~Elsie's POV
I did not realize when the men finally stepped away from us. Everything had become a blur of pain and noise and fear, and when their footsteps faded and the door to the inside of the ship shut behind them, it felt like the world suddenly went too quiet.
For a moment, I stayed where I was, bent forward, my arms wrapped around my stomach like I could hold everything in place just by pressing hard enough.
The sea breeze hit my skin, cold and sharp, but I barely felt it properly. All I could feel was the pain spreading through my body, deep and heavy, like something had settled inside me and refused to move.
"Elsie," Gianna's voice came, shaky and broken.
I did not look up immediately. Then I felt her hands on me, gentle but urgent as she tried to pull me up.
"Elsie, look at me," she said, her voice trembling.
