Chapter 1: Prologue
(Author: This is like 3 chapters in one, enjoy reading!)
What is happiness?
If we took the definition from the dictionary, we got something like 'a positive emotional state, a feeling of satisfaction and well-being,' but I found that definition too rigid.
In the end, happiness was too abstract a concept to be defined by simple words, yet at the same time, it was so much a part of our lives that we considered it something simple and natural.
As for me? Hmmm... it might sound strange, but for me, happiness was nothing more than a goal to achieve. We lived in a world where things didn't always go as we wanted, and not everyone was born with the privileges we considered basic. That's why one had to be willing to strive and work hard to achieve that coveted feeling.
Now the question I should have asked myself was whether I had actually reached that goal. Let's see... I had my dream job in a famous IT company, I had a house all to myself, I was currently immersed in the magnificent warmth of the sun on a cruise ship, and I almost forgot the most important point -
"Mark, were you sleeping?"
-I was celebrating my fifth-year wedding anniversary.
"I was just envying the plants that could enjoy this sensation all the time."
"Really? Well, imagining you as a plant seemed quite funny, maybe like a sunflower. What did you think?"
"I was hoping for something more majestic like an oak."
"Denied. A little sunflower Mark was much cuter. Plus, I could always take care of you. Didn't you think you were lucky?"
"...Selene, I remind you that the last plants you had didn't last a week."
"How rude, those plants lasted at least a week."
/stare/ /stare/
"Pfff... HAHAHA!"
"Haaa, we always ended up in strange arguments because of you."
My wife, Selene, even though she seemed to behave as if she were the more mature of the two, she couldn't hide the trembling due to the fact that she was holding back laughter.
It must be said that our relationship was excellent, albeit a bit peculiar. You see, saying that she and I had known each other for a lifetime was not an exaggeration. Our parents were very close, so we grew up together for a good thirty years. So even though we were now in love, it wasn't strange that sometimes we played and joked like old friends. That's why we might have seemed strange to others, but both she and I enjoyed it, so I didn't see many problems. After all, that was our happiness, wasn't it?
After the laughter, a relaxing silence fell. Occasionally, the sound of the waves breaking or the voices of distant people could be heard, but they didn't bother us. Close to each other, words were not needed to communicate, gently caressing each other with affection. I particularly liked stroking her long blonde hair or getting lost in her beautiful emerald eyes that could enchant me as if it were the first time.
Time passed peacefully without either of us pulling away, appreciating each other's warmth. But with the sun almost setting, the sea breeze was starting to become annoying.
"It's better if we go back; we also have to get ready for dinner with the captain."
Seeing her rise, a sigh escaped me, especially remembering dinner with the captain.
"Haaa, to be honest, I'm not in the mood at all."
"Come on, don't be like that; we'll have a pleasant evening."
With a soft gesture, she caressed my face and pressed her lips to mine.
"More motivated now?"
Looking at her dazzling smile, it didn't seem like I had any other options.
"This is playing dirty."
"You say that, but I know you liked it."
At that point, I could only raise my hands in surrender and endure her satisfied expression.
"Come on, let's go."
Seeing her start walking, I happened to look at the sky, which was gradually getting darker, losing myself in my thoughts.
'Mom, Dad, I think I've found my happiness. I'm not sure if this is what you wanted for me, but if you were still here, I would have liked to show you the person I have become. I love you... if only I could have told you in the past... that's my only regret.'
"Mark, we'll be late; let's go."
"I'm coming."
'If there's a downside to happiness is that it can't exist without the presence of sadness.'
(As evening approached)
Inside the cabin, I looked at myself in the mirror to see if there were any issues with the dress I was wearing, while Selene finished getting ready inside the bathroom.
"Men are lucky, they put on a simple black tuxedo, and they magically become wealthy entrepreneurs."
The muffled voice from the bathroom complained, making me shake my head.
"Look at it this way, our clothes only serve to highlight the beauty of the people accompanying us."
/click/
"Every day your tongue becomes sweeter. So, how do I look?"
Coming out of the bathroom, she did a little twirl, showing off her long blue dress that increased her beauty to levels difficult for my heart to bear.
"You're beautiful. On a scale from one to ten, I give you infinity."
It seems that my compliment hit the mark, judging by how she tried to hide her embarrassment.
"Thank you. You look great too."
