Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 46: Flying (Falling)

Viktor

I'm already late. Damn it. Stupid monster. Stupid monster making us back track.

I'm a cursed quarter of an hour from the edge of the Labyrinth. Also I'm farther south than I should be.

I strap on the jet pack and goggles. My dad had some armor to go with it. I'm not bothering with that. I need to get going. The sun is already setting. Hopefully it's rays will be strong enough. Please let there be enough sunlight left.

There is not.

The jetpack sputters to life all right. And for a few moments it's glorious.

But only a few moments.

I feel it giving out and I slap it, trying desperately hoping for some sort of miracle. I'm well aware I'm ridiculously far from the main island. Of course I am. Of course it wasn't going to work.

I plunge into the freezing waves. It's only when they grab me that I realize that I'm about to die. In the back of my head, I just sort of assumed that if I crashed I could swim to shore. I haven't gone swimming since I was a baby. But I assumed I could just swim back to the Labyrinth and wait till morning.

That is not the case.

The waves are fierce and instantly drag me under. Salt water fills my mouth even as I struggle to spit it out. But it keeps coming. Wave after wave wash over my head.

And I'm gone.

I kick, but I can't tell which way is up anymore. All is dark. And water rushes into my mouth, burning on my lungs. It hurts so bad. Why does it have to hurt so bad? Why can't I just be gone? My father will wait for me—how long? I'm all he has. I can't go.

But I do anyway. My limbs grow weak. And I'm out of air. I fight one more time for the surface. But the riptide catches me. and it tugs me home.