It was a public holiday that fell perfectly on the weekend. The sea was calm, the tides gentle, and the sun peeked shyly through scattered clouds, casting a soft glow over the beach.
Despite its serenity, Cloud 9 Beach was crowded with families, children, and the elderly all spread across the sand. Among them were Ivan, Mama Cruz, Valerie, Kane, and, of course, the Hansens with their maidservants.
Most residents preferred San Felipe Beach but the massive tides and vast waves kept many at bay. Cloud 9, though quieter, welcomed those who wanted peace without the chaos.
Ivan lay half-buried in the sand as Kane and Valerie gleefully dug around him. Suddenly, he sprang up like a ghost, sending the children screaming toward their mother in fits of laughter.
Hansen, returning from a swim, spotted Ivan immediately. He waved and called out, "Ivan! I didn't know you'd be here. Come, join my family!"
He gestured to the group sitting in a circle clapping hands, laughing, with Kiki and Sam dancing in playful circles.
Ivan smiled. "I didn't come alone, Hansen. Mama Cruz and her kids are here too." He pointed toward the other end of the beach, where Mama Cruz was performing a silly act that sent the children into peals of laughter.
"Then why don't you call them over?" Hansen suggested.
"Alright," Ivan nodded, turning to beckon them closer.
But before he could reach them, sharp gunshots cracked through the air. Panic erupted instantly. The laughter died, clapping stopped, and everyone froze, hearts pounding in fear.
Before anyone could react properly, the sharp reports of gunfire echoed again across the beach. Screams cut through the air as people scattered, clutching children and grabbing whatever they could. Sand flew under hurried feet, and umbrellas toppled as the panic spread like wildfire.
"What was that for?" someone shouted, the question hanging unanswered in the tense air.
Hansen instinctively moved in front of his family, shielding them as best as he could. Kiki and Sam clung to his sides, wide-eyed and trembling, while Sunshine grabbed the maidservants, pulling them toward the safety of the beachside pavilion.
Ivan's eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd. Mama Cruz grabbed her children, pressing them close, her face pale but determined. Valerie and Kane froze mid-step, unsure which way to run.
"Everyone, stay calm! Don't panic!" Hansen shouted, though his own voice wavered.
Another gunshot rang out, closer this time. The laughter and music that had filled Cloud 9 moments ago was gone replaced by terror, chaos, and the harsh cries of frightened children.
Ivan clenched his fists, heart racing. He knew instinctively this was no random threat. Whoever had fired the shots was after something or someone here on the beach.
Once the Hansens had made it to safety, He let out a sharp breath, glaring at Lucas. "Your choices are always the worst, man! We should've stayed at our own San Felipe.
Ha! They nearly shot my head off!"
Lucas shrugged defensively. "C'mon, you can't blame me for this. If we'd stayed there, you'd have been swallowed by the tides. And besides, we voted for this and you lost at the end."
Hansen smirked despite himself and shook his head. "Fine, fine. But next time, I'm picking the beach." With that, they sped off toward home, the tension slowly easing as the beach disappeared behind them.
After a long, exhausting day at the company, Ivan lay on his bed, staring at the photo in his hands. It was worn at the edges from how often he'd held it.
"Where could you be hiding…?" he whispered, brushing his thumb across the image. "It's been years now."
His voice thickened as he continued, "You could have come home. Or… you might have amnesia? Kendra, I'm going to bring you back. No matter what it takes. I should've done this a long time ago."
With renewed determination, he jumped out of bed, got dressed, grabbed his car keys, and sped off toward the harbor.
When he arrived, a security guard stepped forward.
"Unfortunately for you, the harbor supervisor, the one who's been here for decades retired just three days ago," the guard explained.
Ivan's jaw tightened. "Can you help me contact him?"
He discreetly showed the guard a thick envelope.
The guard's eyes widened. "Of course, sir. How can I refuse you?" He grinned, tucked the envelope away, and stepped aside to make a private call.
Moments later, a white Tundra truck approached. Ivan watched as the guard returned, smiling cheerfully and slipping back to his post.
The truck came to a stop, and an elderly man in his eighties stepped out. Though his face showed age, his posture was straight and strong, and his skin was sun-burnt from years of work under the harbor sun.
He signaled for Ivan to follow him into the office.
"Thank you for coming, sir," Ivan said, rising to shake his hand. "I'm Ivan… the son of Leon Del."
The old man's eyes flickered with recognition.
"It's been two years," Ivan continued, steady but tense. "And I believe you're the only one who can help me."
"Mr. Mann, I want the details of the last cargo ship, the one that led to the collapse of this harbor," Ivan said, his voice steady but urgent.
Mr. Mann nodded slowly and opened his notes. "Well, Ivan, that ship had the registration number BM-8275W. It was supposed to travel to Malaysia. The scheduled departure was in the afternoon, but due to an engine breakdown, it only left at midnight."
He paused, flipping through the pages with care. "Everything was checked, all systems in place… yet somehow, those wretched people managed to load in all two hundred kidnapped victims. I was stunned when the news reached me. The ship had changed course… headed for Thailand."
"All instructors across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and nearby ports were informed, yet the reports say the ship never reached any of those harbors," he continued, voice heavy with disbelief.
Ivan leaned forward. "But… where did the ship go?"
"That's the question everyone asked," Mr. Mann replied, drawing a circle in the book as if trying to contain the answer.
He looked Ivan in the eyes, his expression grave. "Rescue troops were dispatched to find the ship. What they found… was a nightmare. Blood everywhere, bodies shot, some bloated, others floating near a desolate island. And before a towing ship could reach them, the cargo ship sank completely. The ship's pilot… he was stabbed to death."
Mr. Mann's hand trembled slightly as he closed the book. "A girl named Maryanne was rescued, but she remains in a coma. Only God knows when or if she'll wake up. If she does, maybe… maybe she could tell us what truly happened that day."
His eyes misted over, the weight of the tragedy pressing down on the room.
Ivan sat in stunned silence, the weight of Mr. Mann's words pressing down on him. Two hundred lives lost… or worse, trapped somewhere unknown. His fists clenched around the edge of the desk.
"Two hundred people… and no one knows where the rest went?" he muttered, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Mr. Mann nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Every lead ran cold. All we have is Maryanne, and even she can't tell us anything yet."
Ivan's jaw tightened. "Then we'll find the answers ourselves."
"So… you mean Maryanne is the only survivor?" Ivan asked, his voice tight.
"Yes," Mr. Mann replied, looking Ivan in the eye. "She's the only one we know of."
"And what if she forgets everything that happened?"
Mr. Mann's expression darkened. "Then… that would be it." He set the paper down with finality, as if putting a full stop on the tragedy.
"Alright, sir. Thanks for this… important update. I'll let you know if anything comes up." Ivan stood, shaking Mr. Mann's hand firmly while handing over two loaded envelopes.
Mr. Mann nodded, escorting him to his car. Ivan watched as the elderly man drove away before finally turning back, closing the harbor gate behind him. The harbor was silent now, but the weight of the truth pressed heavily on Ivan's mind.