"So, milady, may I have the honor of accompanying you?"
I asked courteously, extending my hand.
"Of course."
With a laugh, she linked her arm with mine, and we walked towards the hall where the dinner would take place. There were already many people in the gorgeously decorated hall, and shortly after our arrival at the table, the captain positioned himself at the podium where he began his speech.
"Good evening, everyone. I want to thank you once again for traveling with us; it's my honor to-"
'Haaa, I hope it ends quickly.'
--- Change of perspective ---
While most travelers were in the main hall enjoying the evening, the various workers moved lethargically to check that the ship was functioning. In the control room, some of these workers were playing cards while discussing loudly.
"Those bastards from higher-ups. First, they cut us in half, saying there were too many of us, now they tell us to work more because there's a shortage of workers, pah!"
"Exactly, especially considering this floating wreck miraculously stays afloat. God, I don't even know where to begin counting all the problems it has."
"What can you do? I heard from a friend who works in the offices that the company is in bad shape."
"I heard that too. It seems they want to make the last trip and then sell everything, which is why they tried to fix only the exterior to make it look good."
/BEEP/
"Haaa, it's that signal again. Who wants to go check?"
"..."
"Lazy bastards."
With a sigh, one of the workers stood up and walked lazily towards the engine room.
/fush/
As soon as he entered, he was enveloped by hot air and the deafening noise of various engines.
"Why the hell is it so hot? Hey, is anyone there?!"
At his shout, no one seemed to respond. Initially, he was confused, but when he thought about how few they were, it wasn't strange that no one was there. Irritated by the scorching heat and the deafening noise, he walked towards the pressure valve since it was always the one indicating a false error.
The strange thing he noticed, though, was that the closer he got, the more intense the heat and noise became.
"I don't like this at all..."
He approached the pressure valve slowly. Usually, a few taps on the indicator were enough to return it to its original value, but no matter how much he hit it, the values continued to rise at a terrifying speed.
/clank!/
"Shi-"
/BOOOOOOM!/
--- Mark's Perspective ---
/beeeep/
'W-What happened?'
My ears were ringing, and my whole body ached. One second, I was talking to Selene, and the next, I was thrown away.
"Ghh!"
Forcing myself, I brushed off the various debris on me. I had several small wounds on my body, but when I lifted my gaze in front of me, it made me forget the various pains I had.
"What the hell happened?!"
The room that was swiftly decorated had turned into something like hell. Debris scattered everywhere, flames burning here and there, people screaming, and a lot of blood painting the floor a dirty scarlet.
"Hmmm..."
"Selene?! Selene, are you okay?!"
Recovering from the gruesome scene, I immediately approached Selene. Fortunately, she didn't seem to have anything serious, just a small wound on her forehead, making me breathe a sigh of relief. After moving her a couple of times, she woke up disoriented.
"...Mark? What-"
"Something bad happened. Can you stand?"
She still didn't seem to understand my words, so I helped her up, and only after seeing what surrounded her did she recover from her disoriented state.
"God... how could all this happen."
Her voice was trembling. I knew Selene was used to blood due to her work as a doctor, but this was too much even for her.
Cries of mutilated people, children crying and looking for their parents, and piles of corpses that just made me want to vomit at the sight.
'What's the difference between this and hell?'
"May I have your attention!"
The captain's shout immediately attracted everyone's attention. It seemed that he, too, had not suffered serious injuries.
"I received a message that there was a problem with the engine which caused a massive explosion /COUGH/ /COUGH/. We have already notified the rescuers, but at the moment, the ship is rapidly taking in water, so we need to head to the lifeboats. Now, if you move in an orderly-"
/BOOOOOOM!/
Another explosion shook the entire ship, causing it to tilt. Some couldn't stay balanced or find support, crashing into surfaces or sliding to the edge of the ship and falling into the water.
At that point, chaos erupted among the people. Everyone began running madly towards the only thing that could save them, ignoring the fact that they had become another source of danger.
"Selene, we have to go."
Squeezing her hand, I could see the resistance in her eyes, and I understood where it came from. As a doctor, she felt the need to help them, but for me, her safety took precedence over them.
"Selene, in this situation, there's nothing we can do. Staying on this sinking ship is nothing but suicide."
"...Let's go."
Seeing her nod, we hurriedly made our way towards the emergency lifeboat area, holding hands to avoid getting separated in the crowd. However, when we reached the area, a shout escaped me.
