Page 70 of Citrine

"You are not used to breathing through them, so you'll have to use a different method to breathe down here."

Well, no shit.

I glare at him, surprised I can even understand him.

The itchiness and burning are gone, but they're replaced by a new sensation. I look down and see a pocket of air by them, similar to the one coming from my nose. They're functional but they're being restricted by the black suit.

He makes a click that sounds closer to annoyance and drags me down. I continue to kick out my rage, since I can't scream down here. Above us, I can vaguely see raindrops pelt the water like little javelins. I can't even imagine being out in that. The trees didn't survive it, so how can I?

We reach the bottom of the lake and Wroahk shoves me to a spot and stares at me. The burning feeling of suffocation is still intact.

"Breathe."

I just glare at him because I can't respond.

"If you refuse to breathe, you'll drown."

I point frantically up to the surface as my vision starts to blur at the edges.

He holds me tighter and refuses to move. "Breathe or die."

What the fuck?

The urge to struggle is strong, but I resist it. I'll only run out of air faster that way.

I focus on the clothes. They seem to appear and disappear at will, but there's a pattern. It's just my theory, but if I try to call out what I want in my mind, then…

The sides of the suits open and the ridges on my sides are visible. The feeling of suffocation gradually fades, and air bubbles rise from my side. I don't know how it's working, but one thing's for certain now.

I'm no longer drowning. No thanks to him.

I glare at him again. He can click underwater, but he's not speaking, more like projecting. I've “stolen his voice” before. Let's just see if I can do it again and give this alien a piece of my mind.

I try, but fail, bubbles only communicating my anger, but not the specifics. I thought he was different than my stepfather, but I was wrong.

I let out a breath. No, that isn't fair. They aren't the same. People like my stepfather are cruel because they hate themselves and want to tear you down with them. Wroahk is the most confident person I have ever met.

He's definitely violent. His whole culture is that way, but I don't think he is cruel.

Stupid, arrogant, and a complete asshole, but I don't think he was trying to hurt me. It won't stop me from raking him over red hot freaking coals as soon as I'm able, though.

34

Wroahk

The skies roar with impatience above us.

She feels lighter in my hold under the waves, like the weight of her life is as light as the gentle pull of the water. Her struggle in my arms reminds me that she's indeed alive and fighting to stay alive.

She hasn't realized it yet, but she's not drowning.

She really shouldn't keep her gills covered like she did. My kind has always displayed their gills proudly, a challenge to the creatures of the oceans. We have defeated every uncanny thing so far.

I don't like how small she is in my hold, like she can slip away at any moment, so I hold on tighter.

I have thought often about bringing her down here with me. The water is terrible, but staying down here is better than up there. Idon't know how she can breathe underwater, but I don't need an explanation, especially not from her.

It would probably last all day and she would end with as many questions as she tried to answer.

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