His voice carried excitement that felt young and free
Samuel stepped beside him, following his finger, his brows tightening as he tried to see what Newton saw
"Yes," he said slowly
"The wave is strong"
They both watched the water
The sea rolled endlessly, rising and falling like the breathing of something alive, something older than anything they knew
Behind them, music drifted through the air
Soft
Familiar
Newton turned slightly as the sound reached him more clearly
It was his favourite Westlife song
He froze
For a moment, he forgot everything else
Forgot the ship
Forgot the distance
Forgot himself
He closed his eyes briefly, letting the sound settle inside his chest, and a faint smile formed on his lips as memories surfaced quietly
Afternoons at home
His mother humming while cooking
Amalia laughing at him when he sang the wrong lyrics
He opened his eyes again
The sea was still there
Endless
Patient
He breathed deeply
Savoring it all
The routine continued like that
Morning light
Afternoon laughter
Night music
The students adjusted quickly, their fear dissolving completely as the ship became their new world, and Newton found himself laughing more than he ever had before, his shoulders relaxing in ways he did not realize they could
Sometimes he forgot
Forgot the shore
Forgot the life waiting for him
Most of the time, he hardly even remembered Amalia at all
Except at night
When the lights went out
When silence replaced laughter
When he lay alone
That was when she returned
One night, he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of the ship vibrating beneath him, and slowly he reached under his shirt and pulled out the locket
It rested in his palm
Small
Warm
He stared at it
His fingers tightening
"I will see you soon," he whispered
His voice barely existed
He closed his hand around it
Holding it until sleep finally took him
Weeks passed like that
The ship moved farther across the Atlantic Ocean, cutting through waters no one could measure, carrying them deeper into isolation
Everything remained normal
Night parties filled with music and laughter
Afternoon parties beneath the open sky
The steady movement of the ship rocking them gently
Until the eighth day
The dinner party was alive again
Music floated through the hall
The ballet dancer moved across the stage, her body spinning gracefully as the students watched and clapped, their faces glowing beneath the chandeliers
Newton sat quietly
His fingers resting on the table
His eyes distant
"Hey man"
Samuel's voice broke through
Newton blinked
"You look absent minded"
Samuel leaned closer
"Are you missing your girlfriend already"
Newton exhaled slowly and turned, placing a hand on Samuel's shoulder
"Of course I already miss her the moment this ship left the port," he said softly
His lips curved faintly
"But that is not right"
He paused
His body heavier than usual
"I guess I am already tired"
Stella nodded immediately
"Then go and sleep"
She waved her hand casually
"You have never been the type that stays up late at night"
Newton smiled
A quiet
Grateful smile
He pushed his chair back and stood
"Good night then"
He looked at both of them
"We will catch up in the morning"
He turned and walked away
The hallway outside was quieter
The music behind him fading with each step
His shoes tapped gently against the floor
He was almost at his room
Then he saw them
Brian
Theo
Kael
They stood in the corridor like they had been waiting
Newton's chest tightened
He lowered his eyes and kept walking
He did not look at them twice
He did not want trouble
But trouble had already chosen him
"Look who we have here"
Newton's heart dropped
"Newton Hill"
He did not stop
His steps quickened
If he could reach his room
If he could lock the door
He would be safe
Behind him, Brian's teeth clenched
"You now ignore us"
His voice sharpened
"Because you now roll with those idiots you now think you are big"
Newton's fingers trembled
He was close
So close
"Maybe it is time we teach you a lesson"
Newton paused
Just for a second
He knew this moment
He had lived it before
His body decided before his mind could argue
He ran
His feet slammed against the floor as he bolted forward, his breath exploding from his chest as panic flooded him
Behind him, footsteps thundered
They chased him
Closer
Closer
His door was right there
He reached for it
His fingers stretched
Almost
Then suddenly
A hand grabbed his shoulder
Violent
Unforgiving
He was yanked backward
"You son of a bitch"
Theo's fist crashed into his stomach
Pain exploded inside him
Newton groaned
His knees weakening
"Let go of me," he gasped
"I do not want trouble"
Brian stepped forward
His eyes burning
His foot slammed into Newton's chest
Newton's body hit the floor hard, air leaving his lungs completely
"You should have thought of that before you ignored us"
Brian grabbed his hair
Pulled
Newton screamed
His body dragged helplessly across the floor
Theo and Kael grinned
Their faces alive with excitement
They knew this moment
They loved this moment
Then suddenly
A mighty sound echoed
Deep
Violent
The ship shook
The floor beneath them lurched
Newton's body lifted
Thrown
Brian slammed into the wall
Theo crashed beside him
Kael screamed
Everything moved
Everything broke
At the party hall
Students fell
Glasses shattered
Music died
"What is that"
Nobody answered
The ship tilted again
Harder
Screams filled the air
Then the alarm began
Tah
Tah
Tah
The sound pierced everything
Sharp
Merciless
Fear spread instantly
Students cried
Some froze
Some ran
A girl's voice rose above all
"Mummy"
She screamed it again
"Mummy"
Again
Again
Stella grabbed a metal rod, her fingers wrapped tightly around it as her body trembled violently
Samuel held onto her arm, his face pale, his breathing broken
Panic ran through them like fire
Then water appeared
At first it slipped in quietly
Then it rushed
Pouring into the ship
Cold
Fast
Unstoppable
"I think the ship is sinking," a boy whispered nearby
Nobody argued
Because deep down
They already knew