Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 231

The ship was shaking and quaking, rocking roughly. Everyone clung onto the ship, as Tian Jie and Yi
Ping tried to steer the ship, maintain their course, but the winds were working against them.
The storm was gaining strength; the crew of Ming Yan were growing weaker as they persisted. Rui Qing
wondered if this is the end.
“Adjust your sails!” Tian Jie cried. “We’re getting off course! She will hold, faith!”
You Peng yanked the rope, knocking into Rui Qing, sending her sideways, over the railings.
The rope slipped out of her grip, like an eel.
With a shout, she plummeted, straight down.
She only registered a cold splash and loud silence.
The winds laughed, howling.
*
“Oh no! What have you-”
“Jump in! What are you waiting for!”
*
“Get him to Guo Yang, hurry!”
“Run!”
*
“What happened?”
“Fell into water!”
“Get the blankets, Peng, quickly! We need to– Oh heavens!”
“What are you– oh God.”
“Stop ogling–Don’t ogle hi– her, get clothes too! Now!”
*
Rui Qing first registered the cocooning warmth; then slowly, she opened her eyes. She couldn’t
remember. Memories were hazy glitches of sensations and feelings.
“How are you?”
She jumped in her bed and turned to the voice.
Guo Yang, her brain supplied.
“You fell… the sea…in bed since…fished out…Hypothermia, nasty...alright?”
She fell…
In the sea…
The cycle of events struck her and all the missing gaps were filled.
…Does that mean…?
“Rui He?”
She opened her mouth to speak.
“Do you know…?” Her voice cracked.
He looked away, blushing, nodded.
“The captain… would like to see you.”
“So we shall,” Rui Qing ignored the dread in her stomach that threatened to consume her. She slipped
out of bed, trying to steady herself. Guo Yang immediately held her up.
“Sit, I’ll find you some slippers.”
The dread only grew as she sat back onto the bed, wishing she hadn’t woken at all.
*
It didn’t take Guo Yang too long to find slippers; it didn’t take them too much time to reach the dining
room.
When she entered with Guo Yang, the merriment ceased; all excitement died.
She was seated on one side of the circular table, while everyone was clustered on the other side, with
Captain Yi Ping in the middle: eyes slanted, his gaze piercing.
She felt small. Fear ate her alive. Clutching her hands underneath the table, she refused to let her face
betray her.
“You lied to us,” Yi Ping started, voice hard like steel. “Tell the truth, who are you?”
All eyes were on her. The twins’ gazes were questioning, unbelieving; Heng Qi was visibly shaken; Guo
Yang refused to meet her eyes; Yu Fen looked pained; Lei Ning had a stormy, unreadable look; Tian Jie’s
mouth was pressed in a troubled line.
She looked at her hands, breathed deeply.