Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Tatiana’s mouth drops open. “Um, no thanks. I’m not into shipwrecks.”
Aggie waves her hand, brushing it off. “No, not like that. But, like—maybe the boat becomes damaged, nothing major but enough to have them call an emergency. It’s scary, sure, but in this day and age we will be rescued quickly and those lifeboats are nice. I can mix something up from the cleaning room.”
I hate to admit it, but she’s onto something.
I raise my brows. “You mean, like, a... bomb?”
Aggie nods, her face oddly serene. “I was top in chem, you know? Gave my teacher an ulcer.” Her expression softens for just a second. “I can mix something to explode, not enough to hurt anyone, but enough for them to have to call an emergency and take us to land.”
For the first time all day, Tatiana actually looks hopeful. “You could do that? Like, really?”
Aggie nods. “Easiest thing in the world. But we would have to be fast, and well prepared. We’d need to set it off and run.”
My stomach twists. It’s a mad plan, absolutely insane, but it’s the only thing that feels possible. The only one that risks our lives a little less than the others.
“Okay,” I whisper, feeling the decision settle like falling glass. “But if we do this, there’s no turning back.”
Aggie doesn’t hesitate as she nods. “I’d rather risk doing this than wait and see what’s waiting for us when we dock. Wouldn’t you?”
We both look to Tatiana, and she nods.
It’s settled then.
Aggie looks at me. “You still have the gun?”
I nod, pressing my lips together. I don’t want to admit where I hid it. It’s so cliché it’s embarrassing.
Tatiana exhales, a shuddering little breath. “So, it’s bombs away, huh.”
I snort.
Aggie laughs. “Don’t worry, girls. We got this.”
We slip away from the hall we were hiding in, Aggie leading the way. Down the service stairs, through the narrow corridor lined with laundry bags and carts stacked with towels. Aggie walks like she’s done this a hundred times, never hesitating. She finds the locked supply closet, and from somewhere in her bag, produces a bobby pin.
She looks back at me, half smiling. “Saw it on YouTube. Turns out it’s mostly true.”
I press my lips together, narrowing my eyes, but in less than a minute, she pops the cheap lock and we’re inside.
I’ll be damned.
I look around; it’s a large room, wall to wall with shelves. Mostly, it contains towels and sheets, but there are also rows of shelves with cleaning products. Aggie grabs what she needs and finds a bag to put it all in. She pauses, eyes darting around, then grabs a few masks from a box near the bottom shelf.
“We’ll do it right before midnight,” she says. “Everyone will be asleep. We’ll make sure we pack some things in the lifeboats. It might be swift rescue, but if it isn’t, we don’t want to be left with nothing if we have to get in them. So make sure you have what you need.”
That doesn’t sound terrifying at all.
Tatiana draws in a ragged breath. “And then what?”
Aggie shrugs. “We hope the distress call goes through, and I dunno, maybe the fucking Navy shows up.”
Here’s hoping.
“Do you think it will take long? We are a fair distance out,” I ask, nerves settling in my stomach.
Aggie gives me a reassuring smile, but I’m not sure I buy it. “Look, the technology on this boat is elite. The safety features would be incredible. They will send a distress call, and we’ll be fine. Come on, let’s not overthink it.”
It’s hard not to, but she’s right.
We just have to hope everything is up to scratch.
Though my father wanted us sold, so I am quite certain it is.
He wouldn’t risk anything happening to his money.
4
IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG to pack a few things, mostly warm clothes and items that protect us from the sun. Extra for the others, even though it wouldn’t completely upset me to see Iris and Rachel burning as they whine about how shit this trip is while proceeding to blame it on me and my father.
I suppose they wouldn’t be wrong.
We also stash water, food and medicine in one boat, and some fishing reels and line in another. We have a plan to ensure we get on that one if it comes down to it. The sea is mostly calm tonight, the water gently lapping against the boat. We have picked a good night, and I hope that counts for something.
The kitchen sits at the far back of the yacht, a long corridor away from where the rooms are at the bow. We check the hallway twice before we slip inside, Aggie pulling the door shut behind us and twisting the lock. The room is all stainless steel and fluorescent light, smelling of food and dish soap.