Page 87 of The Sea Witch's Son

“What the fuck, Finley!”

My clothes balloon around me, the obscene number of layers weighing me down. The freezing temperature has my nipples hardening into sharp peaks, the shock of it all stealing the breath from my lungs.

Finley comes up beside me, water droplets spraying from his mouth as he sucks in a breath. I push against his chest, trying to loosen the hold.

“You need to get a handle on your-

Water crashes into my mouth when he shoves my head underwater. I choke, sucking in a lungful of water as he pushes me down.

Kicking my feet, I feel the heavy weight of my sneakers dragging me to the bottom of the pool. Panic starts to sink in asI push against Finley’s hold, fighting to make it back to the surface.

My nails dig into his skin as my lungs start to seize, burning and screaming for oxygen. I try to hit him, but the water slows my momentum until the impact is nonexistent.

Forcing my movements to slow, I let my body grow limp against his hold. The moment his grip loosens, I bring my feet up and kick his chest as hard as I can.

“-itch.”

The tail end of Finley’s insult hits my ear as I break the surface. Gasping for air, I suck in a deep breath and go swimming for the wall.

Powerful shoulders cut through the water like my personal executioner and suddenly I’m being pulled back under again.

Squirming against his hold, I manage to get my teeth around his hand. Chomping down, I hear his muffled scream through the water. Bits of flesh fill my mouth as I kick for the surface, leaving a stream of blood in my wake.

I suck in another mouthful of air before his arm crashes down on me. Locking me against his chest, he lowers me until my chin is just barely out of the water.

“Finley.” I’m spluttering, spitting out the chlorinated liquid, “Please.”

“You almost bit my fucking finger off.” He snaps his teeth.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I almostbelieve you.”

“Please, Finley.” I’m begging, gasping as water splashes across my lips, “Let me go.”

He lowers me until water laps at the corner of my eyes.

“Say it’s me you want. Say it’s me and not him.”

“It’s you. I want you.” Spluttering out a cough, I can barely see from the chemicals burning my eyes, “Marlin doesn’t mean anything.”

He smiles, “Why couldn’t you have said that the first time around?”

Fear slithers through me.

“Finley, you don’t want to-

He sinks down into the pool, letting the water wash over my face. My arms are pinned to my sides, my legs trapped between his. I slam my head back against his chest, feeling a spark ignite in my lungs.

His hold doesn’t loosen and soon the pressure becomes unbearable. I start to choke, my body rebelling as water gets sucked inside my lungs, a desperate attempt to find oxygen from the molecules around me.

Blots dance across my vision as I look up at the shimmering surface. I can see the warped reflection of Finley’s face, his features far from charming as he watches me drown.

There’s no air and no space inside my lungs. A fire rips through my chest, tearing at my lungs until the pain is enough to make me want to scream. I keep choking, feeling the pressure build until my body can’t take anymore.

My head falls limp against Finley’s arms. Time slows until it’s just my mind fighting and clinging to life for a little bit longer.

Not yet. I’m not ready to join mom just yet.

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