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Instead, we needed to get them to the far side of the ship. They could jump into the ocean from there, then hide under the cover of night until they'd swam far away from the port.

I guided a man with a limp to the far railing, and helet out a low moan at the sight of the choppy, dark sea far below.

It was dangerous — but there were no other options.

I looked over to see Mr. and Mrs. Harlsted walking along the railing, encouraging the villagers as they went.

Slowly but surely, they began jumping in.

The man I'd brought backed away, though, shaking his head.

"I can't," he whispered, voice trembling.

I opened my mouth to attempt to encourage him, but Mrs. Harlsted had already reached my side.

"Darren. You can do this." She took his elbow and gestured with her chin towards a mother and her young daughter to our right.

They'd climbed the railing, but the girl stood frozen as she stared down into the dark waves below, shoulders shaking.

I wasn't encouraging like Mrs. Harlsted. How was I going to help?

The mother's hands shook as she spoke in hushed tones to her daughter, casting furtive glances over her shoulder.

If I didn't help … who would? I had to get them to safety.

Swallowing my doubts, I pulled a life preserver off the rail nearby before stepping up to the duo.

"I know you," I said, bending until the child and I were at eye level. "You're that brave girl I've heard all about!"

Her mother let out a strangled sound and grabbed the child's shoulder, pale fingers shaking.

She probably hated me like all the other prisoners.

"Take this." I forced myself to ignore the other woman and passed the preserver to the girl with a smile. "It's a special tool that only the bravest people can use."

She pulled it into her chest and nodded, chin trembling as tears traced paths down her cheeks.

I leaned in and dropped my voice to a whisper. "It has magic that will help you get to shore. Just hold on to it and your mother once you get in the water, okay?"

The little girl looked down at the red and white striped piece of foam, then up at her mother and squared her shoulders. "Okay."

I smiled at her with what I hoped was encouragement, then stood to talk to the mother.

She looked at me, red-rimmed eyes wide with fear.

"Remember," I said, swallowing a lump in my throat. "Stay stiff as a board, land feet first, and ignore the cold and pain."

She nodded. "My husband. He was taken — do you know where he is?"

My heart twisted as I forced myself to shake my head.

"Liam is looking for answers, too. Find him when you get to land and he'll help." I tried to inject my voice with as much confidence as I could muster, but encouraging people wasn't something I had a lot of experience with. Mrs. Harlsted would have been far better at this than me. "Swim as hard and fast as you can and you'll be to shore before you know it. You can do this."

The mother nodded, casting one last glance back at the ship before taking the life preserver from her daughter and dropping it into the water ahead of them.

Reaching down, she pulled the little girl into her arms and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Sorchia."

My eyes burned as she straightened her shoulders, gave me one last fearful look, then jumped.