Welcome back, Quick Learners,
to the SS Marigold.
When we last left
John and Emily, our
newlyweds were in the
middle of an unexpected
adventure. The ship has
stopped, the fog has
thickened, and now…
well, let’s just say
things are about to
get even more interesting.
John… we can’t stay here. We need to figure out what’s going on.
You’re right. Let’s head to the deck and see if we can find someone— maybe the captain.
As they make their way through the narrow hallways, the silence is broken only by their footsteps. The ship feels almost… empty. But as they reach the deck, they see a few other passengers, huddled together, whispering nervously.
Oh, thank goodness! Have you two seen anyone from the crew? The ship just… stopped.
No, we haven’t seen anyone. We were hoping to find the captain.
I tried calling the front desk, but no one’s answering. This isn’t normal.
Maybe it’s a technical problem. I’m sure they’re working on it.
But deep down, Emily knows there’s more to it. The group decides to stick together, as they move toward the bridge to find the captain. The fog outside is so thick now that it’s impossible to see anything beyond the ship’s rails.
The brochure said -a trip you won’t forget-, but this is ridiculous.
They finally reach the bridge, the command center of the ship. But when they open the door, they find it… empty. No captain, no crew, just a room filled with silent controls and dark screens.
Where is everyone? A ship this size can’t just run itself!
These screens… they’re all off. It’s like the ship’s been abandoned.
This doesn’t make any sense. The crew wouldn’t just leave the ship… would they?
There is something not right. It’s like… like the ship is lost, and so are we.
The group shares a nervous glance. The idea of being lost in these strange waters, with no crew and no way to navigate, is starting to sink in. But just as they’re about to leave, they hear a faint noise— a rustling, coming from one of the storage rooms nearby.
Did you hear that? It’s coming from over there.
Stay here. I’ll check it out.
John slowly opens the door to the storage room, only to find… what seems to be a young crew member in an unusual old uniform, crouched behind some boxes, looking terrified.
Please… don’t hurt me!
We’re not going to hurt you! What’s going on? Where’s the rest of the crew?
They… they disappeared. One by one. I don’t know how, but they’re gone. I’ve been hiding here, hoping someone would find me.
Disappeared? How could they just disappear?
I don’t know. But I think… I think it has something to do with the fog. There’s something in it.
The group falls silent, growing more nervous as the young sailor’s words sink in. Could it be true? Could the fog be hiding something more than just mist?
We have to do something! We can’t just sit here and wait to disappear too!
What’s your name kid?
I’m Alex, sir.
Alex, is there any way to contact the outside world? A radio, anything?
The radios are dead. The power’s been out since the fog came in.
The situation is chaotic. With no power, no crew, and the mysterious fog closing in, the SS Marigold is drifting in more ways than one. But John isn’t ready to give up yet.
Okay, we need to stick together. There has to be a way out of this. Let’s start by securing this area and see if we can figure out what’s going on.
But before they can take a another step, the ship gives a sudden, violent shake, throwing everyone off balance. The lights flicker, and then go out completely, plunging them into total darkness.
John! What’s happening?!
Stay close, Em! Everyone, stay together!
And so, the mystery deepens. Trapped in the dark, with the fog closing in and the ship no longer under their control, John, Emily, and the others must find a way to survive… and maybe even escape. But what is really out there in the fog? Don’t miss the next episode of The Quick Learning Podcast— where all will be revealed.
