Hoping for a distraction, I picked up my phone. Still no signal, and the battery had dropped to 15%.

Frustrated, I decided to step out of the room to look for someone—anyone.

The hallway was silent, and no one seemed to be around. Feeling a bit uneasy, I knocked on the door to the men’s room. No response.

I hesitated before slowly pushing the door open. The room was silent except for the soft, steady sound of breathing. My gaze landed on Jim, sprawled out on the lower bunk, completely still. He was fast asleep, his nose carefully set and wrapped in a clean bandage.

"Wow," I muttered quietly. "Casandra really knocked him out cold."

It struck me that someone—likely Gideon or Bill—had taken the time to help him, despite everything that had happened —a small act of decency, even if it seems it wasn’t entirely deserved.

I quietly closed the door to the men’s room and stepped outside the trunk cabin. The cool breeze was refreshing, carrying the salty scent of the sea. The sky had begun to slowly clear, with streaks of sunset breaking through the dark clouds. It was a beautiful sight.

As I stood there, soaking in the moment, I heard muffled voices. They were coming from the side of the cabin. My first instinct was to ignore them, but I’m feeling a bit nosy.

I leaned just enough to hear without being noticed. It was Casandra and Gideon talking, and their conversation sounded pretty serious.

“Can we really trust her?” Gideon asked, his voice sounding guarded.

“I think we can. She seems sweet,” Casandra replied casually, almost brushing off his concerns.

“Casandra, stop that,” Gideon said sharply. I imagined him frowning, maybe even pouting, at her carefree attitude.

“What? You’re still worried about where she got her ticket?” Casandra teased. I felt a knot in my chest—they were talking about me.

“She said it’s from her aunt, so I don’t see any issue,” Casandra added, almost defending me—or maybe just not taking it seriously.

“And where did her aunt get it?” Gideon countered, his tone heavy with doubt. “You know these tickets aren’t easy to come by. Regular people don’t have access to them. We should be on guard and avoid getting too involved.”

Casandra sighed, but her voice softened while staying firm. “Gideon, she’s just a kid. She probably doesn’t know much about all this. Her aunt could have connections, same as us. That’s probably how she got it—nothing more.”

Gideon didn’t sound convinced. “Casandra, our mission is too important to take any chances. We can’t afford risks—not with her or anyone else.”

There was a heavy silence after that, and the tension between them was thick. Their conversation was laced with something bigger, something I didn’t understand. I felt like I’d been listening too long and quietly backed away, careful not to make a sound.

As I walked away from the deck, my thoughts raced. What kind of mission were they on? What exactly were they talking about? And why was I suddenly seen as a risk?

The conversation left me unsettled.

They don’t trust me.

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It was obvious now—I couldn’t rely on them for answers. Casandra’s warmth had felt genuine, but after overhearing that, I wasn’t sure I could fully trust her anymore. Asking her questions might only lead to Gideon finding out, and I didn’t want to make things worse.

Jim crossed my mind briefly, but I immediately dismissed the idea. After his behavior earlier, there was no way I’d count on him for anything.

That left Granny Chan or Bill.

Between the two, Bill seemed like the safer bet—calm, steady, and likely to be upfront. His stoic expression might not scream “approachable,” but he struck me as someone who wouldn’t sugarcoat the truth. If anyone could give me answers without drama, it would probably be him.

I headed back to the dining table, my mind busy figuring out how to approach Bill, when the door to the men’s quarters creaked open. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. Jim stepped out, looking unsteady, his movements sluggish. I stayed quiet, unsure of what to do or say.

Thankfully, at that moment, Granny Chan entered, carrying a basket full of vegetables and fishes. I let out a quiet sigh of relief; I didn’t like the idea of being alone with Jim.

“Well, look who’s up,” Granny Chan said casually, setting the basket down.

“Where’s that bitch?” Jim snarled, his voice full of venom. “I swear, I’ll kill her.”

Granny Chan didn’t even flinch. She waved him off, her expression unimpressed. “Oh, stop your whining. Try anything, and she’ll probably knock you flat again—just like before.”

