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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—