16
A dull ache spread through my tail, and a sour heaviness filled my chest,
I always thought I was over it, that I didn’t care anymore, I’d told myself I was naturally
optimistic, that nothing could get to me,
But seeing the woman who abandoned and hurt us, standing there as if she had the right
to claim us, brought a wave of sadness I wasn’t ready for,
She was our mother.
Why would she do this to us?
Now, after everything, she had brought people to capture us,
My brother grabbed my hand and pulled me deeper underwater.
“Let’s go! We can’t let them catch us!”
Snapping out of my daze, I gripped his hand tightly, and we swam as fast as we could,
They were prepared, though.
Thick hooks, as wide as a man’s arm, splashed into the water one after another, dangling
from the boat.
I caught a metallic scent in the water.
Turning my head, I saw blood–my brother’s arm had been cut. The water around him
turned red.
The hooks kept coming, more and more of them.
From above, I heard my mother’s voice shouting, “There’s no point in struggling! Mr. Drey brought more than enough tools to deal with you two. Just come up on your own and make it easy!”
Her voice turned colder.
11:26 Sun, 15 Jun
<
“If you don’t, things will only get worse for you.”
A sharp spear grazed me, but my brother yanked me away just in time.
The effort left him open, though, and another spear struck him in the side.
A helpless feeling clawed at me.
We were surrounded by spears and hooks, unable to move freely.
I hadn’t been touched yet–my brother had shielded me from every attack–but his body
was now covered in wounds.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
We couldn’t die. He couldn’t die.
He was the only family I had left in this world.
Gripping his hand, I struggled to pull him through the water.
But then, another spear hit its mark, piercing his tail.
Blood bloomed in the water around us.
“Ryan!” I screamed, panicked.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from above, and the attacks stopped.
Then I heard a familiar voice calling out.
“Don’t be afraid! It’s me, Holden! I’m not here to hurt you!”
I froze.
Holden’s voice was frantic.
“You’re hurt, aren’t you? I’ve already dealt with the people on the boat! You can come up-
I swear, you’re safe now!”
<
Sun,
I hesitated, my instincts screaming not to trust anyone.
But I glanced at my brother, his face pale and his movements weak from blood loss.
Barely able to speak, he whispered, “You can trust Holden.