"What are these idiots doing?!"
Due to the uncontrollable flow of people, a massive jam had formed, aggravated by fear and agitation. That led to people pushing each other to be the first to board the lifeboat.
It was so chaotic that too many people climbed onto the lifeboat, causing it and others to fall in a chain reaction. Many boats were damaged before falling into the water, but this didn't stop others from diving in to fight for a spot on top of them.
"This is madness; we can't go there."
I silently agreed with Selene. Forget about getting on one of those boats; it was enough that we didn't drown.
"Wait, maybe we can use that thing."
An idea struck me. Without wasting time, Selene and I made our way through the crowd, finding an empty spot.
"Where are we going now?"
"To the other side of the ship."
"Is there something there?" -She asked, confused.
"In the brochure, they gave us at the entrance of the ship, they mentioned a warehouse containing various items, including inflatable life rafts and survival kits."
With a plan in mind, we headed there. The distance to cover was considerable, and considering the disastrous state of the ship and the occasional explosions, we had to find alternative routes. Moreover, we had to be quick because the ship was sinking deeper.
After several minutes, we reached the destination but it seemed someone else had the same idea, judging by the various rations scattered on the ground and the warehouse door that appeared to have been forcibly opened.
Fortunately, not all hope was lost. There was one inflatable raft left, and we wasted no time collecting the available resources.
As soon as we had everything we needed, we left the warehouse, stumbling upon a couple struggling to breathe.
"P-Please, tell me there are more!"
I shook my head helplessly, causing the man to slump in disappointment.
"I know I'm asking a lot, but at least for my wife, I beg you."
"Tobias?!"
I found myself in a dilemma. On one hand, there was Selene's safety, which was more important to me, and on the other, there was my guilt. Could I live with the knowledge that I could have actually saved someone?
While my mind was filled with thoughts and doubts about what to do, Selene pointed out something I couldn't ignore.
"Mark, she's pregnant."
Focusing on the woman's belly, I could see a noticeable bump, dispelling any doubt.
"Come with us. Denying a life that has not yet been born would be simply cruel."
"Thank you, really, thank you."
Both thanked me with tears, but I had to warn them that we had to move quickly.
We moved towards the side of the ship closest to the water. I pulled the lever of the raft, inflating it immediately upon touching the water. Then, one by one, we climbed aboard.
"Let's try to get away from the ship. There are still occasional explosions, and I want to be as far away from the others as possible."
The three nodded. Being in a group could make it easier to be found, but more people meant more risks. So, we began using our arms to paddle away.
In the dark abyss of the ocean, the only lights were the flames of the nearly submerged ship and the few torches of lifeboats seen in the distance.
'Haah...'
A tired and weak sigh escaped me. So many things happened tonight that I didn't even know where to begin, but for sure, I will never be able to forget all those scenes of death and despair.
"Sorry for the delay; my name is Tobias Everwood, I'm a biologist. She is my wife, Hannah."
"Mark Tormeto, I'm a programmer."
We shook hands, but then I saw his expression freeze.
"Wait, Tormeto? That Tormeto?!"
"I think there's only them, so yes."
"You're the son of that genius couple?! Wow..."
I could understand his reaction; saying that my parents were special was not an exaggeration.
"Sorry for the rudeness. I grew up hearing news about them; it's a real shame for what happened to them."
"It is..."
"Haaah?!" -We heard Tobias's wife's cry, immediately drawing our attention.
"Did something happen?!" -Tobias asked anxiously.
"S-She's Dr. Caire's daughter!" -The woman said excitedly.
Selene, or rather, Selene Caire, was the daughter of one of the best surgeons in the United States.
...
So began our coexistence. The ocean current had carried us far from the others, so it seemed like we were the only ones in the world in this blue desert.
The first days weren't bad; we spent time talking and getting to know each other better. Selene, being a doctor, took care of Hannah, who was six months pregnant, while Tobias and I made sure to make the raft as comfortable as possible.
The days passed slowly, first one, then two, then a whole week.
The serenity that had formed gradually diminished. During the day, the sun burned, so we had to make sure to keep ourselves as covered as possible, while at night, closing our eyes seemed impossible due to the constant rocking caused by the waves. We could only sleep when we were too exhausted, and due to the limited space, we couldn't move much, making our bodies always feel cramped.
