Page 127 of Hidden Depths

They couldn't.

My father had died at sea.

Everyone knew that.

There had been investigations.

Reports.

Condolences.

Funerals.

Now...

One sentence had shattered twenty years of certainty.

And I didn't have time to think about any of it.

Because another voice cut through the silence.

"Storm!"

"RUN!"

Every instinct took over.

I didn't freeze.

I didn't panic.

I moved.

"Calle!"

"Hard to port!"

Her answer came instantly.

"Hard to port!"

Sea Whisper heeled gently as her bow began to swing.

"Ben!"

"Already moving!"

"Ward!"

"I've got starboard!"

The calm disappeared.

Not into chaos.

Into purpose.

Below deck...