Page 29 of Acadia Falls

“Motherfucker.”

That roused me from my reverie. “What’s wrong?”

But as he slowed the boat, I saw them. The men he’d gone after down at the beach. Trey and Chris Someone-or-other. They had their boat parked near a knot of buoys and were pulling up one of the lines.

“Can you drive a boat?” Jack asked.

“N-no⁠—”

Before I knew what was happening, he’d stripped off his shirt. “R is for reverse—you might need to use it.” Without another word, he dove into the icy Maine water.

“Jack? Jack!”

The men finally saw us. Trey’s face twisted angrily as Jack broke the surface, swimming like Michael Phelps toward their boat.

The shorter guy was yelling at him, but Trey didn’t listen. He kicked off his shoes and dove into the water.

When he surfaced, he was right in front of Jack.

Jack went to grab him, but Trey had the element of surprise on his side. He rose above Jack, grabbed him by the shoulders, and shoved him under the dark-blue waves.

They both disappeared.

The freezing water was clear enough to see Trey holding Jack down. He struggled to break free, but Trey had him good.

“Jack? JACK!”

Jack kicked, but Trey didn’t let go.

Holy fuck! They were both going to drown. Right in front of my eyes!

Chapter Ten

JACK

The thing about dying? It’s easy.

Or at least, that’s what I was thinking while Trey was busy trying to drown me.

I fought him—but do you know what it’s like punching underwater? That is some clumsy shit. Trey had the advantage of being on top. Once he got his hands on my shoulders, I could only struggle.

I tried to kick to the surface, but he held me down. He was underwater, too, so maybe this would be the end for both of us. He pressed harder, showing no mercy, shoving me deeper into the darkness.

I panicked. I’d love to say that didn’t happen to me, but there was a moment when I felt like I might scream. I was thrashing, trying to break free. I was struggling. There was no other word for it. And the struggle made me panic. I couldn’t think; I couldn’t do anything but thrash.

But my limbs got tired quickly. I hadn’t realized I was close to giving up, but I couldn’t fight him anymore. I swatted at Trey, and I shook my shoulders, but it was like I was in a dream. My movements became slow and clumsy.

I was vulnerable. That little fucker had me good…

I was going under.

All at once, I made my peace with it. I thought about my dad. I pictured him under the waves, finally ceding to the ebb and flow, letting it take him away once and for all…

Suddenly Trey was gone. And I was floating, just floating along with the current, going along for the dark ride… There wasn’t any more pain. There wasn’t any more struggle. I felt peaceful in the cold water I’d loved my whole life. I wasn’t worried about all that money and whether I could care for my family because my dad was somewhere down here. He always took care of us and made sure everything was all right…

“Jack?” I swear it was my father’s voice.

I’m here, Dad. I’m coming…