We walked the long passageway that led back to our compartment. The more we talked about it, the more we agreed that it was best to include Robert.

Vince had no problem with that. He had always trusted Robert. To me, it was less a matter of trust. Robert was the only one among us who had any insight into Zedlum, or Element Z. Telling him, selectively, what we had learned from the conversation between general Castillon and our dad might help. I didn't expect much, just wanted to hear what he knew and gauge his reaction at the same time.

Vince checked the time on his phone again. It was almost noon. Besides our growling stomachs and the changing numbers on the phone screen, it was hard to tell inside this giant vessel. Everything was suspended in a sterile white light, giving an eerie feeling of isolation. The noises never stopped. Hard to imagine how some people could live here all year, but it would soon be our lives unless, somehow, we could escape.

No one was around, but I knew our every movement was under surveillance. The digital red eyes at every corner we passed confirmed it. There was nowhere to hide. We continued searching for Robert, but the ship was a huge maze. Many sections were either locked or guarded. We didn't know where to go in particular. The phone was of no use. There was no signal in the middle of the ocean.

"I'm famished," Vince sighed after checking his phone for the millionth time.

My brother was a typical stress eater. He always needed to chew on something. At the moment, I wanted the same. My stomach had nothing besides a few peanuts Vince had brought back from the hotel's bar before we left Miramar. I might pass out soon.

"We should go to mess deck after," I suggested. Neither of us had any idea where it was.

"Right..." Vince grumbled, still fidgeting with his phone.

We reached the door of our compartment. I needed sleep. A long, uninterrupted nap to replace this endless nightmare, but I knew it was just wishful thinking. If I lay down right now, it would probably be hours of staring at nothing. Still, it would be better than wandering aimlessly.

We opened the door. Looking back at us were two familiar faces we had been searching up and down. Robert was holding Charlotte's arms, either to push her away or pull her closer. I couldn't tell.

"Lou..."

I had never seen Robert that flustered. His face had a big lipstick smear, the same color as what Charlotte wore. I blinked slowly and imagined, as I opened my eyes each time, they would disappear. Maybe I should turn around and run away like in one of those old movies, so Robert could chase after me...

In the end, I simply pushed past him and climbed to the highest bunk.

"What the hell, man?"

I didn't turn back as Vince's anger filled the air.

"Can you guys just take it somewhere else? I want to sleep..." I mumbled like a robot and swung my feet over the bed rail. Forget lunch, I needed to curl up in a dark corner, maybe cry or puke a little too.

"Lou, please, just let me explain..."

I prayed that Robert would not come closer. I might have to kick him in the face.

"There's nothing to explain. She saw us," Charlotte raised her voice.

"Charlotte, just shut up!... Lou, I promise, it's not what you think."

"Wow," Vince whispered in the background.

Charlotte, who couldn't care less about the tension in the room she had helped create, tossed her blond hair over the shoulders and straightened her suit jacket, all while smiling at me. I had never known someone's smile could be that provoking.

"I must admit I'm a little disappointed," Charlotte said.

"Excuse me?" I shot daggers at her.

"There's nothing special about you, I mean. Nothing worth pining over... Well, besides who your dad is."

"That's enough! You need to go!" Robert pointed at the door and shouted.

"Lady," Vince stepped in between Robert and Charlotte. "You have no business talking to my sister like that. Just get out before I throw you out myself. Can't imagine how your boss would feel knowing you messing around with him," Vince gestured at Robert.

The smile on Charlotte's face died off. She dusted her jacket and waltzed to the door, but not without a few last words.

"We will see each other again, Robert," she winked.

I covered my face as the door closed, not knowing what else to do. This whole thing was such a joke. Charlotte must have had an idea, or at least, doubts about who Robert was. Still, she decided to mess with him. The woman must not want it that much. Her career, future promotions, the whole shebang. Those things usually mattered to people like her, but again, what did I know? Not like I was in a position to judge.

Those wounded-puppy eyes got me too. After seven years, apparently, I still hadn't learned a thing. What a fool I was.

I closed the bed curtains to separate myself from the person I didn't want to see, but my brother, who couldn't care less about my pain, poked his head in.

"Hey, what do you want to do now?" He whispered.

"I'm tired, Vince. Please leave me alone," I said with my eyes closed. "You can tell him what you want, and we go from there."

The rustle of fabric so close to my face and a familiar clean scent made me open my eyes.

"Hey, Lou..."

I didn't think much. My hand immediately went to the pillow under my head. I threw it at Robert with all the strength I got. It hit both him and Vince in the face before flying to the floor. I would laugh if I wasn't trying so hard to hold back my tears. Every question, every ounce of my insecurity came back in a storm. It drowned me. I wouldn't regret what had happened the night before. There was no point in that, but I wished everything could be different. Simpler, so I could either love, hate, or forget about Robert.

"I understand that you're upset, Lou, but please, listen to me. It's not what you think. I only lov—"

"I swear if you say 'I only love you', I will punch you."

"All yours," my brother groaned and jumped down.

"I do love you," Robert watched Vince leave, then climbed into the tiny bunk. He sat on the very edge, trying his best not to touch any part of me or hit his head. "I meant everything that I said, Lou. I never want to lie to you... After our breakup, I was miserable. She was there. She helped me, but it never developed into anything between us. I knew what she wanted, but I couldn't give it to her. All these years, besides a few times we saw each other at Castillon's office, we didn't really talk. Until a couple of months ago..."