Chapter 3: Disturbing Reports
Josue awoke the next morning with a sense of unease. The encounter with Callista still haunted his thoughts, and he knew that whatever was happening on *The Ocean’s Legacy* was far from over. As he dressed and prepared for his duties, he resolved to keep an eye out for anything unusual. 
He met Larisa for breakfast in the dining hall, where the usual hustle and bustle of passengers and crew filled the air. Despite the lively atmosphere, Josue couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
“Did you sleep at all?” Larisa asked, noticing the dark circles under Josue’s eyes.
“Not really,” Josue admitted, rubbing his forehead.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened last night.”
“Me neither,” Larisa said, her expression mirroring his concern. “Do you think the captain is taking it seriously?”
“I hope so,” Josue replied.
“But I think we need to be proactive. If Callista is haunting the ship, we need to find out why.”
As they finished their meal, Josue noticed a group of passengers gathered near the entrance to the dining hall. They seemed agitated, talking in hushed tones and casting nervous glances around the room. 
“Something’s going on,” Josue said, nodding toward the group.
Larisa followed his gaze.
“Let’s see if we can find out what’s happening.”
They approached the group, catching snippets of conversation as they drew closer.
“I saw her, I swear it!” one woman exclaimed, her face pale.
“She was standing at the foot of my bed, just staring at me.”
Another man chimed in, his voice trembling. “I heard laughing in my cabin last night. It was a child’s laugh, but there was no one there.”
Josue’s heart sank. More sightings of Callista. The situation was escalating.
“Excuse me,” Josue said, addressing the group.
“I couldn’t help but overhear. You’ve seen the ghostly girl too?”
The woman nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “Yes, last night. I woke up and she was just… there. It was terrifying.”
“We’ve had similar experiences,” Larisa added, her tone reassuring.
“We’re trying to find out what’s going on.”
“Have you reported this to the captain?” Josue asked.
“Yes, but he just brushed it off,” the man said, frustration evident in his voice.
“He said it was probably just a trick of the light or our imaginations.”
Josue exchanged a worried glance with Larisa. The captain wasn’t taking the reports seriously, which meant it was up to them to figure out what was happening.
“We’ll talk to the captain again,” Josue promised.
“In the meantime, try to stay calm. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
The passengers nodded, though they still looked uneasy. Josue and Larisa made their way to the bridge, determination in their steps. They found Captain Richards going over some charts, his expression tense.
“Captain, we need to talk,” Josue said firmly.
Captain Richards looked up, his brow furrowed.
“What is it now?”
“There have been more sightings of Callista,” Larisa said, her voice steady.
“Passengers are seeing her in their cabins, hearing her laugh. This is real, and it’s getting worse.”
The captain sighed, rubbing his temples. “I’ve heard the reports, but there’s no solid evidence. It’s all just stories.”
“With all due respect, sir, we saw her ourselves,” Josue insisted.
“We were nearly drowned in the pool last night. This isn’t just superstition. Something is happening on this ship.”
Captain Richards looked at them for a long moment, then finally nodded.
“Alright. What do you suggest we do?”
“We need to investigate Callista’s past,” Larisa said.
“If we can understand what happened to her, maybe we can find a way to help her move on.”
“And we need to take the passengers’ reports seriously,” Josue added.
“If they feel like they’re being ignored, it’ll only make things worse.”
The captain sighed again but seemed to relent.
“Alright. I’ll make an announcement, asking anyone who’s experienced anything unusual to come forward. And you two… see what you can find out about Callista.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Josue said, feeling a surge of relief.
“We’ll get to work right away.”
They left the bridge and headed to the staff lounge, where they found Maria chatting with some other crew members. She waved them over, her smile fading when she saw their serious expressions.
“What’s going on?” Maria asked, concern in her voice.
“We need your help,” Larisa said. “Have you heard any stories about a girl named Callista who drowned on the ship five years ago?”