All these problems combined with the fact that after seven days there had not been the slightest trace of rescuers, had started to raise fears in our hearts. We tried not to think about it by talking about what we would do once we returned, but no matter how much we tried to distract ourselves, the expanse of this boundless blue forced us to return to reality.
...
Fourteenth day...
By now, no one spoke, too tired and weak to engage in any other activities. My body felt stiff and sluggish, but what I couldn't bear was the dirty sensation clinging to me, causing an incessant need to scratch, and I wasn't the only one.
At times, out of desperation, we cleaned ourselves with ocean water, though at a cost. Once the water dried on our bodies, only the salt residue remained, drying our skin and prompting us to scratch,
creating a perpetual cycle
Another issue was our supplies. None of us anticipated being at the mercy of the waves for so long, resulting in our food provisions running out. The only positive event was the rain a few days ago; thus, the water supply remained sufficient. However, how much longer could we endure like this?
I was particularly worried about Selene. I could see her rubbing her forehead in discomfort, but when I tried to talk to her, she dismissed it as nothing, attempting to reassure me.
If only I could do something; this sense of helplessness was killing me.
...
Twentieth day...
"WHERE THE HELL ARE THE RESCUES?!??!"
...
Twenty-second day...
Hannah fell ill.
As harsh as it may sound, it was foreseeable. Limited water, and eating raw fish we managed to catch, coupled with our surroundings, made it impossible for a pregnant woman to stay healthy.
Every hour, we heard her cries of pain and desperation. She begged Selene to check on the baby, and no matter how much she and Tobias tried to comfort her, nothing seemed to work. Deep down, even though no one said it out loud, we all knew the fate of the child within her... God, I didn't even want to think about it.
...
It only took two days... just two days before Hannah's screams of suffering ceased along with her heart.
"NO, NO, NO! Hannah, open your eyes, I beg you! Selene! Selene, please do something; I can't lose her like this!"
Selene tried chest compressions over and over, but Hannah's fate was already sealed.
"Tobias... I'm sorry."
"Ah... AAARGH!"
At that moment, the man who had tried to maintain a tough front in the face of all adversity miserably collapsed. Now, in front of me, there was nothing but a desperate person who had lost both wife and child, and all he could do was mourn their deaths.
Hannah's death affected us all. Perhaps, initially, she might have been a mere stranger, but after more than twenty days together, it wasn't the same. She had entered our lives; we knew who she was, what she desired, what she loved, and what she hated. We knew so much about her that labeling our relationship as mere friendship wasn't enough.
Our tears joined his as we tried to console him.
There was nothing we could do or say to make him feel better, so we decided to leave him alone, hoping he could recover. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Initially, Selene and I decided not to say anything, but as the days passed, Hannah's body deteriorated more and more, emitting a nauseating odor. What worried us the most, however, was Tobias. Since his wife's death, he hadn't budged an inch. All he did was hold her in his arms and whisper something repeatedly, barely touching food and water. If he continued like this, he wouldn't last long, so I had to do something.
"Tobias, can we talk for a moment?"
I approached him slightly, but he did not react.
"I know what it feels like to lose someone important; the void it leaves is something that can't be repaired. I lost my parents without ever telling them I loved them, and I'll live with that regret for the rest of my life."
"Mark..."
I could hear Selene's voice, but Tobias was still in his world.
"But you're different. I've seen the love and affection you had for Hannah, how every action of yours was for her well-being, and I'm sure she knew it too because when she was with you, she radiated happiness. That's why she wouldn't want you to be depressed, and she wouldn't want your last memory of her to be in this state."
Finally, there was a reaction from him, and after a long time, I could see his face that had always been lowered. However, when I looked into those lifeless eyes, I had a bad premonition.
"M-My wife and my sweet baby are dead, w-we're all dead. We'll die, the ocean will devour us, we'll all die!"
"Tobias, calm down; someone will come, but you have to be calm."
Seeing the situation deteriorate, I tried to calm him down, but with no results.
"Nobody will come, nobody, nobody, nobody. W-We'll die, all of us, nobody will come. My wife and my sweet baby are dead, a-all dead."
It was only at that point that Selene and I understood. The day Hannah died was the day the person we knew as Tobias died with her. The one who remained was nothing more than the shadow of a desperate and unstable person.
