“Stay with me,” Elias urged, slipping a hand into his coat. His fingers found the handheld radio he always carried when out on the water. He thumbed it on, static crackling in his ear. “Coast guard, this is Portmere civilian vessel. Emergency! Abandoned freighter adrift near the village—repeat, emergency!” His voice cracked as he pressed the call button again.
“We have a survivor on board. Request immediate rescue!” The radio buzzed, broken by faint words: “—copy… hold position—dispatch inbound.” Elias exhaled in shaky relief. At least someone had heard. Then the ship lurched. The sound came first; a deep, grinding roar that vibrated through the steel floor.