The next day, the four gathered back together again just as promised. They talked for quite a while, brainstorming about what they all thought might have happened until they heard the announcement crackling over the ship's intercom system, interrupting their conversation. Captain Thornton's voice, strained despite his attempt at projecting confidence, informed all passengers to gather in the main atrium in an hour for an important address.

Elijah and Hayley exchanged glances, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in their eyes. "Well, I guess we're finally going to get some answers." Elijah said, pushing back his chair.

Hayley nodded, her usual bubbly demeanor tempered by the gravity of the situation. "I hope it's good news." she murmured, reaching for Elijah's hand as they stood.

Brian rose slowly, his joints protesting slightly. "In my experience," he said, his voice low and thoughtful, "when a captain calls all passengers together like this, it's rarely for good news." Despite his words, he offered a reassuring smile to the young couple.

Vivienne was already on her feet, her posture impeccable as always. "Let's not jump to conclusions," she said briskly, though a flicker of worry crossed her face. "We should hear what he has to say before we start speculating."

The four made their way out of the dining hall, joining the stream of

passengers all heading towards the atrium. The corridors buzzed with nervous energy, snippets of conversation floating around them as people shared theories and fears.

As they walked, Elijah noticed Brian's hand trembling slightly. Without drawing attention to it, he positioned himself closer to the older man, offering silent support. Hayley, ever perceptive, engaged Vivienne in light conversation, sensing the businesswoman's hidden unease.

They entered the vast atrium, which was rapidly filling with passengers. The opulent space, usually a showcase of the ship's luxury, now felt oppressive with the weight of anticipation and fear.

Elijah spotted an open space near one of the sweeping staircases. "Over there," he said, guiding the group.

They positioned themselves with a clear view of the raised platform where the captain would speak. As they waited, the atrium continued to fill. The air grew thick with tension, the usual sounds of a lively cruise ship replaced by hushed whispers and nervous shuffling.

Vivienne, despite her earlier composure, found herself unconsciously moving closer to her newfound companions. Brian's presence beside her oddly comforting. Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd. Captain Thornton had appeared on the platform, flanked by his senior officers. Even from a distance, Elijah could see the strain on the captain's face as he stepped up to the microphone. The four friends exchanged glances, each silently drawing strength from the others as they prepared to hear what the captain had to say about their increasingly surreal situation.

Captain Thornton's speech was a masterclass in diplomatic vagueness. He spoke of "unforeseen circumstances" and "working tirelessly to resolve the situation," carefully avoiding any concrete explanations or promises. His words, while not entirely reassuring, managed to quell some of the rising panic among the passengers.

However, as he spoke he couldn't help but recall the vast shadow he had seen momentarily just a couple hours before, a rising dread continuing to build within him as the thought of how they were just sitting there, still as the grave and waiting to die on a silver platter embedded itself deeper and deeper into his mind.

And so, driven by fear and insecurity, in the spur of the moment he threw away what little shred of dignity he had left.

"And...one last thing! We uh...have a rather unusual request for our honorable guests." He croaked, quickly regretting, but unable to put a lid on what was already spilling out. "We need a volunteer to dive beneath the ship to check for any... obstructions." He paused, aware of the absurdity of his ask. He could see the crew looking at him out of the corner of his eye, scorn and mockery evident in their expressions. "Our crew is fully occupied maintaining ship operations, so we turn to you, our esteemed passengers, for assistance."

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Elijah and Hayley exchanged incredulous looks, while Vivienne simply let out an exasperated sigh. "Cowards, the lot of them..." She whispered knowingly.

Brian, hearing her derision, glanced in her direction through the corner of his eye as a certain thought flitted across his mind. Time passed but no one volunteered, and of course they didn't, who of the few people qualified among the passengers would want to do the captains job for him when his cowardice was painfully evident?

"Will doing this help us get back home?" Brian said as he stepped towards the captain and raised his voice to be heard, causing Eli, Hayley and Vivienne to snap their heads towards him in surprise.

"O-of course!" The captain said as a bead of sweat ran down his brow. "If we can find out what's obstructing the ship from moving and solve the issue we can finally start making progress towards land! We could be home in a matter of days!" He pleaded as he desperately tried to convince himself, more so than anyone else.

