Page 66 of Edge of Wonder

“Well, this time, don’t look up.” I dove back toward the puzzle. She was right. We had half of it finished, maybe more. I scrambled to figure out the last section, staying down longer than I should have as my lungs begged for air. Just a few more moves. Bubbles rushed past my face as I let out a stream of air, but before I went back up, I swam to the chair I’d been tied to and brought it to the surface.

“Only a few more pieces! But maybe I can break the glass with this.”

“It’s worth a shot. It’s getting tight.” Alice flashed me an encouraging smile as she went under. I dragged the chair through the water and into the air, dunking myself in the process. My arm muscles strained against the weight and the force it took to stay afloat. With a strangled shout, I crashed the chair into the ceiling. It bounced off, sending me back down. I tried again, this time with less leverage, as the water line was getting too close to the glass.

It didn’t break. They’d probably reinforced it, figuring we’d try something like that.

I rammed my hands into the ceiling, desperation sizzling through my blood. The water seemed to rise faster, lapping closer and closer to the top. I searched for Alice. She’d been under for too long, and there was almost no room left to take a breath.

Inhaling a lungful of air, I dove for her. She was still struggling with the puzzle. I grabbed her arm and made a gesture for her to go back up. Alice shook her head, pointing to the puzzle.

She’d almost solved it.

But I didn’t care. There was time for one last breath before the water rose above the ceiling, and she needed to take it. I made another gesture as Alice tried to slide a piece into place. She knocked my hand away.

Damn it, Alice.

I grabbed her arm and kicked toward the surface. We reached the top, pressing our hands flat against the glass.

It was too late.

The water line was too high.

Alice panicked, bashing her hands into the glass. She had no air left. Had been down too long. Arms flailing, she spun in a circle, frantic to find a way out.

There wasn’t any.

No time.

I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her body to slow her movements. Already my lungs were aching. I cupped her face. Brushed her hair away, so I could see her eyes.

But her features drew together, and she shook her head. She tried to rip out of my grasp, using up the very last bit of her energy because she knew what I was going to do. It was the only choice. My choice, and I’d made it long before the water had closed over our heads.

I pulled her close, forming my lips over hers, and gave her my air.

Her struggling stopped, and so did mine. I caressed her cheek with my hand, leaning our foreheads together. It wasn’t fair. We were so close, and I wanted more time. I’d wanted nothing more.

With my lungs on fire, I shoved her back down toward the puzzle. She held my gaze for only a second, but it felt like a hundred seconds passed. Each one I held onto in my mind as she swam toward the bottom.

One more second just to watch her.

One more second of her face.

Her smile.

Her.

My chest heaved. I needed to breathe. It was a primal urge. Unstoppable.

But I didn’t need it as much as one more second.

Darkness seeped into my vision. A boom rumbled through the water as it swirled around me in a frenetic whirlpool. I choked on the water, my whole body throbbing. On the edge of blackness, arms wrapped around my waist, and I was propelled to the surface.

We broke through. Alice sucked in a breath, then shouted my name. She kept me afloat as I dragged in a rattling breath, coughing up the water leaving my lungs.

The surrounding water drained faster than it had risen. She held on to me until we were standing in a puddle. Then we sank against the wall, still trying to catch our breaths.

“If you ever do something that stupid again, I will kill you myself,” Alice said, burying her head against my chest.