Chapter 21: The Dead Man’s Reach
The door to the cabin creaked open. Elena spun around, her heart jumping into her throat, but it was only Kai. He looked tired, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced, but his gaze was sharp.
"We’re here," he said, his voice gravelly from lack of sleep.
Elena looked from him to the island and back again. The playful banter of the night before felt like a lifetime ago. This was the moment of truth.
"And if I can't open it?" she asked, her voice trembling. "If the legend is wrong and I'm just... me?"
Kai walked toward her, stopping just outside her personal space. He reached out as if to touch her shoulder, but hesitated, his hand hovering in the air before dropping back to his side.
"Then we sail away," he said quietly. "And I find a way to make sure the rest of the world forgets your name. But Elena... I don't think the legend is wrong. I’ve seen the way the compass reacts when you’re near."
"The compass?"
"It doesn't point North when you're in the room," he whispered, a ghost of a smile appearing. "It points to you."
Elena felt a surge of something—not fear, but a strange, terrifying sense of belonging. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and nodded.
"Then let’s get this over with," she said.