"And what are the reasons, exactly, that your crew aren't able to do their job like they're supposed to?" Brian couldn't help but press despite knowing full well the real reason regardless of any excuses.

"A-as was stated previously, due to unexpected and unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, the crew currently is dealing with far more tasks than what is usually allotted and..." The captain began to trail off in shame, how could he possibly say outright that they were all just too scared shitless to do their job, himself included?

Brian studied the pale face of the captain who refused to meet his gaze and sighed in resignation. "I'll do it." He forced out before he could change his mind.

Elijah grabbed Brian's arm. "Brian, wait. You don't have to do this," he whispered urgently.

Brian patted Elijah's hand reassuringly, though his own was shaking slightly. "It's alright, lad. I've spent my life on and around the water. If anyone should do this, it's me."

Vivienne, surprised by Brian's sudden volunteering, felt a mix of admiration and concern. "Brian, are you sure about this? It could be dangerous."

Brian turned to her, a wan smile on his face. "Sometimes, i feel we must face our fears in order to help others." His words carried a weight beyond the current situation, hinting at his own internal struggles.

As Brian made his way towards the captain, Hayley clutched Elijah's hand tightly. "We can't let him do this alone," she said, her voice filled with worry.

Elijah nodded, his mind racing. "You're right. We need to find a way to help or... or stop this if it's too risky."

Vivienne, usually so composed, found herself torn between her instinct for self-preservation and a growing sense of responsibility towards her new acquaintances. "This is absurd," she muttered, but her eyes never left Brian as he approached the captain.

The atmosphere in the atrium had shifted from tense anticipation to shocked disbelief. As Brian reached the platform, Captain Thornton's relief was evident, though tinged with guilt. The four friends watched, united in their concern, as preparations began for Brian's dive into the unnaturally still waters. The reality of their situation – stranded on a motionless ship in a seemingly endless, eerily calm sea – had never felt more surreal or dangerous than at this moment.

***

Hayley and Vivienne had both gone back to their rooms for the time being. Elijah had tried to do the same and absorb himself in his book for a bit to distract himself from all of what was going on but he just couldn't manage to concentrate.

And so he instead decided to walk through the halls of the Good Fortune, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Brian and his dangerous decision to dive beneath the ship. The gentle hum of the ship's engines and the muffled conversations of passing passengers created a backdrop to his troubled musings.

As he turned a corner, a familiar face caught his eye. Sitting alone at a small table in one of the ship's many lounges was Henry Knowles, a young man Elijah recognized from a part-time job he'd held a while back. Henry was nursing a glass of amber liquid, his face etched with worry as he stared out at the unnaturally still sea.

"Henry?" Elijah called out, approaching the table. "Henry Knowles, is that you?"

Henry's head snapped up, his eyes widening in recognition. A relieved smile spread across his face. "Elijah! Man, am I glad to see a friendly face." He hopped up and gave a friendly hug before gesturing to the empty chair across from him. "Please, join me. I could use the company."

Elijah sat down, noting the slight tremor in Henry's hand as he lifted his glass. "How are you holding up?" he asked gently.

Henry let out a bitter laugh. "About as well as can be expected when you're trapped on a ship in the middle of nowhere." He took a long swig of his drink. "But if I'm being honest, I can't help feeling like this is somehow my brother's fault."

"Your brother?" Elijah tilted his eyebrow, remembering that Henry had an older sibling but unable to recall the details.

"Percy." Henry clarified, his voice tinged with a mix of affection and frustration. "My older brother. He's the one who invited me on this 'vacation.' Said it would be good for me to get away, clear my head." He shook his head ruefully. "Should've known better. Nothing good ever comes from being around Percy for too long."

Elijah listened sympathetically as Henry continued to vent his frustrations. It was clear that the relationship between the brothers was complicated, marked by a history of Percy's well-intentioned but often misguided attempts to help his younger sibling.

After a while, Henry seemed to deflate, the act of sharing his worries providing some relief. He looked at Elijah curiously. "What about you? You seemed pretty deep in thought when you walked in. Something on your mind?"

