“Christ…” I sigh, staring in the approaching shoreline. "She could be anywhere, D. How are we supposed to?—"
The shrill ring of Damon's phone interrupts my hopelessness. Damon frowns at the number, his posture stiffening as he answers.
"Hello?" His eyes widen, and a wildfire of emotions crosses his face as he stares at me. "It's Emery," he mouths, and I want nothing more than to lunge for the phone. She’s alive. Christ, she’s still alive.
Damon holds his hand out. Patient. I need to be fucking patient. With a shaky breath, I begrudgingly stay silent, focusing on the staticky voice sounding from the receiver. It’s her. Her voice. Emery. Oh God…
Anxiety claws at my chest as Damon calls out her name. The entire world seems to still as he listens to her, his expression shifting with each word she whispers into his ear.
When he finally drops his hand, his gaze snaps over my shoulder. "She’s…”
“What?” I demand. “What did she say? What did she?—"
"Water," Damon states, telling our driver to pick up speed. "She said she's by boats."
I turn around, squinting at the nearing marina, scanning each overstocked dock with desperation. Did she escape? Did she get out? A million questions whirl around my mind.
No. Focus. Emery.Where are you, darling?Show us where you are. We’re right here.
We’re right?—
And then, in the distance, a splash catches my eye. I feel the impact in every bone in my body. And I know. I know with every fiber of my being that it’s her.
"Faster!" I yell at the driver, stripping off my jacket. "Over there! Go!"
Damon’s eyes widen as he stares at the dock, at the massive waves bashing the shoreline. The wind is picking up. A storm is brewing.
“Q, what are you?—”
It’s too late. As we get closer to the marina, I know what needs to be done. Boats slam against the dock as I calculate my route.
I can't wait. I can't sit still.
I dive into the cold sea, determined to get to her on time. Before it’s too late. Before I lose her.I will not lose her. The water isn’t a friend or an ally. But I don’t care. I fight the icy pain that reaches deep into my weary bones, my muscles aching. And I swim. I swim toward the promise, the hope of finding her alive. She will be alive. There is no other option.
She is alive.
I repeat this mantra over and over again as salt water stings my eyes, momentarily blinding me as I fight against the relentless current.
I swim harder, deeper, arms pushing against the water, desperately grasping for anything. But all I find is more water. No. I will find her.She is alive.I don’t let defeat sink its claws into my heart. I keep searching. Keep fighting. For her. For us. For him.
And then…I feel it. Fabric. Glorious fucking fabric. I yank on it, her arm. Emery's arm. I clutch onto her, summoning every ounce of strength to propel up and up and up. Air. She needs air. I need air.
With one final burst of energy, I push Emery upward, and her head breaks the surface of the water.
Gasping for breath, I blink through the sting of salt water. Damon stands above us, his gaze frantic as he reaches for Emery and pulls her onto the dock.
"Blue," Damon's voice wavers, his face paling. "She's... She's..."
"Move!" I shout, hauling myself up on the wooden dock. Kneeling beside Emery, I begin chest compressions, counting tothirty. "Two breaths, Damon! Now!" Damon shakes as he leans forward, pressing his lips against Emery's, breathing life into her lungs. I keep pumping, using every ounce of strength I have left. "Again!"
Nothing.
“Again.”
Please.
“Again.”
