The girls spent the next few hours lounging poolside, soaking in the rays of the dwindling afternoon sun and sipping on Rum Swizzlers. While Marisol scored them some complimentary shots from another attractive bartender, her less adventurous friend excused herself to use the ladies room.

Pearl paused before heading back to the pool to gaze out at the vast ocean. She had always loved the ocean and found the sound of the rolling waves to be soothing. As a girl, she had pretended to be a mermaid, bundling her legs up in a glittery sheet and singing songs from The Little Mermaid at the top of her lungs. The memory reminded Pearl of the shell compact. She had tried to give it back to Marisol; after all Stan had really meant for her to have it, but Marisol had shrugged and insisted she keep it; mermaids and anything nautical themed was really Pearl's thing and she preferred the shell necklace. Pearl slipped the compact from her dress pocket and clicked it open. Pearl was not the type of girl to gaze at herself in a mirror, but she figured she might as well use it.

Pearl checked her lip gloss and hair, wondering how other girls managed to spend a day at the pool and look flawless, while she looked like a sweaty, frizzy haired mess. Pearl's eyes fixed on the sight behind her reflection because in the mirror she could see that the sky had suddenly gone dark with storm clouds. There was a flash of bright lightning and the rumble of thunder filled her ears. Pearl gasped, shoving the compact back into her pocket, just as an enormous wave rose out of the ocean and slammed against the side of the ship, sloshing water onto the deck and drenching Pearl. Pearl clutched onto the railing to prevent herself from slipping, but it was too late: a tsunami wave loomed above Pearl and as it smashed against the ship, Pearl closed her eyes and screamed.