Elijah hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in Henry. "Actually, yeah. It's about a friend of mine, Brian. He's... he's volunteered to dive under the ship to check for obstructions or the like. I'm worried it's too dangerous, but I don't know how to talk him out of it."

Henry's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Dive under the ship?" His eyes peered out the windows of the ship, looking at the haunting visage resting deathly still beyond them. "That's... well, that's something."

"I know," Elijah agreed. "I can't shake the feeling that it's a bad idea. But Brian seems determined. I was hoping to find a way to change his mind."

Henry was quiet for a moment, considering Elijah's words. Finally, he spoke, his voice thoughtful. "You know, it might be stupid and dangerous, but I can't help but respect it." He took a hearty swig of his drink, 46% alc was plastered on the bottle. Elijah doubted if they even sold stuff that strong on the ship, and he could hold it well too. "Phew! But yea! Sometimes, a man's just gotta do what a man's gotta do, you know?"

Elijah frowned, not quite expecting this response. "Even if it might get him killed?"

Henry shrugged. "Look, I get why you're worried. But think about it - we're all stuck here, right? No one knows why or for how long. If your friend thinks he can do something about it, even if it's risky... well, maybe that's better than just sitting around waiting for something to change."

Elijah mulled over Henry's words, while he still felt uneasy about Brian's decision, he could understand the drive to take action, to try and affect their fate in some way.

"I...guess. I just don't understand why it has to be him of all people, he doesn't even work here or anything."

"Well, that's what happens when you got a crew full of cowards i guess." Henry chuckled with a shrug of his shoulders. "Just makes that pal o' yours all the more respectable."

"...Yeah, that's true." Elijah thought hard about it for a moment. "Maybe you're right, since he's so determined to do this i should just respect Brian's resolve and be there for him." He said as he got up to leave.

"Aw man, leaving so soon?"

"I want to let Brian know that I have his back. Thanks for hearing me out Henry, it really helped." He said with a smile.

"Glad to be of service my friend. Since we've found each other like this let's stay in touch yea? I might want a drinking partner sometime."

"Sounds good."

***

Elijah made his way through the ship's corridors, his conversation with Henry still echoing in his mind. He found himself standing outside Brian's cabin, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door.

"Come in." Brian's voice called from inside.

Elijah entered to find Brian sitting on the edge of his bed, a book open in his lap but his gaze fixed on the porthole. He looked up as Elijah entered, a mix of surprise and warmth crossing his face.

"Elijah," he said, setting the book aside. "I didn't expect to see you."

Elijah moved further into the room, closing the door behind him. "I wanted to talk to you about the dive." he began, then hesitated before continuing. "I want you to know that whatever happens, I have your back."

Brian's eyebrows rose slightly, clearly not expecting this. "I thought you were against the idea."

"I was... I am worried," Elijah admitted. "But I respect your determination. If this is something you feel you need to do, then I'm here to support you."

A look of gratitude washed over Brian's face. "Thank you, Elijah. That means more than you know."

They fell into conversation, the tension that had existed between them melting away. As they talked, Elijah found himself opening up.

"You know," he said, "I feel like there's a kindred spirit between us. I wish we'd met before all this happened. It would have been nice to get to know you better under normal circumstances."

Brian nodded, a wistful smile on his face. "I feel the same way. It's strange how crisis can bring people together, isn't it?"

After a comfortable lull in the conversation, Elijah asked the question that had been nagging at him. "Brian, why are you so determined to go through with this dive? It's not just about the ship, is it?"

Brian was quiet for a long moment, his gaze distant. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. "I'm not entirely sure myself, to be honest. But I think... I think it's about fighting back against all the fear and insecurity that's been weighing on me my whole life."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "My father... he was a very abusive man. Violent. He never missed an opportunity to mock me, to tell me how disappointed he was that his son was such a 'weak little bookworm'. Even now, years later, I can still hear his voice in my head sometimes."

Elijah listened intently, feeling a new understanding of his friend dawning.

"I know my reasons might not be perfect," Brian continued. "But I feel like if I turn my back now, I'll never be able to live it down. It's like... like I need to prove something, not just to others, but to myself."

