𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋!¹ p. jackson

𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞. sink and drown and die! ( a )

PROLOGUE

❝ romeo, save me. i've been feeling so alone.❞

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚

FEAR.

IT consumed her, heavy as the freezing water dragging her down.

The sea surrounded her, dark and unforgiving, as her arms flailed desperately in search of something, anything to hold on to. Each frantic breath she managed to steal was quickly snatched away by the waves, swallowing her deeper into the abyss.

Her mind raced, flashing with memories she wished she could forget, each one colder and more hurtful than the last.

They paralyzed her, the weight of them as suffocating as the water filling her lungs. She fought to stay afloat, but the surface slipped farther and farther from reach. The hope of survival, which was already faint, quickly died.

Panic clawed at her throat, her gasps turning to choked cries no one could hear. She was losing herself, slipping away, when a hand found hers.

It was soft at first, barely there, but then the grip tightened, desperate and strong. It pulled her upward, dragging her out of the water's clutches. Her head broke through the quick waves, and she sucked in a gasp of air, the sea still tugging at her limbs, trying to pull her back under.

She felt arms wrap around her— warm, strong, comforting. They held her tightly as they guided her toward the shore, a wet body pressing close to hers. She could barely make out a few scattered words, but her mind was too clouded to understand. All she could do was cling to the presence saving her from drowning.

Through half-lidded eyes, she caught a glimpse of black hair and a face filled with worry. But the only thing she could focus on was his eyes—sea green, like the waves that had threatened to drown her moments ago. They were familiar, kind, yet unsettling. A promise lived within them — a vow to protect her.

And yet, despite the warmth of his embrace, she felt anything but safe.

She was still drowning.

He was still fighting to save her.

Would he be able to?

How?

Neither of them knew.

"Wake up!"

A voice broke through the haze. She tried to cling to his eyes, but the world was shifting.

"Wake up!"

The voice grew louder, insistent.

"Ari, wake up, you fat ox!"

With a sharp gasp, she jolted awake, her forehead colliding painfully with someone else's.

"Ow!" Rio groaned, rubbing his forehead with exaggerated annoyance. "What the hell, Ari?"
She blinked in confusion, her patterned blanket slipping off her shoulders as she sat up. Her heart was still racing, but the cold water and crashing waves were gone. She was safe-in her room. "If I have to get plastic surgery done to keep my face as beautiful as it is now, I'll never forgive you."

"Why are you here, Rio?" she muttered, slipping out of bed and shuffling toward her wardrobe, her white bunny slippers softly padding against the floor.

Rio crossed his arms, his eyebrow raised in mock irritation. "Well, Sleeping Beauty, it's two in the afternoon. Silena asked me to wake you up because apparently, you can't tell time."

She rolled her eyes, halfway through pulling out a pair of shorts. "Shut up, Rio. You won't believe the dream I just had."

₊˚⊹౨ৎ ₊˚⊹

Silena settled into her pile of pillows, reclining on her soft blanket as she looked up at Arianna with a grin. She patted the spot next to her, and Arianna eagerly hopped onto the bed, crossing her legs as she sat.

It was time for their weekly sleepover, the highlight of their week. Both girls wore their cutest pajamas, ready to gossip for hours about camp life, boys, and everything else.

Silena, being the head counselor of Cabin 10, had the best bed in the room. It was tucked into a cozy corner, separated from the other bunks by a soft pink silk curtain.

This nook was their secret haven—a place where the two friends could share all the latest rumors without anyone else listening in.

Tonight, Arianna had chosen a white pajama set with tiny pink flowers, her hair loose and waiting to be braided. Silena, as always, looked effortlessly chic in a pink pajama set with delicate black lace trimming the sleeves.

"Oh my gods, Lena, you won't believe what I'm about to tell you," Arianna gasped dramatically, clutching her chest for effect.

Silena arched a teasing eyebrow, a grin spreading across her face. "Try me."

Arianna shifted to get comfortable.
"Okay, you know the new guy at camp?" She waited for Silena's excited nod before continuing.

"Well, the other day, when you sent Rio to wake me up, I had the weirdest dream. I was  like...drowning."

Silena's playful expression faltered.
"Ari, hun, that's not normal. Are you okay?"

Arianna waved her hand
dismissively. "I'm fine, really. I was panicked at first, but let's not get into that. Anyway, while I was drowning, someone reached out and grabbed me in the most dramatic, movie-style way."

Silena gasped softly, her eyes widening mockingly in pretend shock."Yeah! And then this person pulled me out of the water and-get this—started rubbing circles on my back like they were comforting me."

"You say that as if people would be reluctant to comfort a drowning girl, ari."

Arianna furrowed her eyebrows and huffed. "Silena, it was a boy. A quite cute boy—may i add."

Now Silena's gasp was louder, and she sat up straight, no longer lounging against the pillows.

"I'm serious! And then, when I looked up to see who it was, you won't believe who I saw." Arianna paused for effect, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It was that new guy—the minotaur one."

Silena leaned forward, her cheek resting on her hand as her expression turned curious. "Wait, you're telling me the guy from your dream is here? At camp?"

Arianna nodded, trying to suppress a giggle. Silena smirked knowingly. "Baby, you dreamt about this guy, and now he's at camp? That's my mom sending you a sign to go get your man!"

Arianna let out an indignant laugh and grabbed a pillow, lightly swatting Silena over the head. "Shut up, Lena!"

But the laughter spilled over, and soon they were in a playful pillow fight, their giggles echoing through the cabin.

mysh's short n' sweet corner☕️

˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ authors note !

hiii!

this has been re written like a bajillion times but after loads of help from google for synonyms and acfc i finally got it done!

it's currently the 24th of august so there's just about over a month before i publish this book wooo!

edit: im editing this chapter on the 5th of september hii how's life??

anyway, random question:

what's ur favourite subject?

okay bye pooks love u all <3

xoxo,
mysh <3