I got out of bed and walked to the door. Opening it, I looked out into the corridor. All seemed quiet. No voices. I wondered if Caleb had even left the control cabin, and where Annora was.
But my first priority was finding water and something to eat. I was beginning to feel a migraine coming on from dehydration. I walked from cabin to cabin, looking for some kind of kitchen area. There had to be a galley here. Annora had said that she had survived on this submarine for days already as she waited for Caleb to arrive.
Most doors were open already and I could peer in easily. I stopped short at the end of the corridor, just before the last cabin to my left. I heard the rustling of a plastic bag. My heart leapt as I wondered if it could be Caleb.
It wasn’t.
I turned the corner to see Annora sitting atop a cupboard filled with dried snacks and a stash of water bottles.
Her eyes shot toward me, and I stood staring at her, speechless. There was a coldness in her gaze as she looked me over from head to foot, as though she was sizing me up.
She was sitting right on top of the food cabinet, her legs hanging down over the door. The only way I could gain access to the food would be by asking her.
I realized I’d rather put up with my migraine than ask any favor of her. Breaking eye contact, I turned around and headed back to my room, cursing beneath my breath. I’ll have to try again later when hopefully she will be gone…
I looked back over my shoulder to be sure she wasn’t looking after me. I almost walked right into Caleb. I stepped back in shock.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
I remained where I was, blocking the narrow corridor, staring at him. I was expecting him to say something else. He didn’t. His eyes remained on the floor, his expression stony as ever.
I stepped aside and was about to lock myself back in my cabin when he reached out and gripped my arm. He was still avoiding direct eye contact, but his eyes lowered to my cracked lips.
“You’re dehydrated.”
Not waiting for my response, he let go of me and walked in the direction of the kitchen. I remained where I was. As Caleb’s footsteps approached the kitchen, I heard Annora murmuring something to him, though I couldn’t make out what. Whatever it was, it was cut short as Caleb exited the kitchen and made his way back to me.
He was carrying a bottle of water and several packets of oatcakes. He placed them in my hands and stepped back. “If that’s not enough, there’s plenty more in the kitchen.”
He kept his eyes on the floor as he continued walking down the corridor back to the control cabin. I stood staring after him as he closed the door.
I looked down at the food and water he’d just given me. At that moment, I felt I would have preferred him to just look me in the eyes. I would have given anything to know what was going through his head.
I wondered if he was perhaps still in shock about the whole thing. Maybe this was his way of dealing with it—to retreat into himself. I took comfort in the fact that he seemed to be avoiding Annora too, not just me.
Heaving a sigh, I retreated into my room and sat down on my bed. I ripped open the oatcakes and began chugging down the water. The cakes were bland, but filling. I finished all three packs and realized I was satisfied. I didn’t need to make another trip to the kitchen for now.
As I was swallowing the last of the water, I almost choked as there was a rapping on my door. Discarding the water bottle, I leapt up and opened it. This was to be the second time in thirty minutes I was disappointed to see Annora’s face instead of Caleb’s.
She’d ignored me since I arrived on this submarine. As much as I hated her, I couldn’t help but feel curious as to why she was knocking on my door. That was the only reason I didn’t slam it shut in her face.
I raised a brow, staring at her icily.
She looked down at her feet and clasped her pale hands together.
“I thought we ought to talk,” she said.
“About what?”
She looked toward the direction of the cabin Caleb was locked in. “May I come in?”
I was reluctant to let her into my personal space, but I did. I was sure to leave the door ajar in case I had to make a quick escape. I still didn’t trust this girl one bit.
She walked over to the end of my room and leaned against the heater, still staring down at her feet. Finally she looked up at me. “Since we’re stuck on this submarine together, we might as well be straight with each other. Firstly, I can’t blame you or Caleb for striking up a… friendship.”
Her choice of word prickled me. I walked over to her, looking her right in the eye, and stopped two feet away. I was almost as tall as her, and now that she seemed to be devoid of powers, there was nothing that intimidated me about this young woman.
“Firstly,” I said, “I place the blame entirely on you for the broken man Caleb has become. Secondly, what Caleb and I share is more than friendship. The sooner you accept that, the better off we’ll all be.”
Her jaw tensed.
I was breathing heavily as I looked at her, my lower lip trembling with anger and frustration. I wanted to wring the neck of this little wench and throw her off the submarine so Caleb and I could continue with our story. Her expression told me that she felt no different about me.
She drew in a sharp breath, obviously attempting to reel in her temper as I was mine. When she spoke again, her voice was higher pitched.
“Pray tell then, what exactly do you and Caleb share?” She was attempting to maintain a civil tone with me, but each word she uttered was dripping with jealousy.