Elijah nodded slowly, processing Brian's words. Then he leaned forward, his voice firm but kind. "If that's how you feel, then you should crush that fear once and for all. And I meant what I said - I'll be there with you till the end, one way or another."

Brian's eyes glistened with emotion. "Thank you, Elijah. Truly."

They continued talking for a while longer, their bond growing stronger with each passing minute. By the time Elijah left Brian's cabin, he felt like he truly understood his friend for the first time.

As he walked back to his own cabin, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just transpired. He had come to offer support and ended up gaining a deeper connection than he'd anticipated. Whatever challenges lay ahead, he knew that this newfound friendship would be a source of strength for both of them.

***

A day later Brian was all suited up and about to be lowered down to dive under the ship. Elijah, Hayley and Vivienne, being friends of his, were allowed to be present. Elijah and Brian's eyes met with a silent understanding and trust before he turned away and went to the edge of the dock.

Brian was lowered towards the Mirror Sea as his friends watched anxiously. Little by little he watched as that perfect reflection of his came closer and closer, instilling a palpable unease the closer it came. Gritting his teeth Brian reaffirmed his determination and finally closed the distance.

Everyone above watched with baited breath and a prayer, desperately hoping for Brian's safety and to figure out some way to get the ship moving again. At first, everything seemed normal, but as his face came close to the surface, something strange started happening. The water around Brian's reflection started to move. Before anyone could react, his reflection surged forward in a mercurial torrent, forcing its way into Brian's body through his every orifice.

Elijah watched in horror as Brian's body convulsed silently atop the still water, undisturbed by the desperate thrashing of his friend. The crew, jolted into action by the commotion, began hurriedly pulling him up.

Brian plopped on the ship, writhing as though being torn apart from the inside, his face a mask of agony and terror.

His eyes, now an unnatural silvery hue, darted wildly as he gasped for air. Elijah rushed over shouting his name in panic. "Brian! Brian!" He yelled desperately. When Eli got near enough that Brian noticed him above the pain he reached out and grabbed Elijah by the shirt, pulling him close.

"Kill me!" Brian rasped, his voice a raw fleshy groan. "Please... you have to, kill me..." His grip loosened as his now glassy eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

Chaos erupted on the deck. Hayley screamed, her hands covering her mouth in shock. Vivienne, her usual composure shattered, stumbled backward, her face pale with disbelief. Elijah, still gripped by Brian's now-limp hand, stood frozen, his mind reeling from what he had just witnessed and Brian's desperate plea. The crew swarmed around them, pulling Brian away and rushing him to the ship's medical bay.

As the commotion swirled around them, Elijah, Hayley, and Vivienne remained rooted to the spot, united in their shock and horror. The reality of their situation confirming itself as the nightmare that they had all feared it might be. The calm sea stretched out behind them, its glassy surface now a sinister reminder of the otherworldly threat that they faced.

The Good Fortune, once a vessel of leisure and luxury, had become a floating prison in a world that no longer made sense.

***

The Good Fortune drifted aimlessly in the unnaturally still waters, a gilded cage housing almost six thousand souls caught in a surreal limbo. Three days had passed since Brian Dranjier's terrifying encounter beneath the ship, and the atmosphere onboard had shifted from initial panic to a tense, uneasy calm.

Captain Reginald Thornton stood on the bridge, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the horizon. The weight of command, already a burden he felt ill-equipped to bear, now threatened to crush him entirely. He tugged at his collar, loosening it slightly, as if that small action could alleviate the pressure building inside him.

First Officer Lisa Chen approached, her typically composed demeanor showing signs of strain. "Captain," she began, her voice low, "we need to discuss the ration situation."

Thornton's jaw clenched. "What about it?" he asked, not turning to face her.

"We're burning through our supplies faster than anticipated," Chen explained. "The crew is concerned that we're not being strict enough with portioning."

The captain whirled around, his face flushed. "And what would you have me do? Tell the passengers they can't eat? We're barely keeping them from rioting as it is!"

Chen held her ground. "With all due respect, sir, that's exactly what we might have to do. If we don't take action now, we'll run out of food before we can find a solution to our... situation."

