Chapter 2: Stranded But Not Dead
"I never expected to be so afraid," Lucas muttered, gripping the edge of the emergency raft so tightly his knuckles turned white.
The inflatable boat wobbled precariously with every movement, and Lucas glanced nervously at the churning waves around them.
He'd always thought he was a decent swimmer — at least, he liked to brag about it to his friends — but out here, with the ocean stretching endlessly in every direction, his confidence felt about as flimsy as the raft itself.
Leo, sitting across from him, snorted. "You? Afraid? Come on, Carter. I thought you were ready for anything."
"Yeah, well, forgive me for not preparing for a sinking ferry in the middle of the freaking ocean," Lucas shot back, though the edge in his voice was softened by the flicker of a grin.
Around them, other emergency rafts bobbed on the waves, each carrying groups of wide-eyed students or teachers clinging to what little hope they had left.
Lucas's gaze flickered toward the principal's boat, where Ms. Elara sat at the front like some kind of war general.
Despite the chaos, she somehow managed to look composed, even as she barked orders at the teachers to secure supplies.
"Of course, she's got all the snacks," Lucas muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Leo asked.
"Nothing. Just admiring our fearless leader."