Page 4 of Rising from the Depths

“Such a hypocrite,” Addison chuckled.

“No kidding,” Eva said. “I can’t count how many times I’ve caught you and Sam during yourbreaks.”

“They get down anddirtyin those fields,” Hailey said with a smirk, “and I don’t just mean their hands.”

Eva laughed along with her friends as Sam and Blake wrestled and splashed, but her laughter was cut short when something brushed against her leg. She started, reflexively pulling away, and immediately thought herself a fool; it was nothing but a fish.

Addison looked at Hailey. “When are you going to—”

She abruptly plunged under the surface.

“Oh, that was just mean guys,” Hailey said, turning toward the last place they’d seen Blake and Sam wrestling.

They were both still there, wearing confused expressions.

Eva’s eyes widened.

Bubbles floated to the surface over the spot Addison had vanished. Suddenly, the water was stained red with an ominous, slowly spreading crimson cloud.

“Addison!” Eva screamed. She spun about, scanning the water, but there was no sign of her friend. Fear slithered down her spine, sinking its icy claws deep to spread its chill through her entire body.

“Addy!” Samuel yelled, swimming toward Eva. “Where is she?”

“She disa—”

Hailey screamed as something bobbed to the surface of the crimson water. Eva’s stomach lurched. What she was seeing wasn’t real; itcouldn’tbe real. It just…couldn’t.

She’s not dead. She’s not dead. She’s not dead.

“Get to the beach!” Blake yelled from somewhere behind Eva; his voice sounded far off.

“No!” Samuel bellowed, reaching for Addison. She floated face down on the surface, her skin shredded and bloody.

A huge, dark shape rushed up from below to intercept him. Eva caught a glimpse of the monster as it crested the surface — a huge mouth with long, curving, pointed teeth; a powerful body covered in pale blue skin; dark spines protruding from the top of a thick head. Its mouth came down on Samuel, clamping over his shoulder, and man and beast disappeared amidst churning water.

Hailey screamed again. Eva turned her head to see Blake swimming, already more than halfway to shore. Somehow, that cut through the fog of terror gripping her mind, inflicting a deep sting; she shoved it aside. Panting and trembling in fear, Eva hurriedly swam to Hailey.

She caught hold of Hailey’s wrist. “W-We need to go.” Eva tugged until Hailey tore her gaze away from the bloody, frothing water.

A great commotion rose from the dock; boots pounding on its surface, shouted, panicked orders, and several splashes, but she couldn’t focus on any of it. She needed to get to land with Hailey. She kept her eyes on Blake as he dragged himself onto the beach.

Only twenty meters to go.

“We’ll make it, Hailey. Keep swimming,” Eva said, pushing her body harder than ever before, kicking and paddling with every ounce of strength she possessed.

“We’re going to die,” Hailey cried, voice high and shaky.

Something shifted in the water behind Eva; she was pushed forward as though on a sudden wave. A second later, immense pain burst through her as huge teeth clamped down on her calf. She screamed. The last thing she heard before she was yanked beneath the surface was Blake’s voice distantly calling her name.

Water filled her ears, nose, and mouth, suffused with misty blood. She fought against the pull as she was dragged deeper, which only increased the agony ripping through her. The creature holding her was a dark blur amidst the bubbles and crimson fog. She kicked its face with her other foot, but it only tightened its jaws and shook her, its teeth shredding flesh and muscle and crunching bone.

Black spots dotted her vision, and her chest and throat burned as she clung to the last bit of air in her lungs. She needed desperately to take a breath, but the surface was so far away.

I’m going to die.

Tilting her head back, Eva looked up at the shafts of gold-tinged light shining down from above. Despite the crimson staining the water, there was an undeniable beauty to that light. It wasn’t a terrible last sight.

Another dark shape entered her vision, approaching with great speed. Just before she closed her eyes, the shape drew close enough for her to make out its color — an earthy orange that seemed entirely out of place here amidst the otherworldly light and wisps of blood.

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