“I gave you everything.”
“No, mom. You gave me my name and maybe a roof over my head, but I worked my ass off for years! Cleaning up the messes you made and piecing myself back together when your words would break me apart.”
“So, what. It builds character,” she spits.
“Character?” I screech, a loud boom of thunder erupts and the boat dips again. I hardly have time to alter my trajectory as I go careening for the side of the boat. My elbow catches on the wheel, stopping my fall.
“You’re pathetic, you know that. Just like your father. He was weak. That’s why he always took his anger out on us like he did. And you’re just like him. Oh, yes. I see it now.”
Hatred, pure and hot boils in my veins.
“I’m nothing like that monster. And I’m nothing like you.”
Lightning illuminates her face and for the first time she looks scared. I scream at the top of my lungs as I lunge for her one more time, knocking us both over the edge, plunging into the watery depths below.
27
CHASE
Water slides over my lap, startling me awake. It’s pitch black down here in the cabin, but with the way the boat is moving and the rapid rise of the water, I can tell we’re in deep shit.
“Melody?” I call out, my voice sounding muffled by the roar of the wind from outside.
I realize my hands have been tied to the wall, preventing me from moving.
I’m going to drown down here if I don’t get the fuck out.
Yanking with all the strength I have only digs the ropes into my skin. I feel around the wall, hoping to find something, anything, that can help me get out of here. My fingers graze against something sharp. I grip onto what feels like a screwdriver and start sawing away at the rope. Thoughts of getting out and finding Melody are the only ones swirling around in my head, spurring me on.
Little by little, the polypropylene gives way, but not fast enough. The water continues to rise, now hitting my elbows as I saw away. One of the small pieces breaks free as I continue to dig the tip of the screwdriver along the remaining rope. If I can get enough of it undone, I might be able to pull myself free.
The water is now at my belly button. My hand saws as quickly as I can with the intensity of a madman.
Finally, the rope gives enough that when I yank backwards, the lingering strands snap and I tumble backwards, getting submerged in the icy sea water. Stumbling to stand, my hands search for purchase on the stationary furniture. Just above me should be a cabinet with extra life jackets. The first compartment holds pots and pans, so I move to the next one knowing that if we’re going to make it out of here alive, we’re going to need something to hold onto.
My mind won’t accept that something might have happened to Melody. She’s alive. She has to be. The next compartment is full of toppled books, but right next to it feels like something hard and squishy. That has to be it. I grab onto it and pull out two life jackets. I manage to tie one around my body while fumbling for the stairs. If my father is up there still, there’s going to be hell to pay.
My feet slip on the slick wooden stairs as rain pelts down through the open hatch. A shrill high-pitched scream pierces through the roaring sound of the ocean. The feeling of my heart dropping down to the soles of my feet.
Two blurry figures go toppling over the edge. One with distinct pink hair.
I don’t even think before I jump off the boat after her. The water hits my body, pulling me down into it. Gripping onto the lifejackets, I kick to the surface and scream out for Melody, searching for her in the darkness. No answer comes though, so I swim to where I think I saw her go in, but the water is pulling from every direction. The storm swirls around us and I see the boat begin to capsize behind me.
One of the bodyguards is holding on to the sail like it’ll save him. The other one is nowhere to be seen. I wonder if he jumped ship earlier, or maybe Psycho Stella killed him. Either option is possible.
“Melody!” I cry out. A flash of lightning illuminates the space around me enough that I can see a pink mess of hair bobbing a few feet away from me. I swim as hard as I can, grabbing onto her, and flipping her over.
“Baby, baby please.”
A sputter wrenches from her mouth and she coughs hard. I untie her hands quickly as she comes to.
“Chase.” Her eyes find mine and her arms loop around my neck.
“Put this on,” I say, giving her a lifejacket. I don’t put mine on until hers is completely secure. We float together amongst the wreckage, until we wash up on a collection of rocks. We hit them hard, hands gripping to their jagged edges for dear life.
“If we die out here, I have to tell you something.” Melody says, her hair plastered to her face, lips shivering and blue tinted.
I position her, so she’s under me, taking what little body heat I have to offer. “What’s that, princess?”
