Guess who's back! Sorry it took me so freaking long to update. You know, the usual. Writing, getting ready for school, etc. But now I'm back, and here's the next chapter (I hope) you've all been waiting for.

Dan stood in the bow of the ship, leaning over the rail. In every direction, it was the same. Water, water, and more water. Water stretched all way to the sinking sun, slowly swallowing it. Just looking at all that water made him feel soggy. That, and he was being sprayed with a million drops of water every time the ship rocked. He reached for the binoculars around his neck and peered through them. He could see land in the distance, but no sign of a person in the water. Nobody swimming, nobody clinging to a rickety raft waving a red flag.

"ANY SIGN OF THE BODIES?" Eisenhower's voice boomed across the ship. Dan cringed inside. The way Eisenhower said 'bodies'.

Not bodies, he told himself. They might be alive. They HAVE to be alive.

Dan was trying to convince himself, but deep down, he knew that the chances of two kids surviving in the freezing English Channel were very slim. Unless they'd been picked up by a passing ship. But the English Coast Guard and the Maritime Gendarmerie had sent out a message and were to be notified if they were found. And if they were dead...Dan didn't want to think about it. Sometimes, he hoped that they would find them, no matter what. But then, he found himself dreading what they might find...

…...

Natalie Kabra sat in her room. She was all out of tears. They soaked her cheeks and the top of her shirt.

Snap out of it, Natalie.

She knew that what happened years ago was wrong, and what her mother and aunt did was wrong. But was she just as wrong as them? She hadn't done anything to stop them. Didn't that make her just as bad, if not worse, than her mother?

She got up. What did Zai think of her? Did he resent her, because her mother, aunt, brother, (and to some extent, herself), had caused him so much pain and suffering?

She stood up and walked over the the small mirror on top of her dresser. A teary-eyed, confused girl looked back at her. A face that was supposed to be a mask, hiding a ruthless killer and backstabber, was now the face of a torn twelve-year old. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn't know she had that much sadness and angst pent up inside her, and now she felt lighter, like a large weight had been lifted off her chest. But now, she felt the need to talk so someone.

Zai was tired of sitting in his room. Being on a ship seemed unbearably dull. He had decided never to ride on a freighter again if he could help it. He decided that he would out on deck. He needed the fresh air; he hadn't gone outside since he'd arrived on the ship.

He opened the door and walked through the corridors and hallways until he emerged into the late afternoon air. The sun was setting, and there were seagulls circling the ship. He walked over the rail and stared out over the water. Did the others think he was down there somewhere? The very thought made him shudder. How long would it be before they found each other? Did he even want to find them? He had helped them get Dan, so did they still need him? Should he part ways with Natalie when they reached Cherbourg? Maybe. Then, he could return to...what? What did he have anymore? For the past few years, he was basically held captive at the Madrigal stronghold in Boston. But those had been the darkest years of his life. And, he begrudgingly admitted to himself, since he had come on this adventure, he felt...alive again. With people who he could (hopefully) trust. It was almost like they'd become friends. But maybe not quite.

Zai closed his eyes and let the salty breeze wash over him.

"Umm..."

Zai whirled around to see where the voice belonged to. Natalie stood about feet away from him, looking at her shoes.

"Can I help you?" he asked, not looking directly at her. He found that not making eye contact made conversations, especially with girls, less awkward.

"I just...um...well, I was wondering if you're mad at me." she finished quickly. "For...you know-".

"For the death of everyone that mattered to me, the day that destroyed my life?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm. He turned back to the water. "No, I'm not mad at you. Why?"

"Well, um... I was thinking. Abut that, I mean. And, I...realize what happened was wrong. Also, I didn't do anything to stop it. So..."

"The only ones I blame are Elizabeth and your mother." Zai said. His voice had taken on an icy coldness, Natalie shivered when he heard him. "Elias disobeyed orders to help me. And you..." He turned around and looked Natalie in the eye. Natalie took an involuntary step back.

"You saved me in Japan." his gaze flickered, and he turned around again. "Why?"

"Well...I suppose...it was before I knew about my mother and father. About the terrible things that they did. And...it was before I wanted to be like them. I was small and scared, and it just seemed wrong."

"Well, it doesn't matter. You stood up to what you thought was right, even though it wasn't what your mother wanted. And I guess I sort of owed you after that."

And you've already repaid your debt. Natalie thought. If you didn't, we'd both be dead right now.

But Natalie didn't speak. She simply turned and walked back inside, to her room. She'd said all that she needed to say.

Zai stood there for a minute, listening to Natalie's fading footsteps. Then he turned and walked away, without a second glance at the sun.

…...

Amy closed her eyes and fought down a wave of despair that threatened to consume her.

Stay strong.

The sun was setting, and there was not much hope of finding them after sunset. There was an air of grief and despair on the ship. Even the Holts seemed less boisterous than usual. The thought of two dead kids could do that. Amy remembered how she felt when Grace had died, and then when they'd thought that Alastair had died, and then when Irina died, and then, finally, Lester. But, this, somehow, was worse. Maybe because they were just kids, aged fourteen and twelve. How would Ian cope with this? He hadn't joined them, clearly he was too stressed out and depressed.

"It's not over, you know." Dan walked up next to her. "Even if we don't find her, it's possible another ship did, and when we get back, we'll find out. Or maybe they managed to swim to shore, and are now trying to find us. Or maybe..."

Or maybe they are dead. Amy finished.

You can't lose hope. There's always a chance. Dan thought back at her.

Amy half smiled at her brother. Was this really the same kid who had enjoyed smearing Icee Hot on the toilet seats in the teachers' lounge back in Boston? Maybe he was finally maturing. She reached for her brother's hand to squeeze, but he pulled away.

There's a limit to how far I can go. He thought. Amy smiled at him. Maybe not.

…...

Aboard the Belle, David Foucan sat in his office. It was a small, cramped little room, covered wall-to-wall with maps and charts. A typical captains' office. Or maybe not so typical. David walked over to a large chart on the wall next to a window. He scanned it quickly, and pressed his thumb firmly down on Tokyo. A brief buzzing could be heard, before a crackly voice came over a small microphone mounted behind the map.

"What is it, Foucan?" The voice was scratchy, it was impossible to tell if it was male or female.

"You know those two kids, the ones Elizabeth's after?"

There was a pause. "Yeah?"

"Well, I've got good news." David cackled. "I've got 'em."

Hoped you liked it. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Sorry for being harsh, but I want to make sure you get the message. Until next time!