Page 39 of Drenched

I got up on shaky legs. The Blue Hole was rippling a bit, black as anything, like someone had cut a hole in the cave floor. I had to look away. Whatever was down there, I didn't want to know.

I tried to keep busy, grinding algae with hands that wouldn’t stop shaking. The repetitive motion helped dull my thoughts, but they wouldn’t quiet completely. Pictures from last night keptpopping into my head whether I wanted them or not, his voice, his hands, how much I'd wanted him. I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth hurt. This wasn't me. It couldn't be.

But it was.

I caught myself smiling at the memory of his touch, then slammed the grinding tool into the rock so hard that the paste splattered everywhere. I stared at the mess, my chest getting tight. I wasn't just screwing myself over, I was betraying my friends. The ones he'd killed. The ones I should have avenged. Instead here I was, letting him turn me into... whatever this was.

“I gotta get out of here,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “I can't stay.”

The scars started pulsing again, like they were laughing at me. I didn't belong in the sun anymore. Hell, I didn't belong anywhere.

But I had to try. If I stayed, I knew exactly what would happen. I'd let him touch me again. Let him claim me again. The worst part? Even now, my body wanted him. That scared the crap out of me.

I stared at the cave walls, searching for any sign of an escape. There had to be another way out. The carvings were ancient, made by humans. This place had once been above ground, before the ocean swallowed it up. There had to be other caves nearby, somewhere I could hide from him.

I waited until the cave got dark, well, its version of dark anyway. I gathered what little I could, some glowing fruits and the knife he'd given me, and shoved them all in a pouch I made from seaweed.

The rock wall stretched way up, all slimy with moss and sharp edges. My heart was pounding as I grabbed the first handhold, sharp and rough under my fingers. Blood seeped from the cuts, and I watched, freaked out, as the stone seemed to drink it in, the red just disappearing into rock that suddenly had holes.

“Keep moving,” I gasped, pushing myself higher. “Don't think. Just move.”

The higher I went, the more the wall seemed to fight back. The stone got slicker under my hands, almost oily, and the moss-covered edges felt unnervingly soft, like skin. My fingers slipped and I grabbed for another hold. It pulsed under my grip, like a heartbeat.

I didn't look down. No way in hell. The algae's glow was barely visible way below, all sickly looking, and I knew if I looked, I'd chicken out. Every move made my muscles scream, and I was soaked in sweat and something colder that definitely wasn't water. I gritted my teeth and kept climbing.

Then, just like that, the rock gave way.

The fall felt like it went on forever. Time got all weird while I dropped, the darkness swallowing me whole. I screamed but the cave just ate up the sound. When I hit the water, it wasn't like crashing, more like it was hugging me. Cold as hell, pulling me down.

I thrashed, kicking and twisting, desperate for air. The water wasn’t right, it moved weird, swirling and pulling like it was alive. Flickers of light caught my eye, shifting in the dark like they were dancing, taunting me. Then, out of nowhere, it appeared.

The Vurrax.

It looked like a long, glowing eel, its translucent body pulsing with veins that lit up in this eerie rhythm. It circled me slowly, like it was sizing me up. My breath stalled when it brushed against my leg. Its skin felt cold and slick, and its spines slid out just enough to scrape me, like a warning.

I stayed frozen, my whole body tense. It coiled tighter, looping around my leg now, not squeezing but close enough to make me feel trapped. Its veins pulsed brighter, casting rippling patterns on the water around us. I told myself to stay calm, not to do anything stupid.

And then I panicked.

My leg shot out, kicking it hard. The Vurrax reacted instantly. Its body tightened around me, and the spines dug into my skin. Pain hit first, sharp and searing, but the venom was worse. It spread fast, burning through my veins, making every nerve scream. It wasn’t just pain, though, it was like it was messing with my mind, tearing me apart from the inside out.

I started thrashing harder, bubbles bursting from my mouth as I screamed into the water. The Vurrax didn’t let go. If anything, it seemed to enjoy watching me struggle. It tightened, dragging me deeper, its glowing veins pulsing faster, like it was feeding off my fear.

Just when I thought it was over, it stopped. The pressure eased, and it slid away, unraveling in one smooth motion. I barely had time to process what was happening before it hovered in front of me for a moment, its glowing eyes locking onto mine.

And then it was gone. It disappeared into the dark like it had never been there, its faint glow fading until there was nothing left but the still water around me. My chest heaved, every muscle screaming, and the pain from the venom throbbed like fire in my blood.

I hung there, gasping, shaken, knowing I’d just barely made it out alive.

For a second, I thought I was okay.

Then I heard it.

“Pearl.”

Jaime's voice. Clear as day, warm and familiar. My heart jumped, hope surging through the pain and fear.

“Jaime?” I whispered, bubbles carrying his name into nothing. I turned toward the sound, shaking all over. “Is that really you?”

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