It was time for breakfast the next morning. Olivia walked down the corridor, hoping to join Carl for a meal. Suddenly, she spotted Melvin heading toward the dining room. A sense of discomfort washed over her; she knew Melvin wasn’t happy to see her. As if to provoke Olivia, Melvin whispered, “It’s a miserable day, judging by the faces around here.”

  Olivia shot her an angry look. “I could say the same about you.”

  Melvin seized the opportunity. “Then why did you come here to be a headache for everyone?” Her voice was rough and direct.

  For a moment, Olivia felt helpless, but she quickly steeled herself. She refused to let Melvin’s words get to her. “I came here to get away from my mom, and that’s none of your business.”

  Melvin’s next jab hit hard. “Oh, what a great daughter! Ran away from her murderous mother just to annoy us all! Why couldn’t you go somewhere else?” she screamed, her anger palpable. Melvin loathed Olivia, the daughter of the woman who had made her an orphan. It wasn’t easy for her to connect with others at Octagon Veranda; they saw her as a wild girl without parents. She felt the sting of her father’s indifference, and the label of “wild orphan” cut deeply. Though she knew her judgment was unfair, it was human nature to despise reminders of one’s darkest memories.

  Olivia was momentarily speechless, struck by Melvin’s words. She, too, struggled to connect with others, haunted by her mother’s actions. The pain inflicted by her mother and the unjust treatment she faced for something she never did were her greatest wounds. Now, Melvin had targeted both vulnerabilities, pushing Olivia to her breaking point.

  “It’s not my fault you don’t have a mother!” Olivia screamed, the words escaping before she could stop them. Melvin froze, momentarily speechless, her throat tightening as her anger surged. In a flash, she slapped Olivia across the face. Shocked, Olivia grabbed her cheek, feeling a mix of anger and pain.

  Melvin, taken aback by her reaction, felt awkward rather than triumphant. She turned to walk away before Olivia could respond.

  “You wildling!” Olivia shouted, but her anger faded as she saw Calvin at the end of the corridor, gripping Melvin’s arm and regarding her with an unimpressed expression. Olivia was astonished by the scene, watching Melvin pull away from her brother as if his touch repulsed her.

  “I told you not to act so wild. Remember what happened last time?” Calvin advised concern etched on his face.

  “That’s rich coming from you,” Melvin retorted, her voice rough as she tried to walk away.

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  “You almost got suspended for two months for hitting a teacher. I want you to be better than that,” Calvin said firmly, meeting her fiery gaze.

  Melvin turned back, anger flaring. “You should be proud I can protect myself! Even Madam Evens agreed that the teacher was disrespectful!”

  Her hands shook with rage, and Calvin understood her nature when she was upset. He never blamed her for her reactions; she hadn’t had a mother to guide her on right and wrong.

  “Protect? You need to understand the difference between protecting and attacking,” he said, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

  “Miserable faces, a miserable day!” Melvin shouted, glaring at him as she walked away. Calvin rolled his eyes, feeling a mix of irritation and awkwardness. He turned to see Olivia watching them.

  “What are you snooping at, huh?” he snapped, his tone unpleasant. Once again, Olivia found herself at a loss for words.

  “I… I was watching a puppet show,” she replied, a hint of mockery in her voice as she brushed past him, leaving him feeling even more uncomfortable.

  Calvin bit his lower lip, torn between shame and annoyance. He wanted to retort with something cutting, but Olivia was already disappearing into the dining room. The only sound was the soft "shhh" of the sea. Leaning against the silver railing, he sank into a sea of thoughts, his gaze lost in the deep blue horizon.

  What memories did the ocean stir within him? He exhaled a breath laden with regret and sorrow, closing his eyes. Where did his mind wander? Who knew? Everyone harbours dark secrets, and his secret was perhaps the darkest of all.

  Olivia's mind was racing about their first day on the expedition when she entered the dining hall. But she forgot it all the moment she found Carl in the dining room.

  “You look beautiful, princess,” he joked, winking at her, which made her smile.

  “You idiot! There are people around,” she replied, sitting down next to him. She glanced at Tara, Marcus, and Curie, silently gauging their reactions to Carl’s playful comment.

  “Ah! We don’t mind the lovebirds,” Marcus chimed in, though he deliberately avoided looking at Olivia. The phrase "Elsa's daughter" echoed in his mind like a dangerous whisper.

  “Yeah, I see two lovebirds over there,” Carl teased, nodding toward Tara and Marcus, whose faces flushed red. It was obvious to everyone. Tara, feeling the weight of the moment, attempted to lighten the mood.

  “I’m out!” Tara joked, smiling as she tried to stand up, but Marcus caught her hand.

  “But I’m not finished yet,” he said, his expression comical. Tara shot him a questioning look, frustration flickering in her eyes. He was ruining her effort to diffuse the tension.

  Their eyes locked for an instant, both searching for answers to the mystery called love. But Tara quickly looked away, a slight strain in her voice. “Hmm.” It didn’t feel right. Marcus was her childhood friend, and she hated the strange flutter in her heart. The blush on her cheeks was both annoying and oddly pleasant.

  “Okay, I’ll wait with good table manners,” she said, forcing nonchalance as she glanced at the others, pretending nothing had happened. But Olivia noticed the lingering redness on Tara’s face.

  Exchanges of teasing glances passed among Olivia, Carl, and Curie. Did they realize they were savouring the best moments of their youth while on this journey to the Triangle of the Devil? Who knew what the future held? Would brighter days ever return to their lives? How would this adventure end? Who would survive, and who wouldn’t? Nobody had the answers.