Chapter 1286
Chapter 1286:
“How did this happen? What terrible luck p>
“Am I going to die? What do I do p>
“I don’t want to die yet! I’m still young! I can’t die here p>
The cabin swiftly filled with a cacophony of sobs and despair. Annabel’s grip on Rupert’s hand tightened, her palms turning cold and clammy with dread.
Memories, unbidden and visceral, flooded her mind—the terrifying lurch of a plane cabin, the same scream of wind, their last brush with death.
Her chest tightened, and her breathing turned ragged.
“Rupert…” Annabel’s voice faltered as her hands clutched his shirt.
“It’s okay. I’m here to protect you,” Rupert reassured her, pressing a kiss to her temple.
The warmth and sincerity in his voice calmed Annabel’s racing heart. With him beside her, she felt braver.
Nearby, Herman’s face had gone pale. As the ship rocked, he stumbled and turned toward Annabel. “Annabel, I’ll protect you too p>
Perhaps because of the tension, Annabel didn’t notice the slight tremor in his voice.
It wasn’t the storm that frightened Herman—it was the fact that he couldn’t swim. If the ship sank, he would be in real danger.
Crew members began handing out life jackets, which only inflamed the already panicked passengers.
“Please let me out! I want to leave! I don’t want to die here!” one woman screamed, grabbing a crew member and shaking him violently. “Get someone to protect me! Get me out of here p>
“Ma’am, please calm down,” the crew member pleaded, wincing as her grip dug into his arms. “This is the safest place for us right now. Please put on your life jacket p>
𝕸𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝖚𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖘 𝖎𝖓
“Stay here? Do you want to die here?” The woman was hysterical, her desperation echoing the fear gripping most of the passengers around her.
“But…” The crew member’s face was pale, too. He could barely get the words out.
Of course he was scared. He didn’t want to be in this situation either.
Ignoring him, the woman tried to force her way toward the cockpit.
Annabel’s irritation flared. She stepped forward, seized the woman by the collar, and yanked her back.
“Shut up!” Annabel snapped.
“What are you doing?” The woman stumbled, regaining her balance when she realized Annabel was another woman.
“If you keep making this kind of scene,” Annabel said coolly, “I won’t mind making sure you can’t p>
“Fuck off! I’m not going to sit here and wait to die. I want a lifeboat. I need to get out of here as soon as possible!” the woman shrieked.
“You want to go out? Fine. Go ahead,” Annabel said, releasing her and pointing calmly toward the exit. “Get yourself a lifeboat. We’ll see whether the tornado destroys this cruise ship first, or your little lifeboat p>
She flicked her finger toward the door. “Go on. It’s right there p>