I nod and rush to Silas, looking him up and down for any signs of him being injured.
“I’m fine,” he snaps.
“You don’t seem fine!” I snap back.
His shoulders slack, “I’m glad you are okay. But don’t worry about me.”
He steps closer, his large frame looming over me as he places each hand on my arms. Our gazes meet, and a fire ignites between us.
“We need to get back to the beach,” Rohhit says, breaking the silence. He grabs Oak’s arm and pulls him up. “We’ve made it this far, now let’s make sure we all make it back to the pier.”
Oak nods. “Let’s get the fuck off this island.”
I nod, pushing toward the beach. “Let’s go, and if we run into the others, I have a plan.”
The waves crashing against the white sand are almost serene, peaceful—like we hadn’t just come inches from death. We gather our thoughts, grabbing the bags we were instructed to retrieve for the trial.
Thatcher emerges from the dark forest behind us, water and blood mixing on his clothes. “That was quite a show you all put on. Briar, I’m impressed. We watched the entire thing.” Thatcher stalks toward me with Cromwell, Graven, and Bardot close behind.
“We could have died, you asshole.” I spit.
Thatcher moves toward me, a dark energy rippling off his body—my eyes widen at the sight. He grabs my arm, pulling me toward the water’s edge. My blood seeps back into the black water, but Silas steps in front of him, shadows flickering at his feet.
“Touch her like that again, and those Serpyndens and the creatures of the forest will look pleasant compared to what I’ll do,” Silas warns. His green eyes are burning with hatred.
Thatcher pushes me forward, causing me to stumble into Oak and Rohhit. Thatcher seems hesitant about fighting me with the others surrounding us. “Fine. You all are about to be useful to me. Here’s how the competition will go. You’re going first. Face those things.” He points to the still water, a chill creeping over my skin as something waits beneath the surface. “When they’ve dragged you to your deaths, we’ll swim back to the dock. She doesn’t stand a chance with that leg.”
“You’re a fucking coward,” I say, stepping forward to challenge him.
I nod toward Oak, Rohhit, and Silas. “But okay, Thatcher. We’ll go first.” The island feels much larger now as I plant my feet in the sand. I glance at them, hoping they understand and will follow me. The beach has likely witnessed its share of deaths, with the bones of the fallen buried beneath the sand.
Thatcher laughs as I walk with Oak, Silas, and Rohhit into the icy water. My blood turns the waves red from my bleeding ankle. I turn once more. “Now!” I scream, sending a black flame from my palms into the chests of the remaining competitors. The blast knocks Thatcher and the others all to the ground.
I spin with adrenaline-fueled speed, diving headfirst into the freezing darkness, the bags heavy on our backs. The cold waves rush over me, the sound of Thatcher’s curses fading behind us. I catch up to the others as we swim for our lives, but the waves seem to hesitate. The Serpyndens wait beneath us, ready to strike.
Being at the back, I’m the first target. Claws rake across my legs. A scream escapes me, knowing I’ll be dragged under unless I hurry. Oak and Rohhit lead the way, with Silas swimming beside me to help me fight through the pain. They’re prepared to confront whatever challenges us.
Behind us, Thatcher, Cromwell, and the twins enter the water. Fury drives them forward, but I’m unsure who I fear more: Thatcher or the Serpyndens hiding beneath the surface. I see Oak disappear under the waves again, and Rohhit stops swimming, yelling for Silas. Silas dives under, but the sense of relief lasts only a second.
The waves envelop me once more. I’m jerked underwater, and the pressure of the grip surrounding me is suffocating. It’s not claws that hold me down but the hand of a man. I look down to see Thatcher’s wicked grin through the dark water.
I kick toward him, my scream muffled by the water. My lungs burn, panic rising as numbness overtakes me. My magic swells within, like a dark force shielding me. A surge of power erupts from me, sending Thatcher deeper into the water and propelling me toward the surface.
I swim as hard as I can, following the light. Rohhit grabs my hand, pulling me up. I gasp, my lungs filling with the sweet air. “Swim!” he commands, his voice cutting through the waves.
I look back in horror. Serpyndens surround Cromwell and the twins. The twins fight together, but Cromwell is alone. I watch in shock as the Serpyndens tear into him, the water turning crimson. His desperate screams fade into the rising water as he disappears.
Finally, and with the last of my strength, I grab the edge of the dock and pull myself up. A hand wraps around my arm, helping to pull me from the water. I hit the dock with a thud. Silas kneels over me, propping my head against the dock’s jagged wood. “Your ankle. Maines! Get over here.”
“I’m okay,” I lie through the pain, scanning my body as Silas watches me with concern. He brushes water from my face, never leaving my side.
The twins return, and Calia embraces them both, relief washing over her. My heart aches as I look out at the water, knowing Cromwell won’t be coming back. His father stands at the pier’s edge, head low in grief. He knows.
Maines rushes to me, wrapping her hands around my leg. “Briar! Holy Gods, you scared me to death!” Her grip sends pain through my exhausted body.
“Just fix my ankle, please.”
She examines me quickly, her eyes landing on the large gashes across my leg. “I can heal this quickly, but you’re going to want to bite down on something.”
