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Alive, even in the jaws of death.
Still blinking water out of my eyes, I look over his shoulder.
First I see Juan, dead-eyed and staring in disbelief.
Awesome.
There’sanotherkiller wave charging dead at us.
I’m almost bored of dying at this point.
If we get out of this alive by some miracle, I will never not respect the sea.
Shepherd’s swift movement is the only thing that keeps us watching and waiting for the end.
“Hang on to the chair!” he yells hoarsely.
“Wait, where are you—” I never get to finish.
Not before he’s bolting for the door that keeps flapping with the wind, the latch broken or jammed. He looks like he’s holding up an avalanche as he flattens himself against it, still staring at me.
Holy hell, no.
There’s still too much water pooled around my feet, the floor so slick. There’s no way he’ll have traction if—no, when—the water blows it open again.
“Shepherd!” My scream tears my throat, but he doesn’t move.
Then the wave hits and everything goes upside down.
I’m panting and sobbing and fighting but—I don’t feel that familiar suffocating flood, do I?
He’s actually doing it.
Like some kind of freaky, grumpy superhero, he holds back the deluge.
He saves us yet again.
I don’t breathe until the ship stops turning.
The final impact isn’t as terrible this time, or maybe I’m just used to being heaved around like I’m in a blender.
Everything goes deathly still.
I have to check to make sure Molly’s still there. I swear, if I didn’t know any better, she’s holding her breath just like we are, waiting for the next wave we can’t hold back.
But although we’re tossed around for a few more minutes, the next hills of water are kittens after dealing with a lion.
Minutes pass.
Quiet grows.
The ship moves like it isn’t about to break apart, and amazingly, there’s no sign we’re sinking.
I can’t stand it anymore.
Flying across the room, I throw my arms around his neck before I know what I’m doing, and he’s holding me just as tightly.
I’m sick with adrenaline, my limbs quivering, and he strokes the ropes of wet hair away from my face like he knows.
