I dive down towards the ship, gaining speed in the descent. The wind is rushing past, and my eyes are tearing up. The ship is getting closer, I ease up to slow my speed as I approach. Feeling confidant, I look back and don’t see her. I look forward, still moving swiftly, but something doesn’t feel right. It's the ship; it's not Rosaleen's? The sinking feeling of being so very wrong sets in and my stomach turns. I won't see Ashlea. Forgetting for a moment just why I was going so fast, I slow my speed in bewilderment. I was so sure that, that was “the ship,” Rosaleen's ship. My heart aches, how could I be so wrong?

  The wind is knocked from my lungs. I can't breathe in and find myself falling, like a kite falling from the sky, dropping towards the water. I am more alert and awake than ever, and my heart is racing as I fall. Time has slowed down as I try to correct myself, extending my arms and flapping, trying to catch myself, but it is not working. I hit the water hard with the back of my shoulder and sink fast. The suit is awkward in the water; I can’t get out of it. Normally, I can stay under the water for a few minutes at a time, but without air in my lungs, I am struggling to breathe and need to get to the surface. Down into the deep I drop, somehow, I struggle to get out of the suit. The water is dark with the sun low in the sky. There is no reef here. It is a shallow looking sandy bottom, but the water is deceiving. It is another twenty feet before I touch bottom. I don't want to touch bottom. I need air. The suit that I have scrambled out of sinks, I am naked and racing to the surface with all my energy. My arms are tired from flying all day and I am sore from the hit and impact of the water; I need to reach the surface now. My eyes are open looking up, I am getting closer to a breath of air, but it is not soon enough. I kick my legs and extend my arms to swim as hard as I can, but my vision goes dark, I am still alert and kicking. I know my eyes are open, but I can't see anything. I feel tired, but I am not giving up, I can't, not like this. My chest hurts and body just wants to inhale, but I force myself not to. This isn't supposed to happen; I want to see Ashlea, just a little further. Where is Sitrus when you need him? I thought he was following Shaylo and me, I am a fool to think that he would come to my rescue. Everything goes silent except for a wringing in my ears. That is the last thing that I remember.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.