"Keep them off!" Henry yelled, grabbing a sword as he swung it wildly.
The boat rocked dangerously as more of them surfaced.
There were too many. Far too many.
What terrified them the most wasn't just their aggression, but what they had already witnessed.
They had seen it. A human… completely devoured. Not partially. Not slowly.
But entirely stripped away in moments until nothing remained.
The memory alone sent chills down their spines.
As Henry paddled desperately, his arms burning with effort, regret flooded his mind.
'If I had known… if I had known the flood would come this early… I would have left sooner …'
Ivy had warned him. She had told him. But he hadn't expected it to arrive like this.
Now, his only thought remained...
'I need to reach her… I need to make sure she's safe …'
Back at the base, Ivy had already begun to feel uneasy.
She had long realized that by now, Silas should have returned.
But there was no sign of him. Not even a trace.
