Antifragile

The boat drifted through the still waters, its engine humming steadily in the quiet night. The moon hung low in the sky, casting pale light across the surface of the sea, making the water shimmer like silver. Eunbi stood at the front of the boat, gripping the railing with both hands, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon. The others were scattered behind her, lost in their thoughts, their bodies slumped from exhaustion.

It had been days since they’d escaped Hanyang, but the weight of everything they’d left behind still clung to them like a shadow. The faces of those they’d lost—Yujin, Dahyun, and Minju—were never far from their minds. The quiet in the boat felt heavier than the night itself, and Eunbi couldn't bring herself to look back. Not yet.

The soft splashing of the water against the hull was the only sound until Kazuha broke the silence, her voice soft but filled with the same underlying tension that had marked every conversation since they fled.

“Do you think we’ll be okay?”

Eunbi didn’t look at her, her gaze still fixed on the distant blackness.

"I don't know," she said, her voice flat. "I hope so."

Yena shifted uncomfortably beside Chaewon, her eyes scanning the waves. The sea was vast and endless, stretching out before them with no land in sight. It felt like they were adrift, caught between the past and whatever future awaited them.

“You don’t know anyone here, do you?” Yena asked, her voice hesitant.

Eunbi shook her head, barely perceptible. "No. We’re on our own now."

Sakura, leaning against the side of the boat, finally spoke up, her voice quiet but carrying an edge of fear.

“How long do we have before they catch up to us?”

Eunbi didn’t answer immediately. She had no answers for them, no comforting reassurances. The truth was, they were running out of time, and she could feel it pressing in on her.

“I don’t know,” she said again, her voice strained. "We have to keep moving. Stay ahead of them. We can’t stay in one place too long."

Kazuha sighed, her breath sharp in the cold air. “We can’t keep running forever.”

“No," Eunbi agreed, turning her gaze toward the horizon at last. "But we don’t have a choice right now.”

The group fell into silence once more, the only sound the gentle hum of the engine and the occasional sigh of the wind. Eunbi tried not to let the weight of the uncertainty drag her down, but it was hard to ignore the deep gnawing in her gut. They were no longer in Hanyang, no longer surrounded by the friends and enemies they had known. But they had nowhere to go. No allies to turn to. They were strangers in a strange land, alone in the vast sea.

Hours passed, the boat cutting through the water without any sign of land. By the time the first light of dawn began to creep across the horizon, they were still adrift. The sky was painted with soft oranges and purples, a peaceful contrast to the tension in the boat.

“I don’t think we’re going to make it through the night like this,” Yena muttered, breaking the silence again.

Eunbi turned her head slightly, her face illuminated by the first rays of sun.

“We will,” she said, her voice more firm than before. "We have to."

Chaewon, sitting near the back of the boat, glanced up from her position. “We’ve made it this far. We can keep going.”

Sakura, still standing by the boat’s side, rubbed her eyes wearily. “I just don’t want to end up back there. Not after everything we’ve lost.”

“We won’t,” Eunbi said, her tone sharper now. She looked around at the faces of her friends, each one weary but determined. “We’re not going back. Not ever.”

As the day stretched on, the boat finally reached the shores of a small island, its coastline jagged and rocky. The waters were calm, and as they approached the shore, the last remnants of exhaustion fell away. They had made it.

The boat scraped softly against the sand, and for a moment, there was stillness. Eunbi stood up, looking out at the small strip of land they had landed on. There were no signs of life, no settlements in sight, just a long stretch of beach leading up to dense trees.

“Is this it?” Kazuha asked, her voice hesitant.

Eunbi gave a small nod, her eyes scanning the shoreline. “It’ll do for now. We’ll find shelter inland.”

Sakura sighed in relief, stepping onto the sand with her feet sinking slightly into the soft earth. "I just want to rest," she murmured, rubbing her temples. "How far is this cave you mentioned?"

"Not far," Eunbi said, motioning for them to follow. "Just a short walk inland. It’s hidden, and it’s big enough for all of us."

As they made their way up the beach and into the trees, Eunbi kept her pace steady, her mind whirling with thoughts of what came next. They couldn’t afford to stay here for long. The island was small, and they had no idea what resources they’d be able to find. They were running low on food, and the only thing they had to their name was what they’d carried with them.

The path was rough, the trees thick and tangled, but after what felt like an hour of walking, they finally reached the cave. It was nestled against the side of a rocky hill, nearly invisible unless you knew exactly where to look. The entrance was narrow, barely wide enough for them to squeeze through in single file, but once inside, the space opened up into a large, dark chamber.

Chaewon immediately dropped to the ground, her body sagging in relief. “Finally,” she muttered, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Kazuha crouched down beside her, running her fingers through her hair. “We’re safe for now.”

Yena, who had been walking quietly at the back, sighed and looked around. “We’ll need to find food. This place isn’t going to last forever.”

Eunbi stepped farther into the cave, scanning their new surroundings. It was dark, but the air was cool and dry. For now, it would be enough.

“We’ll go out later. Tonight, we rest,” Eunbi said firmly, turning back to face them. She knew they couldn’t afford to rest for too long. The world outside was dangerous, and they were still vulnerable. But for now, they had a few hours of peace.

Sakura collapsed beside Chaewon, staring blankly into the darkness of the cave. “How did we get here?” she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

Eunbi paused, looking at her for a moment. "We fought," she said, her voice quiet but resolute. "We survived. And we’ll keep surviving."

“We have to,” Kazuha added softly, her voice stronger now, “or else they win.”

Eunbi nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders. “We’ll keep moving forward. Together.”

The others didn’t respond, but they didn’t need to. They understood. For now, they had survived. And that was enough. But tomorrow, they would start again. There was no other choice.