The night air was crisp and cool, the stars twinkling above like diamonds in the sky. Emily and James had been rowing for what felt like hours, the Celestial Odyssey growing smaller and smaller in the distance. But despite the beauty of the night, Emily couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach.
"James, who is that?" Emily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
James' eyes narrowed. "I don't know, but I think we're in danger. We need to get as far away from the ship as possible."
Emily nodded, her heart racing with fear. They rowed faster, the lifeboat gliding through the water.
As they pulled further away from the ship, Emily saw the figure again, standing at the railings, watching them. She shivered, despite the warmth of the night.
"James, who is that?" Emily asked again, her voice trembling.
James' eyes locked onto the figure. "I don't know, but I think we're in grave danger."
Emily's heart raced as she realized the truth. The mysterious stranger, the explosion, the collision course... it was all connected.
And then, just as the Celestial Odyssey loomed over them, Emily saw the stranger again, standing on the bow of the ship, a sinister grin spreading across their face...
"You'll never escape the truth," the stranger hissed, their voice carrying across the water.
Emily's eyes locked onto the stranger, her mind racing with questions. Who were they? What did they want?
But before she could ask any of those questions, the Celestial Odyssey struck the lifeboat, sending them both tumbling into the water...
Emily's world went dark as she struggled to swim to the surface, the Celestial Odyssey propellers churning the water into a deadly whirlpool.
And then, just as she thought all was lost, Emily felt a hand grab her arm, pulling her up into the air...
She gasped, her eyes opening to see James' face inches from hers.
"Emily, we have to get out of here," James yelled, his voice hoarse from the water.
Emily nodded, still trying to process what had just happened.
But as they swam away from the wreckage, Emily saw something that made her heart skip a beat...
The stranger was swimming after them, their eyes fixed on Emily with an unnerving intensity...
And then, just as Emily thought they were safe, the stranger reached out and grabbed her ankle, pulling her underwater...
Emily's world went dark as she struggled to break free, the stranger's grip like a vice around her ankle...
As she was pulled deeper into the water, Emily saw the stranger's face inches from hers, their eyes blazing with a sinister intensity...
"You'll never escape the truth," the stranger hissed again, their voice echoing in Emily's mind.