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As Ethan stared into the dark water, something caught his eye. Some kind of movement just below the surface, but he couldn't quite make it out.

He leaned closer, peering over the railing. A golden flash of light flickered just beneath the surface.

Ethan blinked and rubbed his eyes, leaning further out.

There it was again, another flash.

Is that…eyes?

Ethan’s stomach churned as a pair of golden eyes stared back at him from the depths, unblinking and cutting through the darkness.

The pressure in his head surged, and his heart hammered against his ribs. He pulled his foot up, standing on the bottom rung of the railing. Leaning out further, he squinted into the darkness, searching for the source.

The eyes were still there. Unblinking. Watching.

Ethan realized he couldn’t hear the party anymore.

A melodic humming came from below the water, just like the one he’d heard back in the office. Then, a whisper, low and distant, rising up from the water below.

Ethan…

His eyes widened.

Come closer, Ethan…

It was Evie’s voice.

Ethan leaned out even further, his body teetering over the side. He was so close.

He needed to see her. Needed to ask her what the fuck was going on.

Ethan, come down here…I need you.

Her voice sounded wrong but familiar, like it was layered and muffled by the water, echoing in his mind.

He was out far over the railing now, staring straight down into the blazing golden eyes. Evie’s beckoning voice filled his head, drowning out everything else.

He needed to get closer.

Evie needed him.

The roaring of the water filled his mind, and all he wanted to do was to get off this boat and into the water to speak to her.

I’m coming. Just a little bit closer⁠—

Ethan fell back as hands gripped his shoulders, ripping him from the railing. He stumbled backward, falling hard onto the deck. The sounds of the party roared back as he looked around him, disoriented.

Confusion and concern spread across the faces of the guests. Many of them laughed, already turning back to their drinks.

Joyce stood over him, her face pale, eyes wide with concern. “Jesus Christ, Ethan!” Her voice was sharp and shaky. “What the hell ya’ doin’?”

Ethan stared back as his heart hammered in his chest. “I⁠—”

What am I doing? What the hell was that?

Ethan shook his head and stood up, peering back out over the railing as Joyce rushed to his side. The water was empty and dark. The golden eyes were gone, and Evie’s voice no longer whispered to him from the depths.

“I don’t…” his voice caught in his throat. “I don’t know.”