Maria’s eyes widened. “Callista? Oh, I remember that. It was such a tragedy. Poor girl and her mother. Why are you asking about her?”
“We’ve been seeing her ghost,” Josue explained. “And so have the passengers. We need to find out more about what happened to her.”
Maria nodded slowly.
“I’ll tell you what I know. Callista was traveling with her mother, who was going through a rough time. There were rumors that she was depressed, maybe even suicidal. One night, Callista was found drowned in the pool, and her mother jumped overboard shortly after. It was all very hush-hush, but some of the crew said they saw strange things around that time. Lights flickering, cold spots, and even sightings of Callista before she died.”
Josue and Larisa exchanged a look. This matched what Carlos had told them, but they needed more details.
“Do you know anyone who was here when it happened?” Larisa asked.
Maria thought for a moment.
“Yes, there’s an old crew member, Joe. He’s been with the ship for over a decade. If anyone knows more, it’s him. You can find him in the engine room.”
“Thank you, Maria,” Josue said.
“We’ll go talk to Joe.”
They made their way to the engine room, the hum of machinery growing louder as they descended. They found Joe, a grizzled old man with a weathered face, tinkering with one of the engines.
“Joe?” Josue called out.
The old man looked up, squinting at them. “What do you want?”
“We’re looking into what happened to Callista,” Larisa said. “We were told you might know more about it.”
Joe’s expression darkened.
“That was a dark time. Callista was a sweet girl. It’s a damn shame what happened to her.”
“Can you tell us more?” Josue asked.
Joe sighed, wiping his hands on a rag. “Her mother was a mess. Always drinking, gambling in the casino, leaving Callista to fend for herself. One night, there was a big commotion. Callista’s mother was found crying hysterically in the casino, saying she couldn’t find her daughter. They searched the ship, and that’s when they found Callista in the pool. She was already gone.”
“What about her mother?” Larisa asked.
“She lost it completely,” Joe said, shaking his head. “She was screaming that it was all her fault. She carried Callista’s body from the pool, walking through the ship in a daze. Then she climbed over the railing with Callista in her arms and jumped overboard. Their bodies were… torn apart by the propeller.”
Josue felt a chill run down his spine.
“Why do you think Callista’s ghost is haunting the ship?”
“Who knows?” Joe replied.
“Maybe she’s looking for her mother, or maybe she’s just trapped here, reliving her last moments. All I know is, strange things have been happening ever since.”
“Thank you, Joe,” Larisa said. “We appreciate your help.”
They left the engine room, their minds racing with the new information. As they walked back to the main deck, Josue couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the verge of uncovering something important.
“We need to keep digging,” Josue said. “There has to be more to this story.”
Larisa nodded.
“Agreed. Let’s talk to some of the passengers who reported seeing Callista. Maybe they’ve noticed something we haven’t.”
They spent the next few hours interviewing passengers, gathering more accounts of sightings and strange occurrences. One woman reported seeing Callista’s reflection in her bathroom mirror, while another man claimed to have felt a cold hand touch his shoulder in the middle of the night.
The more they heard, the more convinced Josue became that Callista’s spirit was trying to communicate something. But what? And why now, after all these years?
As evening fell, they returned to the viewing deck, hoping for some clarity. The ocean stretched out before them, a vast expanse of darkness illuminated only by the stars and the ship’s lights.
“Do you think we’re making any progress?” Larisa asked, leaning against the railing.
“I think we’re getting closer,” Josue replied. “We just need to keep pushing.”
They stood in silence for a while, lost in their thoughts. Suddenly, a soft voice broke the stillness.
“Help me.”
Josue and Larisa turned, their hearts pounding. There, standing at the edge of the deck, was Callista. Her ghostly form glowed faintly in the moonlight, her eyes filled with sorrow.
“Help me,” she repeated, her voice echoing in the night air.
“What do you need?” Josue asked, stepping forward cautiously.
“Find my mother,” Callista said, her voice trembling. “She’s lost. I can’t find her.”