Shrouded Seascape

"Donna, have a look at these photos. They may not be the most handsome, but listen to me: looks and money are secondary when it comes to looking for a partner. Personality is of the utmost importance. I mean, look at this one; he never raises a hand against women."

"I… I just don't feel that I'm ready yet. Now that I can survive on my own on this island, I just want to live a peaceful life with my daughter and watch her grow up. If there's suddenly another new person in the house, Nene might be afraid of him."

Hearing Donna's voice from the living room, Nene felt warmth stirring in her chest. Her mother was so considerate of her and always put her first in everything she did.

The visitor, Madam Villy, let out a sigh. "I told you about the governor's new law earlier, didn't I? Any islander who gets married will get a marriage bonus of 300,000 Echo! That's free money right there!"

"Madam Villy, I think you're mistaken. The Echo currency has been discontinued."

"Oh, right! My bad." Madam Villy let out a sheepish laughter and continued, "This old brain of mine. Let me rephrase: a marriage bonus of 300,000 Cori! That's a lot of—"

Before Madam Villy could complete her sentence, Donna interrupted her. Her stance was firm as she said, "I'm making enough at the factory to support both myself and my daughter. Thank you, but please, leave. Nene will be home from school any time now, and I have other things to take care of."

Hearing that the visitor was going to leave, Nene glanced around nervously. She then darted toward a nearby trash bin and ducked behind it while peeking out an eye to watch her front door.

She waited for her mother to send the thin woman out of the house and watched her close the door. When the thin woman finally disappeared out of sight on her bike, Nene finally emerged from her hiding spot and hurried toward the front door.

The maroon-colored door swung open, and Donna greeted Nene with a warm smile. Nene dashed in and threw herself into her mother's open arms.

"You seem extra happy today. Did something good happen at school?" Donna asked as she gently patted Nene's head.

Nene let out a giggle as a radiant smile spread across her face. "Yes! Something great happened!"

"Go and start on your homework first. Dinner will be ready soon," Donna said, smoothing Nene's hair affectionately.

Dinner was soon ready; though it wasn't lavish, there was fish and vegetables too. Now that the crisis had passed, the island's resource shortages were slowly easing, and life for the islanders was gradually returning to normal.

After all, they no longer had to ration food for them to be sent to the surface, and food restrictions had long since been lifted.

After dinner, Nene settled down and continued with her homework. When it came to her school assignments, Donna couldn't offer much help. She had secretly peeked into Nene's textbooks before and the advanced concepts within were all too foreign to her. It even made her feel a little inferior.

Carrying a plate of sliced pineapple, Donna quietly placed it on Nene's desk, under the soft glow of the table lamp.

"Nene, I need to go out for a bit. Keep an eye on the house while I'm gone, okay?"

A flicker of curiosity crossed Nene's visage. She wanted to ask where her mother was going, but she eventually nodded earnestly, "Okay! I'll wait for you to return."

Donna then stepped out of the house. Her destination was the docks. Despite the strict laws implemented on Hope Island, that place remained a dangerous area to wander after dark.

The invention of the Subterra Railways had diminished the importance of the docks. Those who once relied on the ships for their livelihood were slowly losing their source of income.

After all, the Subterra Railways, which traveled along the hanging tracks on the overhead rock terrains, offered a safer alternative to dealing with the strange and bizarre creatures that lurked in the waters.

The present circumstances had cast a heavy air of oppression over the docks as a sense of unease hung in the air like a thick fog.

Groups of burly men huddled together in small circles as they puffed on cigarettes and played cards. At the same time, their disgruntled complaints about the upcoming construction of a fourth railway above filled the air and eventually traveled into Donna's ears.

"Sigh, how could the Governor do this? No ships coming in means no business for us. We've got so many mouths to feed."

"Yeah… Why don't we band together and make a request to the Governor's Mansion to let us handle the cargo for the trains?"

"Do you even know how to operate a train? The train drivers now are people who have operated trains on the surface. It will be a while before they even look at any one of us."

"Or why don't we go to another island? I heard that there's a lot of work on other islands."

"You can go if you want to. Is there any island better than Hope Island? Unless I get to become the Governor, I'm never leaving Hope Island."

As Donna's footsteps approached, their chatter fell silent. Their hostile gazes turned toward her as they watched her every move.

The same thought entered their heads—rough skin, wrinkles on a weathered face, and the swollen knuckles of her hands calloused from years of farm labor. Clearly, Donna's appearance didn't pique their interest.

Despite feeling anxious from the stares from all around her, Donna pressed on. She hastened her steps and ventured deeper into the harbor district.

The docks were far from safe, and that was the reason why it was a breeding ground for lawlessness and also home to those who had no legal status on Hope Island. Many of these outcasts and drifters had strange and unique abilities and Donna happened to know one such person.

After navigating through the twisting and winding alleys for a good two minutes, Donna finally stopped in front of a black tent. Aside from a fishbone wind chime hanging near the entrance, there were no signs or decorations to indicate the tent's purpose.

Her colleague's words from a few days ago echoed in her ears.

"It's true! I'm not lying! That thing is so powerful and can communicate with the dead! You just need to pay a fee, and they'll let you speak with anyone who's dead!"

Donna gritted her teeth and lifted the tent flap to step in. She really wanted to speak with her deceased husband, to pour out her heart and share the years of pain and struggle since he'd been gone.

The tent was pitch-black with not even a sliver of light.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" Donna called out cautiously.

Suddenly, a glowing white skeleton emerged from the darkness. Its jaw opened and closed with a chilling clatter as an eerie voice sounded, "Seeker of the past, speak the name of the one you seek."

Donna's legs were trembling so badly that they nearly gave out beneath her. She was almost tempted to flee instantly, but her overwhelming longing for her husband managed to suppress her fear.

"Hakaar Lee Hart. Can you summon his spirit from the sea?" Donna answered with a shaky breath.

"State the age at which he died."

"37. He was 37 when he went to sea, and he never came back."

After a few more simple questions, the skeleton slowly bowed its head. A few seconds later, it raised its head again, but this time the voice that emerged wasn't its own—it was the voice of a middle-aged man.

"Who is it? Who's looking for me?"

The moment Donna heard the voice, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over. Overcome with emotion, she rushed toward the skeleton, but a barrier in the shadows stopped her from getting too close.

As a woman raising her daughter alone in this subterranean sea, life had been challenging and tough for Donna. No matter how big the challenges she faced, she had never once shed a tear. She couldn't afford to cry as her daughter depended on her and she had to be strong.

But now that she saw her deceased husband in front of her, Donna suddenly felt like she had someone to lean on. She gripped the barrier between her and the glowing skeleton and broke down into tears.

The tears came like a flood, carrying with them the weight of all the pain, frustration, and loneliness she had buried deep inside over the years.

"This voice…is so familiar. Why are you crying so much? Do you… know me?" The skeleton asked with a hint of confusion in its voice.

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