“It’s been a day since those ships rose to the surface, and the world’s news focuses on them. People, we need this if we want to get ahead of the competition or other media will swallow us,” Mark, the head of Starlite News, said he was looking for anything new for his channel.

“I’ve been telling you time and time, Mark, we need a journalist who dares to get deep and get his hands dirty. Just take a look at the social media: stupid, ambitious people are going further in Heaven’s Peak than any bounty hunter, veteran, or tough guy ever did, and honestly, the only reason other companies are growing is that they can buy their footage at a higher price than us. We don’t have their deep pockets, but you know what we got, Mark?” Samuel, the director of Starlite News, questioned Mark for the 60th time.

"Sam, not this again. I told you I couldn’t send my journalists to their deaths; it’s not happening." Mark was tired of arguing with Sam over the same disagreement; it was starting to sound childish to him and his colleagues.

“You are right, Mark, but this time I have a volunteer; she wants to go as far as anyone has ever dared, and for the first time we can get ahead of this game and win over all other media, or at least it will put us on the map.” Samuel always sounded excited, ambitious, and hopeful.

Mark got interested; no one ever volunteered, but he perfectly hid his happiness behind his angry face. He was quite experienced in hiding his emotions after years in this industry.

Mark remained silent for Sam to continue: “All she wants is a fair opportunity and her name on the show, which is all we can give her, and of course her payment three months in advance right after she signed the contract since, you know, she might lose her life. I think it’s perfect. Everything, at first, looked too good to be true, but no, she is the real deal, Mark; she can change things for us.”

Mark and the other staff looked at Sam doubtfully. Everyone knew that giving a rookie a show with her name on it was not a good idea. In fact, everything about Sam’s idea was extremely risky.

“Why did she come to us and not the other companies first, the ones with deeper pockets?” Mark taunted Samuel with his question, but Sam was already prepared for some needling from Mark. It was a good sign that Mark was considering his proposition.

Sam smiled and answered, “Well, I’m glad that you asked. We have one thing that other big news companies don’t have right now: pure desperation. Another year like this, and we have to search for other jobs. I know I have a cousin who is a Star Bucks manager. I don’t know about you, though."

“This is ridiculous,” Mark responded bitterly.

“But it is true, Mark. You know it, I know it, and the numbers are showing it clearly. Even our star Nadia won’t be able to carry our news with her charm and humor when there is a supernatural freak show happening in Heaven’s Peak.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

No one in the room could argue with the numbers, and the viewer drop rate was true.

“I will guarantee her that I will be her producer, and I will take all the responsibility for her show. Just please give me a chance,” Samuel said desperately.

Mark nodded and left the room in disappointment. “Desperation is what we got indeed,” he whispered to himself fiercely. All the staff heard him, though.

Sam smiled joyfully and slapped his hands together. "Alright, people, let’s do this. I will give Chloe a call to let her know you guys are going to start branding and hyping the show, and make sure to come up with a catchy name for all our sake.”

* * *

"Alright, Chloe, the ship is coming. Look, I bet all I had on you, so please don’t mess it up. Go there, survive, and stream the show like your life depends on it because I know mine does.” Samuel said.

“Don’t worry, and thanks, Samuel, for sticking out your neck for me. I’ve got Laurie as my camerawoman and as my girlfriend,” Chloe said, smiling.

“I checked on everything, Sam. Don’t worry, I won’t let her get hurt, and I’ll make sure to take the best shots with my camera, I promise,” Laurie said, trying to calm Sam.

"OK, then good luck, and don’t forget to contact me before doing anything too risky, alright?” Sam said that and left the dock.

“You got it, boss,” Chloe said, waving her hand for him as a goodbye sign.

“How did you end up getting to know the director of the Starlite News girl? You never told me.” Laurie asked; she was eager to hear all about Sam.

“I caught him red-handed at a party fucking his assistant; actually, I got his video on my phone here; let me show you." Chloe took out his phone and showed the video of Sam banging his drunk assistant in a room. Chloe made sure both the faces of Sam and his assistant were clear.

“So you blackmailed him to give you this show with your name on it? Damn C, that's cold, but in a hot way,” Laurie said, kissing Chloe.

“You didn’t think he had risked everything out of kindness, right?” Chloe said, and they both laughed.

“Hey, in my defense, my family was a bunch of freakishly optimistic spiritual people,” Laurie said.

“Still, ten times better than my criminal family,” Chloe joked, and the ship docked.

“I always wanted to get on the famous Hope, but this one looks legit too,” Chloe continued as she looked at their ship's name, ‘Last Light’.

“Let’s get rich, girl,” Laurie said, and they both got to the Last Light, one of the hundred ships gathering people from all around the world to the land of the demons, Heaven’s Peak.