ANCHORED

CHAPTER 18

Amrey’s POV

The flickering light cast long shadows across our small cabin as I watched Jariel meticulously clean her already spotless desk. Weeks at sea had etched lines of fatigue around her eyes, but it was the absence of her smile that truly worried me. It felt like a vital part of her had been extinguished, leaving behind a shell of the vibrant woman I knew.

It all started after that night – the night she and Captain Cobham... well, whatever happened, it changed everything. Now, they barely speak, their interactions stiff and formal. Jariel throws herself into her work, a whirlwind of efficiency, but her eyes hold a haunted look. She avoids the mess hall, picking at leftovers long after everyone else has finished. The laughter and camaraderie that once defined her days have vanished, replaced by a quiet, unsettling solitude.

I racked my brain, trying to understand the shift. There was undeniable chemistry between her and the Captain, a spark that ignited whenever they were near. So why the avoidance? Why the palpable tension that hung in the air like a storm cloud? It didn't make sense. Were they both regretting what happened? Or was there something more, something hidden beneath the surface that I couldn't see?

Even Kris, usually oblivious to anything beyond his engineering manuals, had noticed. He confessed his worry to me, his voice hushed with concern. "She's not herself, Amrey," he'd said, "But I'm too scared to ask her what's wrong." That's how bad it had gotten – Jariel's closest friend was afraid to approach her.

I knew I had to do something. I couldn't stand by and watch her fade away. But what? Confronting her directly might push her further into her shell. I needed a plan, a way to gently nudge her towards opening up. And I couldn't do it alone. I needed help, someone who could offer a different perspective, someone who might have noticed something I missed. The question was, who could I trust with this delicate mission? Who else had seen the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface of this ship?