Thornton's nostrils flared. "I'm doing the best I can, Officer Chen. Perhaps if the crew spent less time questioning my decisions and more time following orders, we wouldn't be in this mess."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Thornton regretted them. He saw the flash of anger in Chen's eyes, quickly masked by professional detachment.

"Very well, sir," she said coolly. "I'll inform the crew of your decision."

As Chen turned to leave, Thornton called out, "Wait." He sighed heavily. "You're right. We need to address the ration situation. Set up a meeting with the department heads for this afternoon."

Chen nodded curtly and left the bridge. Thornton turned back to the window, his reflection staring back at him from the impossibly smooth sea. The man he saw looked haggard, uncertain – a far cry from the confident captain he was supposed to be.

However, the longer he stared at it the more foreign it seemed to become, the eyes of his reflection almost seeming to stare back at him of their own accord with a strange obsession seemingly hidden within. With a shiver he whipped around and practically ran away.

***

In the ship's medical bay, Eli, Hayley and Vivienne hurried through the sterile corridors. They had just received word that Brian had finally regained consciousness, and their hearts raced with a mixture of anticipation and dread.

As they approached Brian's room, a nurse emerged, clipboard in hand. "Are you here to see Mr. Dranjier?"

Hayley nodded eagerly. "Yes, we're his friends. How is he?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Dranjier is in perfect health and doing quite well." She said with a strain to her voice. "However I would recommend choosing your friends a bit more wisely going forward."

"What? What is that supposed to mean?" Elijah quipped irritably, mirroring his friends thoughts.

"Oh, of course!" The nurse fussed at Elijah's tone. "Birds of a feather flock together as they say, I should know better by now!" She spat as she stomped off down the hall.

"What in God's good name was all that about?" Vivienne whispered with a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

As they filed into the room, they were greeted by the sight of Brian sitting up in bed, his face split by a wide grin that seemed almost too big for his face. "Well, well, well!" he boomed, his voice carrying none of its usual gentle tone. "If it isn't my merry band of worry-warts! Come to check on old Brian, have you?"

The three friends exchanged uneasy glances. Vivienne, ever the most composed, stepped forward. "Brian, how are you feeling? We've been so worried."

Brian let out a bark of laughter that made them all jump. "Worried? Ha! Never felt better in my life, sweetheart. In fact, I feel fucking fantastic!"

Elijah's eyes widened at Brian's use of profanity – something the older man had always eschewed in the past. "That's... that's great, Brian. Do you remember what happened?"

"Remember?" Brian scoffed. "Course I remember. Took a little dip, had myself a grand old time down there. You lot should try it – might loosen you up a bit."

Hayley, her therapist instincts kicking in, approached the bed cautiously. "Brian, you were unconscious for three days. We thought... we were afraid we might lose you."

For a moment, something flickered in Brian's eyes – a darkness that sent a chill down Hayley's spine. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that unsettling grin. "Lose me? Not a chance, darling. Old Brian's tougher than you think. In fact, I'd say I'm better than ever."

As they continued to talk, the sense of unease among Elijah, Hayley, and Vivienne grew. This Brian before them bore little resemblance to the kind, humble man they had come to know. His words were laced with arrogance, his mannerisms bordering on aggressive. Every statement seemed designed to provoke or belittle, a far cry from his usual thoughtful discourse.

"So," Brian said, leaning forward conspiratorially, "what's the gossip? Our illustrious captain still fumbling about like a virgin on prom night?"

Vivienne's eyebrows shot up at the crude analogy. "The captain is... doing his best under difficult circumstances," she replied diplomatically.

Brian snorted derisively. "His best? Please. That man couldn't captain a bathtub, let alone a ship this size. We're all fucked, and you know it."

Elijah stepped forward, his concern evident. "Brian, are you sure you're feeling alright? You seem... not yourself."

For a split second, Brian's face contorted into a mask of rage. "Not myself?" he snarled. "And who the fuck are you to say who I am? You barely know me, boy."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the anger vanished from Brian's face, replaced once again by that unsettling grin that reached all the way to his glassy eyes "Ah, ignore me," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Just a bit of cabin fever, I suppose. Now, when are they letting me out of this glorified prison cell? I've got people to do, things to see!"

