Chapter 999

"Sleep a little longer. I'll go make breakfast," Gordon said. As Mayra watched him leave, an inexplicable unease lingered in her heart. Her heartbeat was erratic, a disquiet she hadn't felt in a long time. At noon, Mayra crouched by the stove to start a fire. A puff of thick smoke escaped, causing her to cough a few times. She wiped the sweat off her brow with her hand, inadvertently smudging her face with black soot. After preparing the meal, she took some food to the elderly couple next door, who had provided them with the house. Then, she made her way to the seaside to bring Gordon his lunch. Her head was covered with a scarf. It took her more than ten minutes to reach the shore. At the seaside, Mayra wasn't the only one waiting. Several other women stood there, waiting for the fishermen to return. The fishing boat docked, its deck piled high with all sorts of cargo. The crew bustled about, busy and efficient, utterly unaware of the danger approaching. Not far away, a sleek,