That night, by the seaside, they sat around a small but warm campfire. The sound of waves and the ocean breeze mixed with the rustling leaves. Exter and Peterson sat close together; Peterson's arm was still bandaged, and he occasionally took a drag from his cigarette. His face showed fatigue, but his eyes remained sharp.
Nearby, Lirael was lost in thought. She remembered the last night with her mother—they had watched TV together, chatting lightly, before everyone suddenly disappeared without a trace. Her heart was heavy with those haunting memories.
Taren, sitting somewhat apart, was still angry at his brother Peterson. His gaze was cold and filled with unresolved anger. He sat next to Riven and Elior, who seemed to quietly try to understand his mood without saying much.
Elsewhere, Kael, Rhea, Nyssa, Veyra, and Serin gathered close to Tyson. Tyson spoke in a deep, curious voice about the mysterious events that had thrown their world into chaos.
"Who are those two, and the young man there?" Tyson asked, pointing to Peterson, Taren, and Exter. "Your faces… they're strange, like from a fantasy world. What exactly happened to you?"
Everyone fell silent. Tyson's question hung in the air, opening a veil over the still unanswered mysteries.
Lirael looked into the fire, ready to reveal the truth that had long been hidden.
Just as Serin was about to explain to Tyson, Veyra suddenly cut in with a firm tone, "I think we all need to get some rest. There's a lot to deal with tomorrow."
Tyson nodded in agreement, then said, "You'll be sleeping on the large ship to the left. The one on the right is for young men and the elderly who've also taken refuge."
There was a brief silence before they all began to rise and head toward the designated ship. Lirael paused, gazing out at the sea, the weight of everything pressing on her—but knowing tomorrow would bring new answers.
Exter stood beside Peterson, staring out at the dark ocean. "I swear I've seen that girl before…" he muttered quietly, referring to Serin. "But I can't remember when."
Peterson didn't respond right away. His eyes were fixed on the dying campfire, the flickering light reflecting in his gaze. "I've noticed something off about her too. She's hiding something," he said flatly.
Exter let out a sigh and patted Peterson's shoulder. "Let's talk about it tomorrow. I'm dead tired. I ditched the base just to help you get them out of there."
Peterson gave a small nod.
Exter turned and walked toward the ship, disappearing inside where the others had already gone to rest.
Peterson remained outside, sitting on the sand near the glowing embers. His cigarette had burned out, but his thoughts were far from extinguished. The night wind tousled his dark hair as his eyes shifted from the sky to the large ship where everyone was sleeping. There was unease in his stare, as if he knew something he wasn't ready to say out loud.
Late at night, the sound of waves broke the silence. Lirael jolted awake, her breathing ragged, sweat clinging to her forehead. Her eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling of the ship's cabin. The dream had felt so real—her mother standing in the middle of a ruined city, calling her name, before being engulfed by a strange wave of light.
She sat up, clutching the pendant around her neck tightly. Her heart still raced. She turned toward the small window—outside, the sea was calm, but unease lingered in her chest.
Slowly, she stood, pulling on a light jacket, and stepped outside the cabin. On the ship's deck, only the sound of the ocean and the whisper of the wind kept her company. She wrapped her arms around herself, staring blankly into the dark horizon.
Suddenly, soft footsteps echoed behind her.
"Can't sleep either?" a gentle voice asked—Serin, standing in the doorway.
Lirael turned slightly, surprised, but didn't reply.
Serin walked over, standing beside her. "Did you have a nightmare too?"
Lirael gave a small nod.
"You're not alone," Serin said softly. "All of us… maybe we're all haunted by something."
They stood there in silence, staring out at the sea, each lost in their own thoughts. But in that silence, there was comfort—an unspoken understanding that whatever came tomorrow, they wouldn't face it alone.
Serin whispered, "Come inside, it's cold out here."
Lirael nodded and slowly walked back inside, her gaze fixed on the damp wooden deck.
Before entering the cabin, she stopped by a water jug in the corner of the small kitchen. She poured herself a plastic cup of water and took a slow sip. From the dimly lit dining area, she heard soft footsteps and the clinking of a glass.
She looked up and saw Peterson standing nearby, also pouring water into his metal cup. He wore a dark hoodie and a thick jacket, his arm still wrapped in a bandage.
Their eyes met briefly. Silence hung in the air—only the sound of dripping water and the distant hum of the ship's engine could be heard. Peterson gave a short nod without expression and took a sip.
Lirael gripped her cup tighter. "You're not sleeping?" she asked quietly.
Peterson replied flatly, "Not used to sleeping in a place like this."
He glanced at his cup and added, "But you should rest. Tomorrow won't be easy."
Lirael lowered her head, said nothing more, and walked down the hall to follow Serin.
Peterson watched her back disappear from sight, then slowly sat down by the window, staring out at the dark sea—his face calm, but his eyes holding something unreadable.
Lirael walked slowly behind Serin, a strange feeling creeping into her mind. There was something about Serin's behavior tonight that made her uneasy, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. The cold night air on the ship added to the heavy silence pressing around them.
When they reached the room, Lirael gently closed the door and took a deep breath. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the glowing pendant in her hand for a moment before placing it carefully on the small table beside her.
With a restless heart, Lirael lay down and closed her eyes, trying to drift into sleep. But the shadows from her nightmare the night before lingered, making rest feel distant and heavy.