Page 68 of Axis of Fire

Toward them.

But the water held me tighter

than any hands ever could.

And I—

once again—

sank.

My eyes snapped open.

My body moved before I could think, sitting up sharply,

gasping for air.

I gulped down air greedily.

A low hum pulsed in my chest, my head—

even in the air itself.

My eyes darted through the darkness, panic rising.

Had it swallowed me after all?

Was I still trapped inside it?

Breathing became harder.

Tighter.

Until I started choking.

My head spun.

Had they finally gotten what they wanted?

Had they finally managed to get rid of me?

My body began to tremble,

and it felt like I was seconds away from losing the very thing that made me alive.

Then—

a touch.

On my wrist.

And I froze.

Instantly.

Another touch followed—

warm, firm—