Chapter 16

• The small boat finally coughed and sputtered to a halt, the engine giving up its valiant fight against the churning waves. Silence descended, a profound and welcome silence, broken only by the gentle lapping of water against the hull and the rhythmic creak of the aged wood. They were adrift, surrounded by the inky blackness of the ocean, the city lights a distant, receding memory. Cleo, her body trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline, leaned against Rowan, finding solace in the warmth of his presence. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close, the unspoken comfort a balm to her frayed nerves.
• The initial euphoria of escape slowly gave way to a wave of bone-deep weariness. The adrenaline that had propelled them through the terrifying chase ebbed away, leaving behind a profound sense of vulnerability. The vastness of the ocean, once a symbol of freedom, now felt like a daunting expanse of uncertainty. They were alone, adrift in the darkness, their future as uncertain as the turbulent sea surrounding them.
• Rowan, ever the pragmatist, was the first to break the silence. "We need to find land," he said, his voice low and gravelly, the strain evident in his tone. "We can't stay out here." He checked the small supply of fuel they had managed to salvage, his face etched with concern. It wouldn't last long.