Drown

Chapter 4

Chaos. That's what I see as my vision clears. I'm in a village a couple of leagues over from ours—Aquireth's its name, I think. Bodies are strewn everywhere. The able-bodied are doing whatever they can to help treat the injured or bury the dead. I turn in a slow circle, my brain struggling to process what is happening around me. My heart is pounding so hard I think I might pass out as I back away, panting heavily.

In my haste, I accidentally trip over a body. The merman is lying flat on his back, staring up at the surface through sightless dark green eyes. My hand trembles as I clap it over my mouth to stifle the scream building inside me. The fact that this is only a dream is the only thing keeping me from bursting into hysterics.

Jay. I squeeze my eyes shut, clenching my hands so hard my nails dig into my palms. This is what his father said he would do if I failed to deliver Jay to him.

My brain wants to curl up in a ball and hide. This is all my fault. The words play on a loop in my head, narrated by a familiar voice. This is all my fault. This is all my fault. This is all my fault.

My breathing was punctuated by gasping sobs as I jerked awake. Jay and David were immediately in front of me, the former rubbing soothing circles on my back while the latter brushed a sweaty lock of hair off my face. Both of them were wearing concerned expressions. I wanted to explain, but my hands were trembling so violently I didn't think I could.

In my quick scan of Jay, he seemed unharmed, but he looked exhausted. David must've rescued him while I was sleeping. They didn't press me, instead waiting patiently for me to explain. It took a while for my hands to stop shaking, but once they did, the nightmare was laid out in front of them. Jay's expression darkened as I got to the part about him. David clenched his jaw.

The next few moments happened in slow motion. The front door burst open as a merman swam in, clad in all black. David instinctively swam in front of me, hiding me from sight. His eyes widened, all the color draining from his face. I could tell by his body language that he was warring with himself. He wanted to help Jay, but he also didn't want to leave me unguarded.

I looked over David's shoulder, trying to follow the conversation. I could see the merman's mouth moving, of course, but couldn't hear what he was saying. Fear was written all over David's face. Not for himself, I realized. But for me. Isabella. Jay. He didn't care what happened to him. As long as the rest of us got out okay.

I couldn't move. Even breathing had become a struggle. My heart was pounding as the men swam towards David, reaching behind him to grab my wrist.

A strangled cry escaped my lips. I tried to fight, but quickly surrendered as they backhanded me across the face. Before I could so much as move my head, one of the men grabbed my shoulder. My injured shoulder, I might add.

The pain was blinding, like lightning had replaced the blood in my veins. I don't remember closing my eyes, but when I woke up again, I was an unfamiliar bedroom. David was sitting in a chair beside my bed, face pale and eyes haunted.

My eyes were wide as I looked at him. I could tell by the expression on his face that it was bad. I wanted to know what had happened, but the pain flared up again, causing the darkness to open up and swallow me whole.

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