[Day 5, Dec. 24 – Wintermist Island]
Octavia
The moment Dave and I heard the announcement, we rushed back into the hall, which had now erupted into chaos. Whispers and gasps spread like wildfire through the crowd.
“The Golden Cup?” someone murmured, their voice a mix of shock and disbelief.
“How could it have been stolen?”
I froze, my heart pounding as the weight of the words settled in. The Golden Cup was the centerpiece of this whole cruise—the highest honor for a publishing company. Its disappearance wasn’t just a theft; it was a scandal that could destroy the integrity of the event.
Dave’s voice broke through my thoughts.
“Octavia,” he said, his expression tense.
“Stay here. I need to check on something.”
I grabbed his arm before he could leave.
“What are you going to do?”
