“Murderous,” Athena hissed.
“Fucked up,” Boris added.
“Shut it,” I lowered my voice as the Dean’s gaze moved to us. “This challenge may be all of those things, but if we can win this, we are fucking legends on this campus.”
“Oi oulés xethoriázoun, i dóxa zei gia pánta,”Athena said wisely.
“What does that mean?” Tati asks.
Athena stands, stretching and groaning. “Scars fade, glory lives forever. I’m getting some painkillers, does anyone else need some?”
“Bring a round for the whole table,” I said gratefully.
“Not as good as a vodka shot,” Tati sighs, “but I’ll take it.”
Shifting slightly, I ignore the fire in my ribs, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. One more task. I can do this.
Mariya…
“I’m being punished,” I moan.
“What?” Athena frowns at me, tugging up the zipper on the back of my drysuit.
Stepping behind her, I pull her suit tighter, working on the zipper. “I was thinking about the challenges from last year and how they always involved freezing our asses off in some body of water. I was hoping this challenge wouldn’t include that.”
“You have angered the Gods,” she says dourly, “Poseidon is punishing you. And by extension, us, so thank you for that. Also, screw you.”
“Has anyone ever told you how inspiring you are?” I ask.
Her brow wrinkles. “No?”
“I didn’t think so.” Stretching one last time before I have to sling that hefty tank over my shoulder, I groan as every muscle in my body reminds me how much they hate me.
“You have all done well!” Dean Christie calls, the wind pulling at her tidy bob. “This third task will force you, as did the others, to face your most atavistic fears. This time, the fear of drowning.”
“She’s enjoying this too much,” I whisper to Lucca. I’m not sure he hears me, he’s completely focused on her, frowning.
“You will navigate the sea caves on the south side of the campus,” she’s talking louder as a flurry of whispers grows from the students watching. They may have come looking for blood, but no one seems to be enjoying this any longer. There are a few- I see three of the new freshmen who weren’t picked to compete clustered together, smiling.
How many of the newcomers were picked for the challenge? I think.How many have washed out so far?
Setting the thought aside, I strain to catch the rest of the instructions.
“This time, the tanks of two of your teammates have been tampered with,” Professor Fukumoto adds. “There will be nothing to tell you which members are affected. You must stay together during the dive and return together to avoid the risk of leaving one of your own without oxygen. If a team returns without all their members, they are disqualified.”
“And here I thought getting nailed with that bag of rocks underwater in the Cenote last year was the worst thing that could happen to me,” said Athena. She’s not attempting to lowerher voice and the restless disapproval from the other teams isn’t subtle either.
“Silence!” Fukumoto snapped. “There are multiple, clearly marked areas throughout the cave system where you can rise above the water and catch your breath if your tank runs dry. You may signal for help and extraction. There are also a dozen observers on the route. Because this is the closest contact the teams will have with each other, any signs of tampering or sabotage will be cause to remove your team from the task and additional…” his glance darted to the Dean, “additional discipline determined by Dean Christie.” His dark gaze swept the remaining teams. “Am I quite clear?”
“Yes, Professor!” We all chorus dutifully.
“Very well,” he said, “gather your gear and meet at the docks.”
I earned my Advanced Open Water certificate on a family trip to St. John in the Virgin Islands. I loved it; the warm embrace of the Caribbean, the brilliantly colored fish and coral. The waters of the Atlantic surrounding Inis Mor are a vivid blue-green and beautiful. In late autumn, they are also uncomfortably cold. Instead of the mysterious caverns filled with fish that I loved, I’m going to be swimming in underground caves, pressed down by the horrifying mass of this island.
Lucca leans in. “You’re white as a sheet. Can you do this?”
“I’m fine,” I nod rapidly, trying to sell it but I’m just making myself dizzy. “I’ll do some deep breathing. I’m fine. I am.”
