Chapter 12
The sudden, sharp knock on the door jolted me from my deep sleep, leaving me disoriented and longing for the comfort of my dream. I looked around the room to familiarize myself, and it came back to me: I am on a ship. The unknown setting should make readers feel intrigued and cautious about what's to come. I had dreamed I was back home in my room with my family. It had seemed so real. It was as if all the bad events never happened and it was just a nightmare. A second, more insistent knock on the door drew my attention. I wondered who it could be; I had tried, for good reason, to stay away from people. I hesitated, feeling cautious and alert, and slowly opened the door just enough to see who was there, wary of what I might find. To my surprise, I found a hostess standing there
