𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞!𝐚𝐮) 𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐙

CH. 27 ~ Encounter

I shoot up from where I was sitting in the sand, kicking up loads of it along the way, and I begin making my way back to the boat. Yeosang, having been left behind in his befuddled state, calls out for me to stop walking and to explain what's going on. The thing is, I don't even know what's going on. Something's just off and I can't risk being away from the rest of the crew anymore. I increase my speed as the voices begin to increase in volume with each step I take. How can Yeosang not hear them? They're literally screaming at me that something's wrong. The voices, becoming raspier and heavier each time, beg me to go faster which I do. I'm so close to making it to the ramp to the wooden docks when a rough arm yanks me back around to face the man that had been calling my name. As soon as Yeosang touches my shoulder the voices cease, allowing me to bring my full attention to the worried navigator.

"Sun-Mi, what in the heck is going on?!" He interrogates with a stern expression. I shake my head, refusing to give him a straight answer.

"No, no, You don't understand. We have to go. We have to go! Something-- Something's off I just know it. I--," As I try to twist and jerk myself out of Yeosang's grip, I spot an all-too-familiar glow out of the corner of my eyes. Following its path with my eyes, I notice that it leads to our boat. I freeze up, knowing exactly what this entails. "Yeosang, we're in danger. We have to get back to Captain and the rest!" I plea.

"NO! first, you need to tell me what's going on." I struggle to gather my thoughts.

"The-The light! The blue light! It's glowing and pulsing and t-the voices! Yeosang, how can you not see it!!" I begin to rant frantically, panic seeping into every nick and cranny of my body. The blonde navigator throws his hands in the air, starting to get irritated at my enigmatic behavior.

"Have you gone mad?! THERE IS NOTHING! N-O-T-H-I-N-G! NADA! What are you even--,"

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" I grab his wrists, pulling them down and yelling at him to silence him which works. I then drop my voice into a whisper-yell, in case anyone is near, "The last time I saw this glow, San accidentally got someone killed, almost killed his girlfriend's dad, and tried to beat me to death. AND I. WITNESSED. EVERYTHING. Who knows what could happen this time?" I rasp at him.

"You saw San do what! When did that happen! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Ugh, It was when I fought with San. Look, call me crazy if you want, but If we don't get back to the Aurora something's gonna happen." I stare at him with an imploring gaze. He shakes his head, unable to respond, but I don't wait around for his answer. Instead, I begin to pull him up the ramp along with me, following the bluish glow that's fading in and out. The more I follow it, the more I'm convinced it's leading to the Aurora.

Again, just like before, a small buzz crawls right under my skin. It intensifies the closer I get to my destination just like the pulsating, light-blue glow of the path I'm following. I was so engrossed in following the glowing path, I almost miss Yeosang calling for me.

"Sun-Mi, wait," Yeosang whispers, tugging on my arm to try to alert me. "listen!" I quiet down with him when I realize what he's trying to tell me. Right now, we're standing a few feet away from the Aurora. The rain had started to beat down harder on us but it's barely enough for me to look around to notice how deserted the town is. The once bustling and busy sidewalks of Illoriant's ports are now completely empty. Even the town's shops in the distance look closed. It looks too... perfect. Like a ghost town that hasn't been touched in years. I look back at Yeosang with my brows furrowed. Quietly, Yeosang and I begin toward the Auroras gangplank to board the ship. When we arrive at the edge, the blonde navigator switches spots with me to lead the way up, hiding me behind his back in case of something lurking up there. Slowly, we shuffle up the gangplank, listening for anything out of place. Before we reach the top, Yeosang snakes his hand to his belt and pulls out a silver pistol with a wooden handle, the same one I saw him use the last time.