129

MAXINE

My heart was racing in my chest and I wondered how long it would take him to fix whatever was wrong with me. I didn't need him to tell me what to do next.

I closed my eyes. I tried to focus on anything but his voice as he chanted strange words. But he was the only one I could hear.

Suddenly, I felt the water around me. It began to rise, halfway up my arm until it covered my ankle. I tried to open my eyes but it was impossible.

The water dragged me under, filling my nose and filling my lungs. I tried to swim but the more I tried, the more I drowned. My body was like a rock, sinking deeper and deeper into this vast ocean of blue surrounding me.

Soon, I ran out of air. I stopped struggling. I looked up towards the light breaking through at the top, a sign that it was the surface. I stretched my hands, trying to reach it.

I exhaled, my eyes shutting as I let the water claim me.

I gasped awake, coughing, and suddenly found myself on the forest floor. Dry leaves stuck to my wet skin