Jim’s face darkened, and his anger flared. “What did you say, old lady?” he snapped, his voice sharp and threatening.

Before things could rocket, the door swung open, and Casandra and Gideon walked in.

“Everything okay, ma’am?” Gideon asked, his gaze sweeping the room until it landed on Jim.

Casandra’s eyes followed, and her lips curled into a bright, almost teasing smile. “Oh, look who’s up,” she said cheerfully, her tone light but carrying an edge of mischief.

Jim froze, his earlier aggression dimming under Casandra’s calm and collected presence. Their eyes locked, his defiance flickering like a dying flame. He straightened, forcing a sharp “Che!” out of his mouth—a weak attempt to salvage his pride.

Without another word, he pushed past Casandra and Gideon, heading outside, likely needing space—or a chance to save face.

I stood up and approached Granny Chan, offering to help with dinner. She handed me a knife and a cutting board, instructing me to slice the vegetables. Casandra joined in, gathering plates and setting the table. Gideon, meanwhile, asked if there was anything he could do.

Granny Chan glanced at him and said, “Just keep an eye on Jim—or go find Bill if you’d rather. He might need help.”

Taking her advice, Gideon nodded and left the room.

As I chopped vegetables, I couldn’t shake a slight sense of offense. Knowing what Gideon and Casandra had said about me earlier cast a shadow over their friendliness, making it feel... complicated. I appreciated Casandra’s lighthearted demeanor, but Gideon’s guardedness was hard to ignore.

Despite the unease, I reminded myself of what mattered most: finding answers. I needed to find a chance to talk to Bill. He seemed like my best option. I glanced at my watch: 5:20 PM. Time was slipping away, and I couldn’t afford to wait much longer to act.

Dinner was served, and the cabin had grown quiet. I was left at the table with Casandra and Gideon, their presence both comforting and unnerving at the same time. Jim helped himself to a plate and disappeared outside, while Granny Chan had prepared something for Bill, likely taking it to him at the control room.

I shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to navigate the silence. This was quickly becoming an increasingly awkward situation for me.

“Enjoying the food, Aria?” Casandra asked, her tone warm and friendly.

“Yeah,” I answered quickly, keeping my response short. Small talk felt difficult, especially knowing what I’d overheard earlier. My main focus was on finishing my meal so I could slip away to talk to Bill once Granny Chan returned.

Casandra tilted her head slightly, studying me. “Is something wrong, Aria?” she asked, more curious than concerned.

I felt Gideon’s calm but intense gaze on me, and for some reason, it made me nervous. Flustered, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Are you and Gideon… lovers?”

Gideon choked on his water, coughing loudly as he scrambled to take a sip from his glass. Casandra, meanwhile, burst into a soft laugh, clearly entertained—not by my question, but by Gideon’s reaction.

“Oh, getting nosy, are we, Aria?” Casandra teased, a playful sparkle in her eyes.

Realizing how inappropriate my question was, I stammered an apology. “No, I—I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer. I didn’t mean to invade your privacy.”

I swore I saw Gideon’s face turn red. “Casandra, please,” he said, his voice tinged with embarrassment and seriousness. Her playful words had a double meaning, I realized. They were definitely “partners,” but likely in something that I don’t know of. Whatever mission or goal they were pursuing, it was clear their bond ran deep.

Just then, Granny Chan came back into the room. Her timing couldn’t have been better. I finished the last bite of my meal and stood up, excusing myself.

“Thanks for dinner, Granny. It was delicious,” I said as I carried my plate to the sink to wash it.

“Done already? Where are you off to, dear?” she asked, her tone kind but curious.

“Just stepping out for some fresh air,” I replied. “I think the motion sickness is catching up to me.”

She frowned slightly, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “I’ve got some mint that might help with that.”

I shook my head, smiling politely. “No, thank you, Granny. I think the fresh air will do the trick.”

After rinsing off my plate, I slipped out of the cabin, determined to find Bill and hopefully get some answers.