The cold sea breeze swept across the deck of the Flying Dutchman as Kate tried to gather her bearings after the lashes she had received. She grimaced with pain, her wounds a raw testament to the ship's cruelty.

Leena approached cautiously, the weight of their shared history and her recent act of violence heavy between them. The ship creaked around them, its every noise a reminder of their cursed predicament.

"The Bosun," Leena began hesitantly, her voice betraying a hint of compassion, "he prides himself on cleaving flesh from bone with every swing."

Kate shot her a wary look, her eyes reddened with tears and pain. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" she retorted bitterly.

Leena swallowed, the weight of her past actions and the horrors she had inflicted on Kate weighing down on her. "No, it's not," she replied softly. "But I wanted you to know. I... I'm sorry, Kate. For everything. For being 'Esther,' for all the pain I caused, for... for tearing your family apart."

Kate stared at Leena, a myriad of emotions playing across her face. Betrayal, anger, sadness. But also, a flicker of confusion. "Why are you telling me this now?" she asked.

Leena motioned to the ship around them. "This place, the Dutchman, it's a prison, but not just in the way you think. One hundred years before the mast, you lose yourself, bit by bit, 'til you end up..." She paused, pointing to a nearly indistinguishable figure melded into the ship's hull. "... like Wyvern here."

Kate's gaze followed Leena's pointing finger, her eyes widening in horror as she realized the figure was not just a carving, but a human soul, forever trapped, his very essence absorbed into the fabric of the ship.

Leena continued, her voice almost a whisper, "Once you've sworn an oath to the Dutchman, there's no leaving it. Not till your debt is paid. By then, you're not just on the ship, but of it."

Kate swallowed hard, her voice shaky, "I've sworn no oath."

Leena looked at Kate, genuine concern in her eyes. "Then... you must get away."

Kate scoffed, "And go where? Do you see an escape route from this cursed ship? Besides, why do you care? Why now?"

Leena hesitated for a moment. "Because, despite everything, I remember. I remember what it was like to be human, to have emotions, to feel regret. And... maybe... maybe in some twisted way, I'm trying to find redemption."

Kate studied Leena, her eyes searching for any hint of deceit. "Redemption? From me? After everything you've done?"

Leena nodded her eyes downcast. "I can't change the past, Kate, but perhaps I can change the future. For both of us."

Kate stared at the horizon, the vast, unending sea symbolizing the eternity of their damnation. "We'll see," she murmured, the weight of their shared history and uncertain future pressing heavily upon them both.