Page 2 of Drenched

Kim brushed her hand against mine as we started walking. “Don't let them get to you,” she whispered.

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Like it matters,” I muttered, but it always did.

We trudged up the narrow path toward the village, sand clinging to our boots. The houses looked ancient, their dark wood twisted from years of salt and wind. Smoke curled from crooked chimneys, vanishing into the gray mist. The whole place felt untouched and cold, like it had existed long before us and wouldn't give a damn when we were gone.

The villagers stood waiting at the edge, wrapped in furs that blended seamlessly with the gray cliffs behind them. They watched us with unblinking eyes, their silence heavy andoppressive. At their center stood a woman, frost dusting her fur-lined cloak. She pulled back her hood, revealing silver-streaked hair and a face carved by years of hardship. Something cruel lingered in those features.

“Welcome to Sarkivik,” she said, authority clear in every word. Her sharp gaze swept over us, pausing on me for a heartbeat longer. “I am Tanya Illiak, guardian of this land.”

Jonathan let out a short laugh. “Guardian? What does that even mean? You’re in charge here?”

Her expression remained blank. “I protect this village and its people. We have rules. Follow them, and you’ll be fine.”

Jaime stepped up beside Jonathan, his tone calm. “We’re not here to cause trouble.”

Tanya’s eyes hardened. “Good. But the Abyss rules these waters. They are not yours to enter.”

A chill settled in my gut. That was exactly why we were here.

Jonathan’s lips curled, his irritation barely held back. “Look, we have government approval.” He waved the permits in front of her. “We’re here to dive and study the algae. That’s non-negotiable.”

Tanya didn’t budge. “You can study our preserved samples,” she spoke with a calm resolve that tightened something in my chest. “That’s all you get. The Abyss’s gift isn’t yours to take.”

Jonathan’s jaw tightened. “We didn’t come all this way for leftovers.”

I stepped in before things could spiral. “Tanya, we respect that this is your home. And as Lead Researcher of this team,if preserved samples are the only option, we’ll start there.” My eyes flicked from Tanya to Jonathan.

His glare burned into me. “This isn’t what we agreed to.”

I held his stare. “We agreed to study the algae. If following their rules gets us that, then that’s what we do.”

He muttered something under his breath but backed down.

Tanya’s eyes moved between us, sharp and unreadable. After a pause, she gave a thin, tight smile. “Thank you for understanding... Miss?”

“Dr. Pearl Hart,” I said, trying my best to sound confident.

Her head tilted slightly. “Hart...” she murmured. “We’ve had Harts here before.”

My chest clenched. I knew exactly who she meant. My parents. They’d come here years ago. They never came back.

“Yes,” I managed, my throat tight.

She studied me a moment longer, then nodded like she’d figured something out. Her tone shifted to all business. “Your cabins are ready.” She gestured to a young man behind her. “Sebastian.”

Sebastian stepped forward. Tall, with watchful dark eyes, someone who’d learned early to listen more than talk.

“My son,” Tanya said. “He’ll show you to your cabins.”

Sebastian nodded, motioning us to follow.

Jonathan moved closer and whispered, “This is bullshit. We need to push back.”

I kept walking. “We’re guests. Follow their rules, and maybe we get more access later. Don’t fuck this up before we even start.”

Jonathan’s jaw twitched. He turned sharply. “Trevor!” he snapped. “Start unloading the gear.”

Trevor shot him a look, irritation evident in his expression. He muttered something and trudged back to the boat, his movements jerky. Clearly didn't like being the errand boy, especially in front of everyone.

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