The engine coughed once, sputtered, and died. Silence expanded over the vast, shimmering blue of the open ocean.Noah wiped cold sweat from his forehead. The seaplane rocked gently, a helpless bird with clipped wings.
“We’re drifting, Jamie,” Noah muttered, his voice cracking. He checked the radio. Nothing but static.Jamie pointed a trembling finger toward the East. Two dark shapes were cutting through the waves, moving fast.
They weren’t white with blue stripes. They weren’t carrying rescue flags. They were low, aggressive, and silent.”Coast Guard?” Jamie whispered, hoping for a lie. Noah didn’t answer. He watched the spray burst over their hulls.
The first boat veered sharply, circling them like a shark. Then, a man stood up and leveled a rusted rifle at the cockpit.