Natalie gripped Sophie's arm tightly, her own fear mirroring Sophie's as they stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do next. They were acutely aware of the danger they faced, trapped between the relentless advance of Jude and the vast expanse of the ocean behind them.
With a silent exchange of glances, Sophie and Natalie knew that they had to act quickly if they were to escape Jude's grasp and complete their mission to free their friends from the conch shell's control. But as they stood there, paralyzed by fear, they realized that they were facing a foe far more formidable than they had ever imagined, and that their fight for survival was far from over.
