel and Carter froze.
The creature… had a human body. But its skin was rotting, with gaping wounds all over its body. Its eyes were empty, pitch black like Nova's eyes now.
And its mouth… was wide open, showing sharp, unnatural teeth.
The creature made a terrifying sound—a mix of growls and painful moans.
Carter backed away in terror. "No… it can't be…"
The creature looked at them, then—
SPLASH!
It lunged at the boat!
Axel reacted quickly. SWISH! He swung his knife brutally, driving the sharp blade into the creature's chest.
Black blood spurted into the air, hitting Axel's face. The creature groaned, then fell back into the sea with a loud splash.
Axel panted. His heart was beating so fast it felt like it would explode.
Carter was still shaken, while Nova was now not just shivering.
Her body was convulsing.
Axel immediately knelt beside her. "Nova! Hold on!"
Nova gripped his arm tightly, her nails almost piercing his skin. "Hot…" she whispered weakly.
Axel felt his own body trembling. He didn't know what was happening to Nova.
The night sky grew darker. The once calm waves began to swell larger, as if the sea itself was reacting to something within it.
Axel rowed with all his might, while Carter sat in the back of the boat, still shivering in fear. Nova was now semi-conscious, her body still burning with fever.
"We… we have to find shelter soon," Carter said, his voice trembling. "Nova… she won't last long."
Axel looked up at the sky. Black clouds began to gather, signaling that rain would soon fall.
Then, the sound came again.
But this time… it wasn't a human scream.
It was a sound… from underwater.
A rumbling sound, like something large was moving on the seabed.
Axel tensed. He turned to Carter, who also heard it. His face grew even paler.
"There's something beneath us…" Carter whispered.
Axel gripped his oar tighter. "Sit still. Don't make a sound."
Carter nodded, trying to control his irregular breathing.
Nova groaned softly, her body still shivering violently. Axel glanced at her with concern.
And then…
SPLASH!
Something emerged from the water.
Axel turned instantly, his knife raised. Carter held his breath.
But what emerged this time wasn't a terrifying creature.
It was a… human hand.
Axel's eyes widened. Someone was in the water… trying to climb into the boat!
The hand gripped the side of the boat tightly. Its fingers were thin, its bones protruding, and its nails were long and dirty.
Axel reflexively kicked it. THWACK! The hand released its grip and disappeared back into the water.
Axel remained vigilant, knife still in hand. He stared into the now calm sea… but he knew something was watching them from below.
Carter was still frozen in fear. "What… who was that?"
Axel shook his head. "I don't know."
Then… Nova suddenly sat up.
Carter jumped in surprise. "Nova?!"
Axel turned quickly. Nova was still sweating profusely, but now she sat upright. Her eyes… were still black.
She turned to Axel and Carter, then smiled thinly. But that smile… wasn't the smile Nova usually showed.
Something was wrong. And then, in a soft voice, Nova whispered…
"We're not alone here."