The storm was heavy. Ocean waves crashed harder and harder against the yacht, colliding with each other as the wind howled in between, only making everything worse. The yacht rocked violently under the pressure, slowly drifting away from where it once was.

This is bad.

Lyra lay on her bed, unable to fall asleep. She clutched her blanket tightly, as if it could somehow protect her from the storm outside. Her breathing grew uneven as the thunderous sounds filled her head, every sudden noise making her tense. The room was completely dark—so dark it almost felt like she could hear her own thoughts. A thin layer of sweat formed on her skin.

She was scared.

She couldn’t just sit there anymore. Slowly, she crawled out of bed, keeping her ears sharp as she reached out, holding onto the wall for support. The floor felt unstable beneath her feet as she stepped out of her room.

Cold air hit her immediately. The floor was wet—one wrong step and she could slip. Rain had already started seeping in.

I should’ve closed the windows…

The regret came too late.

She moved carefully through the bottom deck, heading toward the next largest room just a few feet away. She stood in front of it and stared, hesitating for a moment before glancing back at the mess around her. Letting out a quiet breath, she knocked.

Knock. Knock.

No response.

Her eyes widened slightly as her body tensed. The thought of dealing with everything alone made her uneasy, and her grip tightened. 

She knocked again.

Still nothing.

The storm only grew louder. She turned slightly, catching a glimpse outside—the waves rising even higher than before. The entire scene looked like something out of a disaster. Her shoulders tensed as she tightened her hold on the blanket wrapped around her.

Shit… do I really have to…?

She looked back at the door in front of her and sighed, frowning.

“Excuse me! Can you please open the door!”

She forced herself to raise her voice.

Nothing.

Lyra waited a few seconds before frowning again.

There’s no way he’s ignoring me… right?

She stood there, hugging her blanket as the drizzle continued to dampen it, unsure of what to do. Then, slowly, she reached for the handle.

The door opened too easily.

Her grip tightened instinctively, like she had expected resistance—but there was none.

He left it unlocked…?

She stepped inside and looked around. The bedroom was different from hers—simpler and smaller. Her gaze shifted to the bed in front of her, where a figure lay completely covered by a thick blanket. For a second, it almost looked lifeless. Her shoulders tensed again.

She walked closer, slow and careful with each step. She hesitated briefly before gathering her courage and reaching out—

and touched the blanket.

“Ah—!”

Ren shot up.

His face was covered in sweat, his eyes wide, his brows drawn tight. His breathing was uneven and heavy, his gaze darting everywhere before locking onto Lyra.

He looked terrified.

Even more than her.

Lyra froze.

This guy… was scared too?

For some reason, seeing him like that made her feel both relieved—and even more uneasy.

“Oh—it’s you. I’m sorry,” he said, looking away, still catching his breath.

“Sorry… I tried knocking and calling you. You didn’t answer.”

“Oh… yeah. I was in a deep sleep,” he said, still breathing heavily. “Thanks to the peaceful, quiet, and safe environment.”

His sarcasm slipped through.

“Do you think the yacht is drifting?” she asked, her tone polite despite everything.

Ren paused for a second.

What the hell is she even saying… of course it is. We’re screwed.

“Yes.”

“Is there anything we can do about it?”

“Not that I know of.”

“…Okay.”

There was a brief pause between them.

“Also… I’ll just sleep on the floor,” Lyra said, giving a small thumbs up. “So we can reach each other if anything happens.”

Ren stared at her for a second.

Why is she being so formal right now… is she not scared of dying?

“…Yeah.”

Lyra lay down on the floor beside the bed—not too close, not too far, just enough for both of them to feel safe. She pulled the blanket over herself. It wasn’t entirely comfortable, not having a pillow and sleeping on the hard floor, but given the situation, it was more than she could ask for.

Lyra let out a quiet breath, settling into the stillness as her body slowly relaxed. The uneasiness lingered, but it no longer pressed down on her the same way. The storm continued outside, loud and relentless, yet something about this moment felt steadier than before. She didn’t question it, not now. She just let it be.