Gray's chest tightened further.They needed to catch her.His research—the culmination of months of work must be in that dry bag.How had it spiralled into this?
Suddenly, Shelley's boat came to a screeching halt.She turned towards them, screaming something, but the wind snatched the words away.Gray eased their boat closer, careful not to spook her.Bits of her crazed rant floated toward them:
"We could've been together!This could have worked!Why couldn't you just let me stay here?"
Gray couldn't take it anymore."Shelley, please!Let's go back to the lab.We can figure this out," he pleaded, trying to keep his voice steady."You're good at what you do, we can--" But his words fell flat as Shelley locked eyes with him, a twisted expression crossing her face.
Without warning, she hurled the dry bag into the ocean.
Gray froze, his breath caught in his throat.His research, his work, sinking into the abyss.But before he could process it, Riley jumped overboard, diving after it.
"Riley!"he shouted, panic flooding his voice.Shelley's boat roared back to life and sped off toward the horizon, but Gray couldn't focus on her anymore.As he scanned the water, his heart raced.He could barely make out Riley's silhouette beneath the surface.She's deep.Too deep.
Swim, Riley.Please, swim.
Gray's stomach twisted with dread.He glanced around, frantic, torn between staying with the boat or diving in after her.He was not a strong ocean swimmer, and if the boat drifted away...
Movement interrupted his thoughts.In his periphery, two familiar grey forms cut through the waves.Abaco and Anejo.The dolphins raced towards them.
Gray leaned over the edge, staring into the dark water below.He could see Riley; as she reached up, her eyes locked with his.There was panic in her gaze, and then, as if in slow motion, he watched her sink, her body limp and lifeless.
"No!"Gray's scream tore through the air.Kicking off his shoes and he yanked off his tank top, he dove into the water.The cold stung his skin as he fought against the crushing weight of the ocean, pushing himself downward toward Riley.She'd slipped further away, her body a fading shadow.
He reached out with everything he had left, his hand brushing her wrist just as she was about to fall out of reach.He grabbed hold, but his lungs were screaming for air, and he couldn't keep this up much longer.
In the next instant, Abaco was beside him, the dolphin's smooth torso pressed up against him, offering his dorsal fin.Without hesitation, Gray grabbed on, tightening his grip on Riley's wrist as Abaco surged toward the surface.Anejo is just behind them, carried the dry bag in his jaws.
Breaking through the water, Gray gasped for air, pulling Riley up with him.But she wasn't breathing.Her body was limp; her face was pale.
"No, no, no!"Gray's voice cracked with desperation.He positioned her on Abaco's back, starting chest compressions.His hands slipped on her wet skin as the water fought against his efforts."Please, Riley.Don't do this.Don't leave me."
Tears blurred his vision, but he kept pushing, pumping her chest.The cracking of her ribs under his palms was sickening, but he didn't care.He pressed his mouth to hers, blowing a breath into her lungs.
Please don't leave me.
He felt Abaco shift beneath Riley, holding her steady in the water as he continued.Again.And again.It was too long; she hadn't breathed for too long, and he couldn't stop even though he didn't feel a pulse.
The sound of a boat engine roared in the distance, but Gray couldn't tear his eyes away from her.Not now.He pumped her chest again, his breath ragged, his tears mingling with the saltwater.
Please, Riley...I love you.I can't do this without you.
Suddenly, her hand twitched.
Gray's heart leapt.He quickly rolled her onto her side, and Abaco helped support her as she coughed, saltwater spilling from her mouth.Her body convulsed, her eyes flickering open for a moment before they closed again.
She's breathing.She's alive.
Gray pulled her close, holding her limp body against his chest.Relief crashed over him, but it was fleeting.In the distance, the boat's engine grew louder.He looked up, his eyes red and swollen.Daniel, Declan, and Marta were there, racing toward them.
Gray's strength gave out, and he collapsed, lying back in the water, holding Riley's head above it as they reached him.
"She...she died," he choked out as hands reached to hold him, his voice barely above a whisper as they lifted Riley into the boat."She died..."
Marta wrapped her arms around him, keeping him afloat as Abaco and Anejo nudged him toward the boat."We've got her, Gray.She's going to be okay.Let's get you both to the hospital."
He nodded, too weak to speak, letting them haul him onto the boat.The adrenaline was gone, leaving him trembling.As they wrapped towels around him and laid Riley down in the boat, his body shook uncontrollably.
Gray lay beside Riley, careful not to touch her, staring at the sky as the boat raced back to shore.The roar of the engine filled the silence, but all he could hear was his own heartbeat, steady but hollow.
