Back in the sakoar, we all decided to sleep first. When I woke up, it was already dinner time again.

I looked up at the clock. 6pm. How ironic, I yawned loudly.

“Ugh, mister. Your breath stinks.”

“Holy!” I jumped out of the bed. “Darrell? Why’re you here?”

“Ugh, gosh. I’m so sleepy. Will you quiet down, mister?” He wrapped himself in my bed and continued to sleep.

I gazed over at Darrell’s sleeping form. I just realized his wetsuit color was a light gray. No bright colors? “Wait, Darrell. Why were you in a cage anyways?”

He looked up, eyes blinking slowly. “Uh… dunno… ask sis…” Then he started to snore.

Geez. Close your mouth, Darrell. That’s my bed you’re drooling on. I let out a sigh before I headed out. I needed something to eat. My stomach was growling.

Walking through the familiar corridors, I bumped into Mark at the crematorium intersection. He gave me a quick smile before heading into the cafeteria. I followed him in.

Within the scattered groups of crewmates sitting around the tables, I saw Dans at the same corner table as before.

Mark and I both picked up our meals by the kitchen. Today’s dinner special was apparently something called Raw Snapjaw Salad. It was basically sushi without any of the rice. We walked over and sat down next to Dans.

Dans looked up from her meal. “Darrell give you any trouble?”

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “Why’s Darrell in my room?”

“He usually sleeps there when we’re not at home. I told him not to bother you, but he’s too stubborn for his own good.”

“Wonderful.” I plopped a piece of the raw fish into my mouth. “Mmm. Wonderful!”

“I agree,” Mark blurted out. A small piece of fish went flying across the table. “Apologies.”

“Please talk with your mouth closed. You’re not Darrell.”

“My bad, Cap’n.”

“So”—Dans placed her fork down—“When do you want to leave?” I noticed Dans’s injured arm resting next to her plate of fish. The sight of the newly wrapped bandages made me furrow my brows.

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If only we got to her faster…

“Mel?” She calmly pulled her injured arm off the table. “Did you hear me?”

“Hmm?” I looked up. Let me just… I swallowed the raw fish I had previously plopped into my mouth. “What were you saying?”

“For Merlovak. You’re going back to Dagaea Castle, yes?”

“Right, yeah…” I thought for a moment. Is Merlovak really the bad guy? None of what Sakon said clicked until now. I’d been avoiding it for a while because I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions. But if what Sakon said was all true, Merlovak was definitely not who he said he was.

“Mel, you there?” Dans interrupted.

“Dans, why’re you helping me?”

“We’re friends, aren’t we?” She smiled. “And I want to know. No, I need to know.”

“Need to know…” I repeated. That’s true. I need to know the truth. Then I can decide for myself. “Yeah, you’re right.” I took another bite out of the fish. “Guys, if I say that I don’t want to go back to Sakoria, what are you guys gunna do?”

“I’m a mortician. I just follow Cap’n’s orders,” Mark answered back.

“Dans?”

Dans stared into my eyes. Her blue eyes reminded me of the morning sky. “What do you want me to say?” she asked.

“Well,” I said. “It’d be nice if we could travel somewhere far away… maybe together, uh, with the crew… or maybe that’s too selfish of me.”

“Alright.”

“Huh?”

“If we cure the researchers, I’ll accept your offer. I don’t wish to be near Sakoria for a while either.”

Wow. So in the end, I still have to come back to Sakoria. Great. “Why do you care so much about the researchers?”

Dans opened her mouth to say something, but then she paused for a moment. “I won’t say that it’s not personal… But I still want to save them. I could only imagine how hard it is for their families.” She casually poked at the snapjaw with her fork. “I’ve lived my entire life relying on others… And I was truly grateful for them. But when I was finally on my feet, ready to help them back, they were already gone. So”— she looked up from her plate—“I want to help people when I have the chance. I just think it’s the right thing to do.” She gently smiled. “Isn’t that why you’re still here, Mel?”

Psh, what a hero. I returned a solemn smile. I don’t really hate that though. “Okay. We leave tomorrow morning.” I finished my plate of raw snapjaw and got up. “I’m just gunna go get a breath of fresh air.” I cleaned off my plate and headed out. I had to take one last look at Sakoria before I left.

…

After I climbed the ladder out of the sakoar, I laid down on top of the cold, metal exterior. The night was still somewhat warm, so I was able to comfortably enjoy the view of the starry, night sky without worrying much about getting cold.

Merlovak, I hope you know how to cure them. I never really saved anyone. From the moment I saw Dr. G to now, there was nobody that I wanted to save. Maybe except Dans, but she saved herself.

If I had to save someone else, I didn’t think it would be the researchers. It should be you, Merlovak. You helped me when I was most lost. Why? After all you did…

“I’ll pay you back, Merlovak. If that’s the last thing I’ll do. I’ll listen to your story, save the researchers, and go on a journey with Dans and Mark. I’ll do everything.”

I sat up and peered across the evening view of the Sakoria docks. I hadn’t even explored the place, but I was already leaving again.

I guess I’ll be back weird lookin’ city.