Authors note: Hi my name is Karina! I hope you enjoy my 1st chapter of Water Child, my first story.
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Chapter 1: Six and a Half Minutes
All I saw was a blue fantasy. As I floated there, A school of fish swam by, their bright green and blue fins flashing at me. Oh I wished I could join them! I sank lower, taking in the breathtaking view. This is where I belonged. Down here, not up where the society was.
Feeling my lungs tense, I shot up to the surface for air, disappointed that it was time to go back to reality. I checked my stopwatch. Six and a half minutes. Wow, that's longer than usual. Climbing out of the lagoon, I slipped into my white sun dress, and shook the salty water out of my long wavy blonde hair. I started walking to the rocks, but then I looked back at the water, missing it already. I sighed, preparing myself to leave paradise.
I went into the little cave near the shore, and went straight to a specific stone. I pushed it out of the way, revealing a secret passage that I had been traveling for years. I hurried down the path, looking at the time. It read 5:50 am. Gosh I was cutting it close. I only had ten minutes to sneak back into my house, dry off, change, and "fall asleep".
I ran towards my street, avoiding spotlights and hidden sensors. If I was caught outside past curfew, and to add to that, nine hours past curfew, I would get in huge trouble. Punishments included either a huge fine to my family and the loss of many privileges, or if they discovered my swimming habits, banishment or even death.
I finally reached my house, unlocked the door with my key necklace, and silently went in. The time read two minutes until six, so I hurried and tiptoed down the hallway to my room.
All of a sudden, a loud clatter sounded from the kitchen. With my heart thumping I peeked around the wall, only to see my little brother picking up a frying pan off the ground. Sighing of relief, I continued back to my room.
"He- hello?" I heard my brother walking towards the hallway.
I started putting my emergency plan into action.