As they left Brian's room a short while later, Elijah, Hayley, and Vivienne were shaken. They walked in silence for a few moments before Hayley spoke up. "That... that wasn't Brian," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Elijah nodded, his face pale. "It was like... like something was wearing Brian's skin. The way he spoke, the things he said..."

Vivienne, her usual composure slipping, shuddered visibly. "Whatever happened to him down there, it changed him. And not for the better."

As they discussed their concerns, they were unaware of the figure watching them from the shadows – Brian, having somehow slipped out of his room unnoticed. His eyes, glinting with an otherworldly sheen, followed their retreating forms. A smirk played across his lips, a expression that would have been entirely alien on the old Brian's face.

"Oh, my dear friends," he whispered to himself, his voice carrying an echo that seemed to come from somewhere far beneath the surface of reality. "you'll thank me in the end, you'll see."

***

Captain Thornton was embroiled in yet another heated discussion with his senior staff. The meeting about rations had quickly devolved into a litany of complaints and accusations.

"We can't keep this up, Captain." Chief Engineer Ramirez insisted. "The engines are running constantly, burning through our fuel reserves. We need to consider shutting down non-essential systems."

Security Chief Reeves chimed in, his voice tight with frustration. "And what about the passengers? They're getting restless. We've had three fights break out in the last day alone."

Thornton felt his temper rising. "And what would you have me do? We're in an impossible situation!"

"Perhaps if you had been more prepared-" Chen began, but Thornton cut her off.

"Enough!" he roared, slamming his hand on the table. "I am still the captain of this ship, and I will not be second-guessed at every turn. We will continue as we have been! Dismissed!"

As his staff filed out, the air was thick with unspoken accusations and barely contained frustration. Chief Engineer Ramirez's shoulders were hunched, his hands clenched at his sides as if physically restraining himself from lashing out. Security Chief Reeves' jaw was set in a hard line, his eyes cold with disapproval.

First Officer Chen was the last to leave, her gaze lingering on Thornton for a moment, a mix of pity and disappointment evident in her eyes before she too turned away.

The door closed with a soft click that seemed to echo in the sudden silence. Thornton remained standing, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps as he struggled to regain his composure. The weight of command, always a burden, now felt like an unbearable load threatening to crush him.

He stumbled to his chair, collapsing into it with none of the dignity befitting his position. His hands shook as he reached for the glass of water on the table, spilling some as he brought it to his lips. The cool liquid did little to soothe the burning in his throat or the churning in his stomach.

Thornton's eyes darted to the locked drawer of his desk where he kept a bottle of scotch hidden.

The temptation to reach for it, to dull the edge of his fear and inadequacy with alcohol, was almost overwhelming. But he resisted, knowing that one drink would lead to another, and he couldn't afford to lose control, not now.

A soft ping from his computer drew his attention. Another report, another problem demanding his attention. Thornton felt a hysterical laugh bubble up in his throat. How had it come to this?

He had always known he wasn't cut out for real command, that his position was more due to connections than competence. But he had never imagined facing a situation like this. The unnatural stillness of the sea, the dwindling supplies, the growing unrest among the passengers and crew - it was all spiraling out of control. And deep down, Thornton knew he was ill-equipped to handle it.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in a futile attempt to center himself. When he opened them again, his gaze fell on the captain's hat sitting on the edge of his desk. Once a symbol of authority and respect, it now seemed to mock him, a constant reminder of his failings.

With a sudden, violent motion, Thornton swept his arm across the desk, sending papers, the water glass, and the hat flying. The crash of breaking glass was oddly satisfying, a physical manifestation of the chaos in his mind.

As he stared at the mess on the floor, Thornton felt something inside him crack. A sob escaped his lips, then another. Soon, he was hunched over in his chair, body shaking with the force of his breakdown.

In that moment, alone in his office with the weight of thousands of lives on his shoulders, Captain Reginald Thornton finally faced the truth he had been desperately trying to avoid: he was out of his depth, and he had no idea how to save them.