Lily slowly woke from her haze. Opening her eyes to look around, she found herself lying in a cabin on the Narwhal. She pulled back the curtains and looked outside. The sunlit Hope Island was not far away, and gentle waves pushed the ship steadily toward its shores. They had returned.
The memories that had faded began to resurface—the strange island, the unrecognizable Mr. Charles, and the last words he had spoken to her.
Lily's expression turned to one of profound hurt, and tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. Deep inside, she had a vague premonition that she might never see Mr. Charles again. The connection they had shared for years was suddenly severed.
As Lily spotted Hope Island, the observatory tower on the island noticed them as well. Hope Island's navy, fully armed, slowly moved in to surround their ship.
