BORROWED [Watty Awards Finalist/NEWLY EDITED!]

Chapter Twenty-Six

|Unexpected Help|

The white sand grinds between my toes, as I walk the length of the beach, looking out at the sunset. There is laughter coming up from behind. Turning swiftly, I'm swept off my feet and twirled in circles. I extend my body, letting my arms dangle behind my intruders back. Staring up into the sky, puffy white clouds dance in my vision. Rolling waves crash onto shore. The foam from the water washes over the feet below me, and when another pair of feet come into vision, I glance up.

Bianca.

"Finnian," she laughs, "let her down, right now!"

He twirls me around one last time, and laughs, "She is getting tossed!"

I slap his back playfully. "No, you're going to let me down. Bianca!" She runs up to me, grabbing my wrists.

The laughter and smiles warm my heart. It's peaceful. But as the sun sinks away, Finn drops me into the ocean. It's too deep. Waves continuously crash over my face, pushing me further down into the water. I break surface, inhaling, trying to catch my breath. I'm far from shore now, no longer able to see Finn and Bianca.

"Help!" I scream, accidently swallowing the salty water.

Another wave crashes over my head. What used to be a beautiful daydream is now a nightmare. I'm going to drown, and there is no one to save me.

I'm pushed under, rolling with the waves.

This time, I don't break surface. Floating aimlessly, I open my eyes, gazing at the bit of sun that glistens through the water. I gulp, wanting to breathe in air, but only suck in more water. Bubbles hover in front of my face, rising to the surface, leaving me below.

This is it, it's all over now.

Closing my eyes, I inhale water through my nose. The pain as it fills my lungs isn't making this a peaceful death. Drowning is anything but peaceful. It's making me remember things I don't want to remember. It floods my mind: Sylas, PURE, and the Seraphim.

Being a creation.

This is it, it's my final breath. I can feel it.

Hands grab my wrist. I feel myself being pulled upward toward the surface. The breeze gliding over the ocean hits my bare face. Floating on my back, I gulp in air, like a fish out of water. I'm not dying today.

It isn't time, this isn't it after all.

"Irissa," a woman's voice calls out to me.

Kicking my legs to stay afloat, I gaze around the vast area. Only water, nothing more.

"Hello?" I call out. "Help me!"

"Stay strong," she says, still nowhere in sight. "Fight back."

It sounds like Evelyn.

"Eve, is that you?" I ask, my lips quivering.

"Wake up, Irissa," she demands. "Wake up!"

"Irissa?"

The room is bright. I blink my eyes rapidly, trying to regain my vision. A beeping noise is coming from my left. It feels like there is tubing connected to my arms, hands, and nose. Just above my field of vision, I see a blurry figure. They flash a tiny ball of light at my face, and pull my eyelids upward. I blink again, causing the person to pull away.

"It's okay," the female voice says. "I need you to open your eyes and speak."

Licking my dry lips, I ask groggily, "Is this a dream?"