Her scream knifes into my chest. She hits the dark water and goes under.
I don’t have time to go after her assailant. I can’t even glance away to try to see his face.
Nothing else matters but getting to her.
I take a deep breath and dive in after her.
22
KAROLINA
Cold, dirty water floods my mouth. I try to force it back out, but I’ve wasted all my oxygen on a scream.
I kick and flail, searching for the surface.
Cool air kisses my hand, and I try to follow it. I manage to surface just long enough to gasp once before the current pulls me back under.
The river is dark and impenetrable as I tumble though it.
I can’t see.
I can’t breathe.
I’m going to die.
I’m going to drown.
Just like my parents.
My lungs seize, a horrific sensation I recognize all too well.
But this time, my head isn’t forcibly submerged in the ice-filled sink. My foster mom’s fingernails aren’t digging into the back of my skull.
There will be no reprieve once she’s satisfied that I’ve learned my lesson.
I’m not that weak little girl anymore, but the river is far stronger than I am.
There’s only the murky water and my impending death.
I claw at the water as though I can rip it away before it trickles into my lungs.
Something hard hits my chest, knocking the precious little air I have left from me.
I can’t open my mouth again. I’m not ready to surrender yet.
But my insides are burning.
My vision goes darker than the river.
I’m not sinking anymore. I’m floating away…
“Look at me,” Rand begs raggedly. “Open your eyes.”
He pounds my chest, and I vomit dirty water.
I roll onto my side, clutching at the damp pavement as I gasp in precious oxygen.
He smooths my wet hair back from my brow.
