Page 105 of Golden Burn

The show ends. The audience’s claps.

We leave hand in hand.

There’s a sliver of me that’s regretful I wasted the majority of our date fretting over nothing. But when we’re waiting to board the ferry to head back to the mainland, Odin’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist, a sense of gratitude fills me, washing away the doubt.

Tonight was perfect. We are perfect.

If the world wants to come for him, they can come for me, too.

I am his protector as much as he is mine.

The ferry fills quickly, everyone eager to get back since the weather has dropped, and the darkness makes crossing a little uncomfortable.

Odin and I find a spot on the deck just in case I get sick again. The ferry takes off, the waves beating against the side, spraying our faces.Odin cuddles up against me, his whole body keeping me warm and cozy. “What were you going to say right before the show started?”

“Oh. Uh. I was going to say…” The words get tangled in my mouth, nervousness holding them back. He kisses me again and I let them fall into the open. “I’m obsessed with you. Actually, I’m in love with you.”

Odin stills. “Harriet,” he breathes. He turns me in his arms, holds me against him despite the water trying to rock us apart. “You really mean it?”

My eyes fill with happy tears. “Yes.”

He smiles. Dimples and all, then kisses me fiercely. I wrap my arms around him and return the kiss, my heightened emotions spilling into his mouth, filling him up. Odin moans as our tongues collide, tangling together. He crushes my body against his, bending me backward, away from the stares of onlookers as he kisses me like the entire time he’s been holding back.

Unfortunately, we’re both pulled from the moment by an unnatural sound.

A loud crack—like metal splitting under blunt force—rocks the ferry. Odin pulls us upright, immediately shoving himself in front of me from the direction the noise came from.

Those previously seated are standing, confused expressions written plainly across their faces.

We wait for several long minutes, the ferry continuing its route.

I grip on to Odin. “What was that?”

“The engine clearly needs maintenance,” he says. I think he’s trying to be funny, but my capacity for humor has evaporated. We wait with bated breath, hoping for some sort of explanation. Nothing. The crew is busy somewhere else.

The sound happens again. But this time, the ferry jolts under our feet.

People scream.

The ferry seems to tilt to one side.

“Odin!” I shout, gripping on to his jacket, my feet slipping. We slide into the metal bars. Odin tries to take most of the force but a sharp pain ricochets up my side on impact, making me hiss. Odin’s hands are all over me, checking for severe damage, but I can’t even tell him I’m fine. My stomach flips upside down when I see smoke coming from somewhere up front near the engine. “Looks like you were right,” I mutter.

A crew member starts ordering passengers in a stern clear voice, first in Greek, then quickly in English. “Life jackets on now! Life jackets on now! We are abandoning ship. Please head to the side of the ferry where you will board the safety rafts. Please remain calm.”

In an instant, the people aboard move like a swarm of ants. Flat out ignoring the crew’s advice to remain calm, everyone races for life jackets, virtually climbing over the top of one another.

The ferry isn’t sinking, that much I can tell. But it is smoking, dipping slightly at the front. I shove away the primal urge to join the frenzied crowd and focus on what we have to do.

Life jackets. Side of the ferry. Wait to board a rescue boat.

Odin grips my hand so tight my bones grind together. He leads me toward the back, near where a crew member is lowering the safety boat, a small crowd forming, eager to get on.

I have every intention of following him when something catches in my periphery.

Back inside the cabin, there’s three scared children hovering around their mother. She holds the ends of her jacket to her forehead, blood dripping down her temples. She’s trying desperately to get the kids into their life vests, but it looks like she might faint.

I launch across the space, the boat rocking beneath me. Odin grabs my arm. “They need help!” I shout, twisting out of his grip.

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