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We all stare at him with blank looks. The thought crosses my mind that his sister is probably gone for good. “Hey, why don’t you come with me up to the top deck to get the backboards and we can search for your sister together?” As soon as I ask him, his face lights up.

“That’s a great idea, thank you so much,” he says.

“No, thank you for helping us. I hope we find your sister safe and sound somewhere,” I say, knowing the chances of finding her alive are next to nothing. At least not on the top deck. “Want to head out now?”

Blake replies without hesitation, “Yeah, let's go.”

From the back of the room, a woman rushes forward, straight toward us. I’m not sure who she is or where she’s going, so I nudge Tyler, wary as she approaches. Tyler turns, and a smile spreads across his face. He must know her.

“Kelly!” he shouts.

I have no idea who this woman is, but clearly, he does.

“Who is she?” Julie whispers in my ear.

“I have absolutely no idea,” I whisper back. Tyler opens his arms wide, and she rushes in, and they hug for what seems like an eternity. Julie and I look at each other, shrugging.

“I thought I wouldn't see you again. I can't believe all of this is happening,” responds this mysterious woman. Her voice is a bit high and squeaky, and her eyes are bloodshot. She looks like she’s been crying.

“Same here. This is crazy. I'm so glad you're safe,” Tyler says as another woman and a man step out of the crowd and stand beside Kelly.

“I want you to meet my best friend, Sara, and her boyfriend, Chris,” she says to Tyler, introducing the people who had just walked up.

“Hey, I'm Tyler. I wish we were meeting under different circumstances but now is better than never,” he says. “It was great to meet you both, but I need to help Theo. I'll catch up with you all later once everything is settled.” Then he turns to me. I’m not sure whether he wants to get away from them or whether I should introduce myself. I don’t say anything. Instead, I just wave like an idiot, kiss my wife goodbye, and walk away.

I lead the way to the stairs, with Tyler and Blake following close behind. Most of the passengers have already gone to their rooms to get some sleep, while the rest of the volunteers are moving the bodies. The atrium is a complete disaster, with debris scattered everywhere. Someone has covered the bodies with sheets, tablecloths, or whatever linens they could find so others wouldn’t have to look at them. The air is growing stuffier by the minute because of the lack of airflow, and soon the smell will be even more overwhelming. When we reach the stairwell, we find it mostly deserted. In the distance, I hear doors closing as the remaining passengers settle into what might be their new homes for the foreseeable future. I try not to think too much about how long we might be on this ship.

As we climb the stairwell, each body is draped with a white sheet. The sheets stand out sharply against the navy-blue carpet, crimson liquid seeping through the white cotton in varying amounts. With each body we pass, Blake stops and lifts each sheet, likely searching for his sister, Morgan. His face scrunches up with each view of the body, then falls flat every time it’s not his sister. I do my best to keep my emotions in check, though it’s very difficult to watch Blake. I’m shocked by how many bodies are lying covered. We’ve climbed five stories so far and counted at least 35 bodies.

Before we reach the door to the 12th deck, Blake turns to Tyler and me, his expression pained. “This is going to be a long night.”

“I really hope it's just the night and that we get off this ship come sun-up,” responds Tyler. Together, the three of us stand in silence, lost in our own thoughts.

A moment later, Blake breaks the silence. “I'm sure it's only going to be one night. There's no way a ship this size is lost at sea. Surely someone will find us.” Yeah. If someone knew we were out here.

Before I can stop myself, I blurt out, “Don’t hold your breath. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t find us tonight. This ship is a needle in a haystack compared to the size of the ocean. But hopefully we’re not as far from land as I suspect.”

As soon as the words come out, I regret them. I watch as Blake’s brows furrow.

“Suspect? What do you mean by that?” Blake asks, sounding a little on edge.

I rub the back of my neck and squeeze my eyes shut briefly, wishing I hadn't slipped up. I think for a moment, I need to decide whether to tell him the truth or what he wants to hear.

“Hey, what did you mean by that?” Blake asks, his tone becoming more agitated. “Is there something you're not telling us?” Yes.

But before I can answer, Tyler steps in and answers for me.

“I’m sure Theo didn’t mean to make you think we won’t be found. You’re right, Blake. This is a large ship, and we’re bound to be found.”

Before Blake can get any more worked up, I decide to give an honest answer. “I didn't say anything earlier because everyone's emotions were already high, and I didn’t want to upset them even more. I did some calculations in my head—they might not be perfect, but if I'm right, we're completely off our planned course. I suspect the winds were well over seventy-five miles per hour, which is why the ship was tipping so much and causing so much damage. The winds lasted a while, pushing us out to sea, as the swells were much larger than normal. So, honestly, I’m not sure when we’ll be found. Like I said, if we’re really that far out, we’re a needle in a haystack.” My words nearly bring Blake to his knees as he listens.

I watch his mouth drop open, and his expression shifts to surprise. Blake’s eyes fill with tears. “This is why I haven't said anything; all that information would only upset everyone and might cause a riot.” I look over to Tyler, and he appears equally shocked. “A riot is the last thing we need right now. Not to mention I’m not entirely sure about any of this. I’m just making a guess based on my training.”

Blake’s chest rises and falls as he takes a deep breath. He is silent for a moment, likely processing the information. “You might be right about your guess, Theo. Of course, if anyone knows, it’s you. And I agree, we shouldn't share that information. It would be devastating for them. We’ve already been through so much in less than twenty-four hours. Let's not dwell on that now.” He takes another deep breath, crossing his arms, then exhales. “So, where are we putting the bodies?

The question catches me off guard. Amid everything, I had completely forgotten to figure out that important detail.

“Give me a second to think,” I say, trying to consider all the possible areas. The only logical place is outside. But that’s not going to last long. I need to survey the area again before I can decide on a location.