Its hull rose like a wall, dark and streaked with rust that glistened wet in the rain. Water dripped steadily from broken cranes. The ship groaned with each swell, a hollow, metallic sound that echoed across the waves. Elias swallowed hard, forcing down the knot of fear in his throat. The skiff felt impossibly small next to the giant.
He grabbed the rope, tied the hook securely, and prepared himself for the climb. The rain made everything slick. The rope slipped in his wet hands as he tested its grip against a jagged opening in the hull. His breath fogged as he looked up, measuring the climb. One misstep, and the sea would swallow him whole.