On Amber's fourth trip back up the steps, laden with food supplies, she heard a crack. A crack which stilled the blood in her veins.

She turned slowly, her arms gripping a carton of canned peas, and saw the wall move. It wavered like a fish tail and collapsed in a rush of death water. It frothed and foamed, ripped and tore its way across the room towards Jaden.

"Get out," she screamed at him.

He dropped the box and started towards her.

But the water moved faster.

It picked him up and threw him across the room sweeping cartons alongside him. His dark head disappeared from sight, and Amber searched frantically for him. She stepped backwards up the steps away from the approaching water. She had to seal off the room.

He had saved her when they had fallen from the boat, and now she remained powerless to help him.

"Jaden," she shrieked, her voice hoarse and desperate.

The water rushed across her shoes, and she ran up to the door. She turned at the top. How could she ask for the room to be sealed with him still inside? Saturated cartons, cans of food, churned in a soup of bubbling flour and rice slop. "Hold your breath," she willed him. "Just hold your breath."

He burst from the swirling waters, his mouth open, sucking in air and sank under again. The water had crept halfway up the stairs. Soon, it would spill into the corridor, and the door wouldn't shut. Amber couldn't leave him. She whipped her belt from her jeans, pulled her sweater over her head and tied one sleeve to the buckle. She urged him again to hold his breath and waited, her gaze darting about for a glimpse of his dark head.

He erupted into the air, and she threw the line. He saw it coming and reached out before disappearing. A sharp tug on the belt, and she pulled with a strength born of desperation. Hand over hand, she hauled the line, fighting against the current.

The line slackened, and Jaden dragged himself from the water, climbing up the last steps on his hands and knees. She bent down and grabbed his arm.

He stood, and they staggered together out the door. Jaden kicked the door shut while Amber grabbed the radio from her pocket and shouted into it. "Seal cargo door one. Now."

The door locked down, water tight and she collapsed onto the ground beside Jaden.