A Miraculous Mermaid Tale

Chapter 20: Drowning

Second chapter for today!

Gabriel didn't like this. He didn't know where anyone was, save for Adrien behind him.

"Is everyone still there?" his son called.

"I'm here," Marinette replied.

"Here," Alya said.

"Right here," Nino called back.

"I hate this, but here I am!" Chloé yelled. She was unquestionably her mother's daughter.

And like he'd been dreading, there was no fifth response.

"Nathalie, are you there?" Adrien asked after a few seconds.

"Nathalie?" Gabriel raised his voice. "Nooroo, where is she?"

"Duusu was with her," the purple kwami offered. "Duusu?"

With no response from either of them, Gabriel turned around. "I can't take any more of this. Adrien, make sure everyone stays together. Don't move, I'll be right back."

"Dad-"

"Nooroo!" came a high-pitched cry, and Duusu crashed right into him.

"Where's Nathalie?" Gabriel asked immediately.

Duusu inhaled. "She's back there, I think the spell is hurting her! She's stuck in the seaweed!"

Gabriel cursed. "Bring me to her, now."

It took far too long for them to reach her. When they did, his heart dropped.

Somehow, she'd become human again.

"How is this possible, Duusu?" he demanded, rushing forward to untangle Nathalie from the seaweed. "She's a mermaid!"

"I don't know," Duusu whimpered.

"Nathalie, are you okay?" he asked once she was free. But her eyes remained shut. He took her face in his hands. "Nathalie!"

No, no, no . . .

"She needs air!" Duusu exclaimed, snapping him from his near plummet into despair. "Hurry!"

"Tell the others where we are," he ordered. As she swam away, he scooped Nathalie into his arms and shot for the surface.

"Hang on, Nathalie. Just a little bit longer."

They broke through the waves. He gently shook her, but she remained unmoving. "Nathalie . . ." His voice broke.

Land, he needed to find land.

It only took a second of searching for him to see a cluster of rocks. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

Gabriel pulled them both onto the rocks and checked to see if she was breathing.

She wasn't.

Without hesitation, he began to use the techniques he'd learned from years at sea. He repeatedly pressed down on her chest, wincing as he heard a crack. It would hurt, but it could save her. He'd apologize later.

He was so focused, he hardly noticed when Adrien stumbled over to him. Seeing Nathalie, his son let out a cry that made Gabriel flinch.

There was still no response from Nathalie, so he leaned down to give her rescue breaths.

Seconds passed. Endless and unbearable.

Then she stirred and he quickly sat up.

She spent a minute coughing, breathing heavily and grasping her chest when the fit ended.