Lia Landen was drowning.
Not in water but in silence.
Thick, choking silence.
The room was pitch black. Her limbs wouldn't move. Her mouth opened to scream, but no sound came out. Only stillness. Crushing and infinite.
She wasn't alone.
Something or someone was in the shadows. Watching. Waiting. Breathing with her.
She turned her head slowly.
A figure stood just within sight. Tall. Still. Draped in chains that glimmered faintly in the darkness.
His eyes opened. And the moment they met hers...
She jolted awake, gasping for air.
Lia sat up in bed, her heart pounding.
Just a dream.
No... not a dream.
She could still feel it. The pressure on her chest, the cold in her bones, the presence in the dark.
It had started weeks ago. The same figure, the same eyes, the same burning silence.
She clutched her chest, trying to slow her breathing. The sheets were twisted around her legs, her pillow soaked with tears she didn't remember shedding.
Her phone buzzed again. She sighed and checked it.
Anna.
She cleared her throat, wiped her face, and answered.
"Girrrlll, I thought you dropped dead" Anna said dramatically.
Lia let out a weak breath and leaned back.
"I've been calling. I was starting to panic."
"Anna…"
"Don't 'Anna' me. Are you still in bed?"
"…Maybe."
"You've got to be kidding me." Her tone dropped, clipped with irritation. "Don't tell me you forgot what today is."
Lia stayed quiet, her brain slowly catching up.
"You actually forgot, didn't you?" Anna said, stunned.
Lia blinked. Long pause.
"The vacation" Anna said, unimpressed. "Tomie, Roy, and I are coming to pick you up in one hour. Get your life together." Then she hung up.
Lia's eyes widened.
"Oh shit!" she gasped.
The vacation.
She stood frozen for a second, then sprang into action, heart in full panic. She hadn't packed. She hadn't prepared. Her friends had planned a trip to an island, a whole month of rest, and she had completely forgotten.
She grabbed her suitcase, throwing in whatever clothes she could reach. Swimsuits, shorts, sundresses, and anything that looked decent for island life.
She didn't fold anything. There was no time.
She checked her phone, shot a quick email to her assistant, and slammed her laptop shut. Five minutes left.
She sprinted to the bathroom, took the fastest shower of her life, and dressed in a tank top and jeans. Just as she slipped on her sandals, the doorbell rang.
They were here.
She grabbed her luggage, took one last look around her apartment, almost like she was saying goodbye, and stepped outside.
Tomie took her bag and tossed it into the trunk. Anna and Roy grabbed her hands and pulled her toward the car.
By the time they reached the port, the sun was high. The ship waited, rocking gently at the dock.
"Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's finally happening!" Roy cheered, arms stretched wide.
"A whole month" Tomie said, grinning. "All four of us, together. It's going to be amazing."
Lia smiled faintly. Anna turned to her.
"And maybe this time, you can finally meet your prince charming" Anna teased, and they all burst out laughing.
But Lia didn't fully laugh. The constant dream still echoed in her mind.
She turned to look at the ship. Smaller than expected, maybe 200 to 300 passengers. She'd taken cruises before, but this one felt different. Something about it... unsettled her.
Her chest tightened.
She wasn't sure if it was anxiety or fear, but it felt less like she was going on vacation and more like she was heading toward something she couldn't escape.
"Are you okay?" Roy asked, noticing her mood.
All eyes turned to her. Lia gulped.
"I just..." she paused, staring at the ship. "I don't feel too good."
"Of course you don't. You're always having second thoughts about everything. What is it this time?" Anna asked, frustrated.
Lia hesitated. She didn't want to be that friend again. The one who always brought the mood down. She smiled and shook her head.
"Nothing" she said.
They sighed. Anna walked over and playfully spanked her, and the rest laughed.
They boarded the ship. The air was warm, the sky clear. Laughter echoed across the deck as people settled in for the journey.
But Lia didn't laugh. She sat quietly with her friends, barely speaking. She smiled now and then, nodded at their jokes, but it wasn't real.
Anna kept checking on her, touching her arm, brushing hair from her face, whispering things to make her smile. Lia appreciated it. But deep down, she still felt broken.
Eventually, Roy said she was tired and slipped away to rest in one of the cabins. The others stayed on deck, watching the sea sparkle under the early afternoon sun.
Everything seemed normal, until it didn't.
Lia noticed a man in a dark suit walk by. He was sweating, collar loosened, face pale. He didn't glance at anyone as he rushed toward the captain's quarters.
A few seconds later, another man followed. Then another.
One after the other. All tense. All rushing.
Lia sat up straighter. Her chest tightened.
Was she imagining things? Was this just her anxiety again?
Still, her instincts screamed louder than her doubt.
She leaned closer to Anna. "Hey… I think something's not right."
Anna glanced up, followed Lia's gaze, and gave a small laugh. "Lia… you need this vacation more than all of us combined. Those guys are just doing their job. Relax."
Lia tried. She really did. But she couldn't take her eyes off the captain's quarters.
Suddenly, the ship gave a violent jolt. A deep sound rumbled from below, and the floor trembled beneath their feet.
Everyone around them stood up, looking around in confusion. Murmurs spread across the deck.
The suited men burst out of the cabin, panic now etched on their faces. They ran in and out, talking rapidly into radios, motioning urgently to each other. Their eyes were wide.
Something was wrong.
Anna's smile disappeared.
"I… I think you're right" she murmured, her voice shaking. "This doesn't look good."
The ship rocked again, harder this time. Plates shattered. Someone screamed.
Then the announcement came.
"Attention passengers. We are currently experiencing a small technical issue. We ask that everyone calmly return to their cabins as our crew works to resolve the situation."
Small issue?
Lia's stomach twisted.
They started toward the stairs, trying to follow instructions.
But then it happened.
A massive wave rose in the distance, tall, dark, and fast. It came crashing toward them like a wall.
People screamed. Crew members shouted instructions, voices lost in the chaos.
"Attention please!" the speaker blared again. "Everyone must grab their life jackets now!"