They say survival is instinct… but instincts can kill too.

Shivers crawled up my spine as I tried to move. My throat felt dry—coated with the taste of salt, and dust. I rubbed at my eyes, but even they were filled with grains of sand that scratched like glass.

Slowly, I forced them open. A sharp pain pierced through my skull, making my vision pulse in, and out of focus. What… what happened?

The world around me swayed like a fading dream—ocean stretching endlessly, sand clinging to my skin, and ahead of me… the plane.

Or what was left of it.

The metal was torn, and bent, half-buried in the shore. Smoke drifted upward, curling lazily into the wind. The tide reached in, and out, pulling at pieces of fabric, glass, and—

I froze.

The sand wasn’t gold anymore.

It was stained in shades of coral, and rust, spreading like a quiet secret the ocean tried to wash away.

“Hey there! Are you awake?”

A voice tore through the ringing in my ears—too loud, too sudden. Before I could react, something yanked my head backward.

“What the hell!” I shouted, my voice raw, and hoarse.

“Oh—sorry! Sorry!” the voice said quickly. It was deep, masculine, carrying a mix of panic, and relief.

“What happened?” I groaned as I sat up.

“The Bermuda Triangle…” He muttered, his tone flat—like he’d already given up.

Yeah, how typical, and just when I was in a hurry! Taking another look at him, I realized it’s the captain.

“Hey captain, are there any other survivors?” I finally decided to ask.

“What does it look like?” He sighed.

“dead…” I muttered. Yeah, they’re dead, and we’re the only survivors.

…

Hours passed. Then days. Then a whole week.

Our food was gone—no snacks, no rations, nothing left. I felt lost, hollow… devastated. No food, no water.

Actually, you know what’s the worst part?

I’m surrounded by liquid life—endless, shimmering water—yet it’s all wrong. Not safe, not drinkable, the ocean taunts me, whispering what I can’t have.

Captain went here and there, left and right, came and left, slept and stared. Then when he didn’t come back, I began to worry. Just where the hell does he come and go?

Getting up on my feet I heard him calling for me.

“Hey, boy!” He shouted, “look what i caught!”

Rushing towards me I noticed he had fish in his hands, a giant fish. He was about to trip when suddenly he caught himself in the air— wow!

“That is great, but do you know what species that fish is though?” I asked trembling, my stomach churning at the sight of the massive fish—a reminder of the gnawing hunger twisting inside me for days.

“No, but my hunger is too strong, I cannot stand it,” He said, drooling.

“But then it’s not safe to eat! I don’t want to die from an unknown fish!”

“Well,” he chuckled, “it’s a fifty-fifty chance we’ll die, haha!”

“YOU—not me! I’m not eating that!” I barked. What kind of logic was that?! We had no medical aid left; most of it had been shattered, scattered around the wreckage.

He didn’t argue—just nodded and bumped his shoulder into mine before walking past me, humming something to himself.

As the sun began to set down, and the void began to take over, the atmosphere began to cool down—shivers crawling up and down my body, trembling skin and almost frozen fingertips.

As the sun began to set, the void took over. The air grew colder, shivers crawling up my arms, trembling skin, and almost frozen fingertips.

Though the dark consumed us, nothing could stop that shimmering, comforting glow of fire. The captain was cooking the fish over flames—not from wood, since there were no trees, but from the belongings of those resting souls.

“Eh! This is nice,” he giggled. “Finally some food again. Damn I’m starving!”

Yeah, can’t say much about his belly. I don’t think it’s right to eat something you don’t know much about.

Looking at the fish cooking, I’m starting to think that it definitely isn’t safe to consume. The fish itself is massive. Therefore it looks like a predator has very strong jaw, sharp and large teeth. Is that a sign that it might be poisonous? Since majority of predatory fishes are poisonous.

Munch—crunch!

As soon as I hear that sound, my head instantly snapped towards the sound.

He’s eating the fish.

The sound echoed in the silence—each bite like glass shattering in my ears.

He chewed carelessly, smiling through the firelight.

“See?” he said, mouth half-full. “Not dead yet.”

I crossed my arms, glaring. “Yeah, yet.”

He laughed, loud and carefree, the kind of laugh that didn’t belong in this place. “You worry too much, boy. If death wants me, let him come. I’ve made peace with it long ago.”

I didn’t reply. I just watched the flames dance in his eyes. There was something strange about the way he stared at them—like they were alive, whispering to him.

Minutes passed. Then his laughter broke into coughing.

“Captain?” I said quietly.

He coughed harder, and then...

His body folded forward...