“Divers are back!” Hayden suddenly barked over the noise.
“How can you tell?” My voice sounded raw even to me.
His eyes were fixed on the other pods as they peeled away. “Everyone’s pulling out. That’s our cue.”
Sure enough, the defensive line was breaking—pods retreating to the submarine’s safety. Hayden wasted no time, guiding us sharply back to the docking platform. Our pod clamped onto the glass surface with a shudder, and I scrambled out, legs shaking, every muscle aching with exhaustion and leftover fear.
Inside, the rest of our team had already gathered around Greg, the adrenaline and shock still etched on all their faces.
“We’re going to have to cut this excursion short,” Greg announced, grimacing as he surveyed the shaken crew. “Let the area clear before returning. Good grief, we’ve had a run of bad luck today.”
I barely heard him. Hayden hauled himself up beside me, jaw set, hands braced on his knees. He looked pale, sweat streaking his forehead. Still, he managed to straighten to his full height, grunting under his breath.
He gave me a once-over, concern flickering in his eyes. “You alright? You hit your head pretty hard back there.”
I tried to say I was fine, but the room spun and my knees gave out. I dropped onto the nearest bench, pressing a hand to my temple. “I… I think so,” I managed.
Hayden didn’t say anything for a moment. He just lingered nearby—not close enough to hover, not far enough to be gone. He pulled out his phone, thumbs moving with quiet purpose.
“You’re going to the hospital,” he said, already dialing. “Work injury means Fairwell pays for it.” His voice had that brisk, just-the-facts edge, but I could feel his focus on me as he spoke instructions down the line.
I leaned back against the cool wall, fighting the drumbeat in my skull and the lurch in my stomach.
When the medics arrived, Hayden stepped aside without a word. But as they carried me out, I caught the briefest glance back: his eyes steady on mine, expression giving nothing away, as if he was measuring the distance, or making sure I was really leaving.
Daylight streamed into my eyes, blinding and raw. Through the haze of adrenaline and pain, all I could think was:this job better be worth it.
FOURTEEN
Someone scannedmy ring after I left the submarine, but I didn’t get a chance to check how many coins had been deposited. Opening my eyes in the sunlight caused too much head pain.
I was vaguely aware of being carried into a small hover ship, then being in flight.
I wasn’t conscious again until I sat up in a hospital bed. I was alone in a pristine, white room, and knew instantly that this wasn’t the same hospital my parents lay in. A clock on the wall read 5:02 p.m. I had been out of it for hours. The throb in my head was now barely noticeable.
A lady wearing green entered, carrying a tray containing a water bottle and a plastic-wrapped sandwich.
“Where am I?” I asked.
“Beauchamp Hospital,” she replied with a smile. Noticing my confused look, she added, “It’s on Founders’ Isle. You had a mild concussion, but we’ve treated you and you slept well. I’ll let you eat and then you may leave if you wish.”
Before grabbing the sandwich, I checked my ring. Itsbalance had increased by 160 coins. Not much, if you asked me, in exchange for risking my life against flesh-eating beasts.
A quick calculation told me that it wasn’t enough to hit bronze within a month, like Hayden had. Which meant there had to be other jobs that paid better. There had to be, or Hayden never would have made that target. But were they all as dangerous as this?
Was there no happy medium between earning decent pay and not being attacked bysharks?
Anger and frustration prickled inside me. I shoved the water bottle and sandwich into my backpack. Then I stalked out of the sparklingly clean hospital building, so much larger and emptier than the one on the islet, and emerged from the glass revolving doors into hazy sunlight.
I pulled out my tablet and brought up directions to the nearest shuttle station, before walking ahead along the adjoining, white-stoned street at a brisk pace.
Why did things have to be sodifficult? All we were trying to do was survive.
A familiar laugh suddenly wrang out, from somewhere on the other side of the road. A deep rich chortle that came from the belly. Turning, I realized it was Anna.
Outside an eatery decorated with vine leaves, she sat around a table with a group of three other women, who all looked about her age. The four of them wore colorful dresses, their well-groomed hair glossy in the sunlight. Mugs rested in front of them, and a basket of something lay in the center of their table.
Anna noticed me and raised a hand.
