Page 28 of Wallflower

I pull with everything I have, Sam and I working together to haul his friend’s hulking, tattooed body into the dingy.

Then he’s gone.

Fingers ripped from mine in a flash of silver and teeth.

I’m diving back into the tumultuous water before I can think better of it. The life jacket works against me, keeping me above the water, when I need to swim beneath it.

Chelsea’s screaming unrestrained behind me, the tape removed from her mouth.

Sam must think it will get me back in the boat.

It almost does.

She pleads in tandem with him, begging for me to just get back on the raft.

Brad resurfaces, pale and visibly confused. I scream his name, and the shrill sound must clear the fog enough for him to start carving a path toward me.

He’s slow, only using one of his arms that I can see as I swim in his direction.

“What are you doing?” he rasps as I approach him, wrapping my uninjured hand around his middle.

“Saving your ass,” I choke out, trying not to swallow anymore salt water.

“Why?”

“Can we maybe discuss this later? If we live.”

He slams his lips shut, eyes leaving my face to refocus on the destination.

Our movements are unsynchronized and sloppy, but we make up the distance between us and the raft quickly with Chelsea leaned over the side, using her hand to paddle, and Sam slicing through the water with the oar. It’s a brave move on his part to unbind my sister. I half expect her to push him into the ocean, and I’m sure if this was any other situation, she would.

Brad’s breaths begin to wheeze as we tread water. Sam reaches for me, but I shake my head. “Him first.”

Sam observes me, clearly shocked by what a piece of shit I’m not turning out to be. I wonder if that’s how he rationalizes what he does. Everyone sold into his hellish world must have colossally wronged the seller in some way, warranting their punishment or complete eradication.

Brad mumbles something, but lifts his hand to Sam’s nonetheless. I strain, trying to lift his muscular body from the ocean that’s fighting to suck him back in and swallow him whole.

Sam gets a hold of Brad’s shirt, struggling to pull him into the boat before it slips off his body.

My sister ignores Brad completely, extending her hand to me. It’s a desperate plea for me to choose myself, but I can’t, not when I’ve come this far already.

“Chelsea, fucking help us!” I scream.

“No,” she growls. “Give me your hand.”

I don’t fault her for not wanting to help Brad after what he put her through. But…his ass is literally pushing my face into the shark filled ocean, so maybe she could bury the hatchet for just one moment.

Any rebuttal I had lined up is choked off by a gurgle as a wave plows into my side, pushing me away from safety.

“Rose!” Sam yells.

Brad lifts his head slightly. Enough to witness the pointed grey fin charging my way. He rallies all his remaining strength, shoving himself over the side and into the boat, freeing Sam up to help me.

But he’s too late.

An ominous eye breaks the surface, shining in the light of the rising sun breaking through the clouds as it focuses on me. Maw opening wide, rows and rows of teeth steal my breath as I watch the water rush between them in slow motion. A strong tail propels its torpedo-shaped body right for me.

I rush with frantic, uncoordinated movements to get the life vest removed. My hair has woven itself through the buckle, snugly tangling around the clasp. Ripping and tearing through the small rats nest, I manage to un-click the fastener.