Under the Roses

90 - Turn a Somersault in the Sea!

LORY

"I see water." Livia peered up through the doorway. "That wasn't there before."

"Then we've made it!" Lory said, relieved. She glanced down at Nix and Quinn, who were still making their way up the furniture. Nix looked up at her, waved, and then threw his bag. Lory caught it, and it nearly knocked her right off the coffee table she was sitting on.

"Uh, yeah, but it's literally all water," said Livia. She stuck her hand up through the doorway and waved it around before flinging her arm back to splash water everywhere. "I can't even see the surface. Can you swim?"

Lory raised her eyebrows. "Well, yes. But how do you expect to swim in this?" Lory gestured to them and their clothes.

"Hm," Livia said. "I guess we'll just have to strip. Oh well." And before Lory could say anything, Livia was unfastening her bodice and shimmying out of her petticoat, peeling off her layers of clothing until all she wore was her chemise. She took the bag out of Lory's arms and shoved her clothes into it.

Lory stared at her. This was the most skin she'd ever seen from Livia; from anyone, really. "Um...I don't think this is decent swimwear."

"Lory, nothing constitutes decent swimwear in this situation," said Livia. She tightened the ribbon at the end of her braid and said, grinning, "See you on the other side." Then she dove through the door with a splash and was swept away by the water.

Lory blinked at the door, then looked down at Nix and Quinn again.

"Go on ahead," Quinn called up at her, waving her on. "Leave the bag."

Lory hesitated a moment, then pulled off her outer layers. It was a relief to be free of all the clothes, especially since it was so hot, but she felt uncomfortably exposed. Before she could change her mind, she climbed through the door and plunged into the frigid water.

The first thing she registered was the cold, washing over her entire body and seeping into her bones. The second thing was the surface. She turned her face up and could see a faint light. Lory wasn't a strong swimmer, not a strong athlete at anything, but she forced herself to swim, kicking and reaching her hands up to the surface.

She finally broke the surface of the water, gasping for air and shivering. She looked around and saw that furniture was floating around in the water the same way they'd been floating down in the empty space. She swam over to a large door and climbed atop it.

Lory pushed her wet hair out of her face and looked around. She was alone. "Livia?" she called hesitantly. Her voice echoed faintly. She shouted, then. "Livia?"

"Lory!"

Lory turned and saw Livia, who had also climbed onto a piece of furniture. She was floating on a large table. She waved her arms wildly above her head, then started paddling towards Lory.

Lory paddled over to Livia, and they met in the middle, the door knocking gently against the table.

"I feel refreshed!" Livia said, climbing onto Lory's door. "Have Nix and Quinn come up yet?"

"I don't think so," Lory said, looking around, but there was no sign of anyone else.

They floated aimlessly for another moment before they heard Nix call out to them. Nix and Quinn were floating on a mattress. They paddled towards each other, and Lory and Livia crawled onto the mattress.

"Now what?" said Nix, looking over at Quinn, who was already pulling Rome's compass out of his pocket.

"That way," Quinn said, pointing.