I was going for a swim, and no one could stop me.
I didn’t have a swimsuit. I’d only brought necessities and basic clothes, but a pair of boxers were close enough to swim trunks.
The water was colder than I expected. I started by just dipping my toe in and shivered. Goosebumps spread over my skin, and I wrapped my arms around myself before running headlong into the pool. Water splashed around me, and before I knew it, I’d waded out waist deep.
Taking a deep breath, I submerged myself completely.
Once I was surrounded by the water’s cool temperature, it wasn’t so bad. My skin acclimated quickly, and soon enough, I didn’t feel cold at all. It was actually very pleasant. Bracing, but also refreshing.
Coming up for air, I brushed my hair out of my eyes and immediately felt better. I could breathe for the first time since speaking with the sketch artist.
The rush of the pool’s waterfall covered the noise of my own splashing. I assumed everyone else in the safe house was asleep, but as I looked at the line of cottages all pointed in my direction, I realized how easy it would be for someone to look out their window and see me. They probably wouldn’t care that I’d decided to go for a midnight swim, but I also didn’t want to be interrupted by anyone, so I swam toward the waterfall on the far side of the pool.
A hidden alcove lay behind the falling water. Benches were carved into the fake rock, and there was an area that was probably meant to act as a water bar but was currently empty. The underground bunker was clearly meant to be a secret party area rather than a safe house. I could easily picture a bunch of drunken revelers gathered in the pool, shouting and laughing as music blasted from the cave’s built-in speakers.
I’d never been invited to that kind of party, and I doubted I ever would. It seemed like fun, but the dark solitude also suited me.
My own “graduation” at the recovery center had been stressful enough. A real party would probably give me a panic attack.
I waded farther into the alcove, the water coming up to my solar plexus, intending to find a comfortable place on one of the benches. However, when I reached the back of the cave, I tripped over my own feet and nearly drowned.
There was someone else here.
I hadn’t noticed due to the shadows of the cave and the sound of the waterfall, but someone else was sitting on one of the benches at the back of the cave.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I quickly turned away, and apology already on my tongue. Yet, the other person said nothing, and as I waited for a moment, I realized they weren’t making any movements.
Biting my lip with nerves, I peeked back over my shoulder in their direction.
The man sat on one of the benches, leaning back against the rock wall with his eyes closed.
Was he asleep?
Maybe he hadn’t seen me?
The cave had several round bench areas, divided from each other by a curtain of water falling from the ceiling. In a moment of panic, I darted into another of these bench areas and hid behind the falling water.
Sitting on the underwater bench, I wrapped my arms around my knees to still my shaking.
Why was I panicking?
The man was seemingly asleep and had made no move toward me. I could have just left, but now I was sitting here curled up in a dark alcove wondering what to do next. This was so stupid. I shouldn’t be panicking just because I was alone with...
Wait?
Who even was this man?
In my shock at seeing someone else in the pool with me, I hadn’t even looked at their face.
I bit at the nail of my thumb, debating what to do.
Should I just leave?
The sound of the waterfall would probably cover any noise I made. I could escape without ever being noticed.
Yet, curiosity took hold of me. Someone else had the same idea as me for a midnight swim.
Who was it?
