Detective Mark Halloway arrived at the first survivor’s home with a sense of purpose. His mind was sharp, focused on the task ahead. He knew that getting to the bottom of the mystery would require carefully unpicking each of the survivors' accounts, listening for the small inconsistencies that might reveal the truth.

His first stop was the apartment of Victoria Gray, one of the four survivors. She lived in a modest building on the outskirts of the city, the kind of place that blended into the background. Halloway wasn’t sure what to expect from her—would she be cooperative, or would she be guarded, protective of whatever secrets she might be hiding?

As he knocked on her door, he took a deep breath. The door opened a moment later to reveal Victoria, a woman in her early thirties with a pale complexion and tired eyes. She looked like someone who had been through hell and was still trying to find her way back.

“Ms. Gray, I’m Detective Halloway,” he introduced himself, showing her his badge. “I’m following up on the shipwreck investigation. I know it’s been some time, but I’m hoping you can help me with a few questions.”

Victoria hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. “I thought everything was already settled,” she said, her voice wary.

“The case was closed, yes,” Halloway acknowledged. “But there are still a few details that I’d like to clarify. I promise not to take up too much of your time.”

She looked at him for a long moment before stepping aside. “Alright, come in.”

Halloway entered the apartment, noting its simple, clean decor. There were few personal items on display, nothing that spoke of a life rich in memories. It was as if Victoria had distanced herself from her past, keeping only the essentials.

They sat down in the small living room, and Halloway got straight to the point. “I’ve reviewed the statements you and the others gave after the rescue,” he began. “I’m curious about your experience on the island. Can you tell me about your time there, in your own words?”

Victoria’s expression tightened, her hands clasping together in her lap. “It was… a nightmare. We were stranded, with no idea if we’d ever be rescued. We had to rely on each other to survive, but it wasn’t easy. The island was… unsettling.”

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“Unsettling how?” Halloway asked, leaning forward slightly.

“There was something about it,” she said slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. “The atmosphere, the way it felt. It was like the island was watching us, waiting for something. I can’t explain it, but we all felt it.”

Halloway nodded, making a mental note. “And the others? How did they cope?”

“Everyone dealt with it differently,” Victoria replied. “James Sterling tried to keep us all organized, like a leader. Nina Wells was quiet, but strong—she kept to herself most of the time. Paul Henderson… he struggled the most. He was convinced there was something… evil on that island.”

“Did you agree with him?” Halloway asked, watching her closely.

Victoria hesitated, her eyes dropping to her hands. “I don’t know. At the time, I thought it was just the stress, the fear getting to him. But now… I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean?” Halloway pressed gently.

“There were things that happened,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Strange things. Accidents that didn’t make sense, feelings of being watched even when we were alone. We all experienced it, but none of us wanted to admit it. We were too afraid of what it might mean.”

Halloway studied her carefully. “And after the rescue? How did the others react?”

“We were all just relieved to be off that island,” Victoria said, her tone flat. “We didn’t talk about what happened, not really. It was like an unspoken agreement—we just wanted to forget and move on.”

“Did you ever question what really happened?” Halloway asked.

Victoria looked up at him, her eyes haunted. “Every day,” she admitted. “But there’s no answer that makes sense, no explanation that fits. All I know is that the island changed us. None of us came back the same.”

Halloway nodded, sensing the depth of her trauma. “Thank you, Ms. Gray. I appreciate your honesty.”

She offered a faint, tired smile. “I don’t know if it’ll help, but… if you find out anything, I’d like to know. I need closure, Detective.”

“I’ll do my best,” Halloway promised as he stood to leave. “Take care of yourself, Ms. Gray.”

As he left her apartment, Halloway’s mind was already turning over the information she had given him. Victoria’s account was consistent with the official reports, but her hesitation, her fear, hinted at something deeper. The island had left its mark on her, and Halloway was determined to find out why.

Next on his list was James Sterling. If there were inconsistencies in the survivors’ stories, Halloway was confident that he would uncover them. The truth was buried somewhere beneath their shared trauma, and he would keep digging until he found it.