The earmuffs, I reasoned, could help my companions block out the voices of the blue orbs. When I placed them over Jana’s ears, however, she only paused for a heartbeat before tossing them into the water and throwing me back onto the deck.

On the other side, Misham was already climbing over the railing. I held onto him, but he pushed me away as though I were a sheet of paper and was soon descending into the icy depths below.

I turned back to Jana, but already it was too late. With a splash, she too jumped overboard.

Then the taunting voices, the tormenting visions crescendoed into an overlapping infinity, and everything grew dark.