Chapter 4: The Long Wait

The days after meeting Slade stretched out like a lethargic cat, sluggish and uncertain. Time seemed to slow, giving me more space to think, to doubt, and to reconsider what I’d set in motion. I found myself sitting at the kitchen table, watching dust motes float lazily in the sunlight. The clock on the wall ticked louder than usual, each second an exaggerated echo in the silence.

In this strange limbo, I questioned everything. What was I doing? Was this truly the path to freedom, or was I headed toward disaster? Each thought was heavy with uncertainty. I’d stare out the window, imagining the ocean and the Leviathan - the ship that had consumed my thoughts, pulling me into this strange state of mind. Would we actually find it? And if we did, what then? Was I ready to leave everything behind and step into the unknown?

Just as the silence became suffocating, the message came. The email pinged into my inbox with an abruptness that startled me: “Success.” My heart raced as I saw the subject line. Slade’s message was brief - he’d found the Leviathan. The coordinates were attached in a file that suddenly seemed to hold the weight of the world. This was it. No turning back.

I quickly arranged a meeting in Central Park. The three of us met near the entrance, a quiet spot where the noise of the city faded into the background hum of nature. Clyde was already there when I arrived, leaning against a tree, hands in his pockets. He nodded as I approached, his expression unreadable behind a forced smile. Slade arrived a few minutes later, dishevelled as always, his eyes darting around nervously.

We started walking. The paths were quieter than usual, a stillness in the air that mirrored the tension between us. It didn’t take long to notice the friction between Clyde and Slade. Clyde’s irritation was palpable - each time Slade spoke, Clyde’s jaw clenched tighter. Yet, when I glanced over, he would plaster that same strained smile on his face, brushing off the tension.

As we walked, Slade launched into a detailed explanation of how he’d tracked down the Leviathan. His words tumbled out in an excited rush, full of technical jargon that left Clyde frowning in frustration. But Slade’s enthusiasm was infectious. He spoke of satellite data, obscure maritime reports, and algorithms, all leading to the same conclusion: the ship was out there, waiting for us.

Despite Clyde’s irritation and my own lingering doubts, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement. Maybe this could work. Maybe this wasn’t just a fantasy but something real, something that could change everything.

But as the conversation continued, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I could have vetted them more thoroughly. Clyde’s impatience, Slade’s erratic energy - it all felt like a warning. But it was too late to back out now. We were in this together, for better or worse.

Slade finished his explanation, a wide, almost childlike grin on his face as he waited for our response. Clyde gave a curt nod, his expression still tight. I took a deep breath, trying to push aside the unease gnawing at me.

“All right,” I said, forcing confidence into my voice. “We’ve got the location. Now we need a plan. Slade, you’re sure about this?”

Slade’s grin faltered for a second, but then he nodded, more serious now. “I’m sure,” he said, his voice steady. “This is it. We’ve found her.”

I looked at Clyde, who shrugged and finally offered a genuine smile. “Well, then,” he said, more relaxed. “Looks like we’re really doing this.”

As we continued walking, the path ahead seemed both clearer and more uncertain than ever. We were committed now, bound together by this shared goal. The Leviathan was real, and she was waiting for us. But as we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were stepping into something far more complicated and dangerous than any of us could fully comprehend.

There was no turning back now. We were all in, and whatever came next, we’d face it together. At least, that’s what I told myself as the sun began to set, casting long, dark shadows across the path ahead.