Page 7 of Drown My Sorrow

“ASPYN"!”

I brush my blue hair out of my eyes and ignore everyone. I’m the fastest, so I put quite a distance between me, Keagan, and Beau.

Yes, it is her. I call out, but she can’t hear me. Why is she heading towards the water? Why is she trying to run? She drops her cane.

I scream at her to stop.

I see her in the water on the wet sand. It’s an area of beach that’s known for its powerful currents. The outgoing waves can rip you straight off your feet, so what is she doing in the water when she has her leg?

Aspyn goes into the water. Her face is white, and she’s clearly terrified, but she keeps going.

“ASPYN, NO!”

I roar.

I see the child and hate kids more. I swear, if anything happens to her, well, I don’t know what it will do, but it will hurt a lot of people.

I get close and call her name.

“ASPYN!”

She jerks her head in my direction, startled; her face bleached of colour, her gold eyes are huge. Aspyn looks at the child and mouths something.

She draws herself up, leaving herself unbalanced. The white rush of water sweeps up the sand until she’s standing thigh deep in water. She screams.

“Don’t you do it!” I howl at her. I’m so close now, just a few more steps.

Aspyn throws the tiny child in my direction. I have no choice.

I catch the kid and call for her again, but she’s struggling. With my legs spread wide, I brace myself. White water rushes towards us. It hits, cold and hard, the water splashes up my leg but only to the knee. If I were anyone else, I’d go down. I hold the kid high. I can see her struggling, fighting, but it just lifts her up and sucks her out.

“NO!”

Someone takes the child off me, and I run at the water. I’m not going to lose her! A flash of gold catches my eye, and a body surges past me, swimming into the deadly surf.

Kelly fucking Raines. I recognise the famous surfer instantly. If he saves her, I’ll kiss him. Maybe.

He struggles in the water, but he gets to her, pulling her up so her head is above the water. The waves crash into them again, but he’s not letting go or giving up. They tumble over and over, but he keeps fighting. When he gets up, he goes down but gets up again. I fight my way towards him, struggling to keep my feet in the drag.

Another surfer reaches them before I do. I don’t recognise him, but, together, we lift her out of his arms and race up the beach.

Her eyes are closed, and she’s completely limp. Is she dead?

No! Don’t think like that.

We lower her to the sand, and Keagan and Beau drop to their knees opposite me and start checking her over. They are so careful with her. I dare not take my eyes off her.

I lean over her, putting my ear to her chest. She’s breathing. She’s alive. It’s going to be okay.

Fuck. I swallow the lump in my throat and blink away the tears. Too close, far too close.

“Wake up, my precious sunshine. You’re safe,” Beau purrs, and his voice is deeper and scratchier, too.

Her eyes open, golden honey eyes full of tears. She sits up and wraps an arm around my neck like she knew it was me, like she knew I was here with arms open. Her sobs are heart-wrenching. They are ugly, full body cries that I would do anything to take away. I hold her tiny frame in my arms.

“I’m never going to let you go, Aspyn. You’re safe, baby, it’s okay, we got you out. You’re okay. Stop crying, darling, you’re going to hurt yourself,” I whisper and stroke her hair. I say the same thing over and over until the sobs start to slow.

Keagan pats her back and hair, while I hold her, while Beau murmurs sweet things to her from the other side.

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