Moments later, the sky began to glow. The air went flat. I somehow sensed our time was over.

“Alice.” I hesitated. “What do I do now?”

“Forgive yourself,” she said. “Then use this grace to spread my spirit.”

“How do I do that?”

“Survive this voyage. And once you do, find another soul in despair. And help them.”

She spun on the raft edge, never lifting her small feet. Then she crossed her arms in front of her.

“Wait,” I choked. “Don’t leave me.”

She smiled as if I’d said something funny. “I can never leave you.”

With that, I collapsed, and my hands hit the wet raft floor. I was, at that moment, in complete submission. Alice looked at me one last time and recited the words that you, Annabelle, had spoken so often.

“We all need to hold on to something, Benji,” she said. “Hold on to me.”

She fell from the raft without a splash. I scrambled to the edge. I saw nothing but blue water.

News

ANCHOR: We begin tonight with some startling findings in the strange saga of the Galaxy yacht, which sank more than a year ago. Here is Tyler Brewer from the island nation of Cape Verde.

REPORTER: Thank you, Jim. Last week, the robot probe from the Iliad returned to the Galaxy wreckage, this time releasing an even smaller robot camera about the size of a toaster. That device was able to enter the sunken yacht through its shattered hull and send back sharp images from the inside.

ANCHOR: And those findings were released today?

REPORTER: Yes. Preliminary reports claim that “repeated impacts to the yacht’s exterior” created three sizable holes, and one of those impacted the engine room, which likely led to flooding and caused an explosion that quickened the sinking of the vessel. It was not believed to be a missile, as the holes in the hull do not conform to that sort of strike. One scientist postulated that whales, perhaps agitated by the loud music being played on board, could have been at fault, as whales are known to occasionally attack ships for such reasons. The bottom of the yacht was also painted red, a color that can attract those massive creatures.

ANCHOR: What about the passengers—or, to use the nautical language, the “souls” on the ship? What can you tell us?