After spending the last few days wishing for nothing more than a clean bed and a long night’s sleep, Dionisia found that she was incapable of finding either. They were alive, but so many weren't—so many she could have helped save if they'd had more hands and more time. Years in her line of work had taught her to cope with death and to cope with the guilt of not being able to save every single victim from it, but it was easier said than done when below the decks of the ship laid the bodies of those they'd recovered. She'd settled above deck to sleep, which had gotten increasingly easier to do since they first set sail a week ago. The cool ocean breeze felt night against her sticky skin, but the constant rocking of the boat did nothing to help lull her to sleep.

She told herself she might have slept better if someone was there—Zelda, maybe, or even Ari—but she knew it wasn't true. No one would be able to provide the comfort she needed. A hug wouldn't rid her of the lingering anxiety. The warmth of another body wouldn't release those snatched by death's icy grip. She would have to cope for now and hope that a return to shore and normalcy would provide some relief.

At first it had taken a while to get used to the rhythm of the waves, but soon it provided the only source of comfort. The first wave of vibrations caused her eyes to flutter open, but unwilling to spare a second thought they fluttered back shut—until it happened again.

And again. And again. The rumbling was getting more intense, and Dionisia moved to her feet. She moved across the deck, glancing from passenger to passenger until her eyes finally caught on a familiar face. "Benedict," she greeted worriedly, reaching a hand out initially to provide a comforting touch, only for it suddenly to become a matter of steadying herself as the boat lurched.

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