The Rebel Code

Chapter Fifteen

I fight the darkness for as long as I can. Some undercurrent pulls at me, trying to force me under, but I call to my memory every single swimming lesson I had, every trip to the beach, and I force myself upwards with burning muscles. There isn't an ounce of energy left in me. The only thing pushing me to the surface is some deep, desperate instinct to not let myself die here.

My head breaks the surface, and I cough and sputter, forcing air into my aching lungs in refreshing gulps. Everything hurts, and I know I can't stay afloat for long. But just as I feel my body starting to betray me, to give in, a hand wraps around my chest and I'm being held up. I turn, and almost don't believe my eyes when I see Mo there.

"What are you-" I croak, failing to finish the question before I'm overcome in a coughing fit as my lungs realize they don't like this irritation.

"Not now," she says. "We have to go. Hurry, get back to shore."

I fight against her grip. "No! Larry!"

"What?"

"He went over the side. I-I-I d-don't think he can s-swim."

As if to prove my point, a hand struggles out of the water only a few meters away, followed by a face, and Larry's struggling to stay afloat. Keeping me tightly in one arm, Mo kicks powerfully through the churning water and grabs hold of his jacket—well, my jacket—pulling him up for air.

"Can you swim now?" she asks me.

"I think so."

"Then help me with him."

Together, we fight the current and drag Larry to the shore of the lake. When we're about halfway there, I feel another firm set of hands supporting me, and suddenly I'm next to John. He pulls me to the shore as Mo takes Larry, and lays me down on the ground as I cough and gasp, expelling any residual water from my lungs. I lie there shaking, so many questions flooding my mind, expecting a lecture about being careful or at least an "I-told-you-so," but nothing happens. John and Mo are still in crisis mode.

"Breathe," orders John, "just breathe. What happened?"

"Junior... threw us," I manage to say, still trembling all over. "I thought... Captain Link was what he wanted... but..."

"Wait, Al-Marri came after you?"

I nod. "He's still in there. Junior... hit his head..."

"Mo, stay with them," calls John. "Atticus, help me."

Before I can react, he's back in the water, and I can faintly see the shape of Atticus following him, switching on his headlights to search in the murky water. In the distance, the agitator boats are revving their engines, and I can still make out Junior on top of the generator. There's shouting, and one of the searchlights turns. Apparently, he counted on the water claiming us.

"Where's he going?" I gasp, grabbing Mo's arm. "Junior's coming back."

"Lie still," she says firmly. "Stay here."

I roll slightly as she leaves, still coughing until my throat burns from the effort. I see Larry lying beside me, his glasses lost, his expression frightened. I see John off in the distance, up to his neck in water, gesturing for Atticus to follow him. Mo dives in too, and I see them all struggling with... something. I roll back over and try to breathe deeply, and I reach for Larry's hand. I wonder if he's still alive. He's eerily still. To my relief, he's warm, and I feel a pulse.

"We died," he whispers.

"No," I say hoarsely, giving his hand a weak squeeze. "We're alive. We're alive."