/click/
Upon hearing the familiar sound, I noticed that the utility knife we often used was in his hand. He extended and retracted the blade intermittently, making us increasingly nervous that he might puncture the raft.
"Tobias, please, don't do anything foolish. You know well that Hannah would be disappointed."
"Selene is right. So hand over the knife, and I promise I'll leave you alone."
We tried to convince him, hoping that using Hannah as an excuse would have some effect, but nothing seemed to have any impact on him.
"No one will come, no one, no one, no one. W-We'll die, all of us, no one will come. My wife, my wife is dead, baby dead... I'll die... I'm scared alone."
He looked at both Selene and me, then raised the utility knife.
"NO!"
I lunged quickly, but he was already lowering the blade, and when I thought all was lost, a tin can hit him on the head, distracting him just enough to tackle him and throw him into the water with me, ensuring no harm came to the raft.
/Splash!/
Immediately, the cold water cooled my sunburnt skin, but all my concentration was on disarming Tobias. We started spinning, trying to gain the upper hand over the other, making it impossible to discern the difference from up and down.
The struggle for dominance ended when I grabbed him from behind and began squeezing his neck as tight as I could. I could feel him squirming and moving wildly, but I refused to release the grip.
'GAHAAA!'
Suddenly, I felt a piercing pain in my side that forced out most of the remaining air. I could see that the utility knife in his hand had plunged into my side during his frenzy.
I clenched my teeth almost to the breaking point and used the adrenaline caused by the pain to tighten my grip more and more until Tobias's movements stopped completely.
I let go of the grip, and then I saw Tobias's body float momentarily before beginning to sink. Meanwhile, I began ascending as quickly as possible.
My lungs burned from the lack of oxygen, and the pain in my side prevented me from resurfacing properly. As my vision began to blur, I saw Selene's figure approaching and helping me to the surface.
"Cough! Cough! Haaah"
"Come on, Mark!"
She dragged me towards the raft, and with her help and the little strength I had left, I managed to climb back up. The pain in my side was unbearable, and when I placed my hand to assess the situation, I found it wet not with scarlet blood but with a much darker color.
"N-No good, the utility knife fell, leaving the wound open."
I could see Selene's shocked expression as she began applying pressure to the wound with the various rags available. I felt her hands trembling as she tried to exert force with the little energy she had.
"Selene- /COUGH/"
"Don't speak! Just lie down, I-I'll think of something, so please don't talk."
"You shouldn't have... taught me biology... do I have a punctured liver?"
"It's nothing. If we were in a hospital, I'd heal you immediately. So, Mark, I beg you with all my heart, if you love me, don't speak."
Feeling her voice alternating with sobs, I closed my mouth. Strangely, in that silence, the sound of the waves that I had come to hate became almost comforting, like a mother cradling her child. Even the scorching sun had strangely become pleasant, bringing warmth to my increasingly cold body.
"I... am cold."
"W-What are you saying silly, weren't you the one complaining about the heat?"
Even though she said that she covered me with a blanket and leaned close, trying to transmit her warmth to me.
I could feel my strength leaving me more and more. Each time I blinked, I had to use all my strength to reopen my eyes.
"Selene."
"..."
"Thank you."
"No."
"Thank you for being born... thank you /COUGH/ for growing up with me... thank you for giving value to the life I once considered useless."
"S-Stop, I don't want to hear."
"I had so many things in mind to say... but in the end... I can only thank you... I'm truly a fool, aren't I? But I'm starting to feel a bit sleepy."
"Yes, you're my fool, so stay awake; we'll make it... wait, look! There's solid ground, Mark, look!"
Feeling her excited voice, I turned my gaze slowly to where she pointed. Even though my vision was becoming increasingly blurred, I could see a dark mass on the horizon.
'What luck, really. Now I don't have to worry anymore.'
"Selene... I will love you forever..."
At that point, I couldn't stay awake anymore. My eyes closed weakly.
"No, Mark, don't do this! Don't leave me alone, please open your eyes, Mark!"
As my mind deteriorated, I could hear Selene's devastated cries stabbing my heart. I wanted to wake up, but my body prevented it; I could only feel her helplessness as I faded away.
'If only I had more time... I don't want to leave her... not yet... a little more... I... don't want... to die... like... this...'
With that last vague thought, my consciousness faded away.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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