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It’s imperative I get to him.
Even if…
No!I rapidly shake my head. I can’t think like that. It’s not too late.
It’s not.
There!
Something pale flits through the water, there and gone so fast, it’s possible I just imagined it. But it’s enough. I don’t think—I don’t even consider how fucking reckless this is; hell, suicidal—I just dive in.
The water is warm, as expected, but for a New Englander like me, it still surprises me.
Rather than push to the surface, I kick deeper, bulleting toward where I saw a glimpse of what I hope was a hand. I keep my eyes open, but with the storm raging on above, I can hardly see a damn thing under here. All I have is unpredictable, intermittent flashes of lightning to go by.
Something thwacks me in the leg—likely a piece of the bridge. Shaking my head, I feel more than see the bubbles that burst free from around the corners of my lips.
I’m going to need air soon. I might be in decent shape when it comes to all things hiking and lifting, but when it comes to holding my breath under water, not so much. I can’t even remember the last time I swam.
Come on,I silently will. Just one more—
The world lights up around me. It lasts hardly more than a second, but it’s enough.
There!
Kicking my legs out behind me, I dive even deeper, cutting big strokes. More lightning flickers, giving me just enough visibility to ensure I’m gunning right for him. A rush of a current shoves at my side, and something else clips me in the arm, but somehow…
I get to him.
I reach, straining, fingers flexing—
His wrist. I circle it with my fingers with bruising force, ensuring he doesn’t slip free. Heaving his lifeless body toward me, I wrap an arm around him and tap into what strength I have left to push us to the surface.
Bursting free with a choked gasp, I have less than a second to cherish air and prepare for the waves coming in from seemingly all sides. It’s like a vortex up here—choppy and pissed off. It throws punches left and right, doing its best to try and drown us.
But it’s also probably the only thing that kept Skyler from being swept into the ocean.
My chest heaves, lungs straining, heart racing, as I whip my head around, looking for land. For shelter. Anything that will save us from a watery death.
Skyler is unconscious, head lolling. I grip him tighter to me, curling my arm under his and around his chest as I use the other to keep us above water.
I don’t think he’s breathing, but I don’t have time right now to worry about that.
If I don’t get us to shore, it won’t matter anyway.
With my free arm, I push and shove at the waves like I could fight them off. The current is stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced, and it’s got to be by sheer force of will that I’m somehow able to heave the two of us toward the first accessible spot of land I can find.
It feels like the water swirling in this cove is battling it out with the ocean—fighting for who gets to claim us.
Snarling through my teeth, I swim with everything I’ve got, squinting through the curtain of hair plastered over my eyes, and the sea-foam sloshing over our heads.
Another strong swell of waves crashes through, giving me the push I need to haul us onto a giant flat rock. Not risking letting go of Skyler for even a second, I have to all but claw my already shredded nails into the rock, clutching for some kind of purchase—a hand hold.
My hand slips and I shout in frustration, saltwater gurgling into my throat.
Thunder booms above, followed by more flashes of light. I can no longer tell the difference between the rain pouring down and the water crashing over our heads.
Please!I silently beg, praying to whatever higher being might have pity on me. On us.
