Page 143 of The Wishing Game

I'm struck by the beauty and the tragedy of it. Unfortunately, I'm not able to enjoy it seeing as my oxygen supply is nearly depleted. My lungs are nearing their capacity, and it takes everything in me to stop myself from gasping for air.

Still, there's no sight of Ze.

Although I do my best to keep calm, my impending doom as well as Ze's uncertain fate have my heart racing to the maximum. My eyes become sluggish the more I'm deprived of oxygen, so much so that I think I start seeing things. Otherwise, how would I explain the jelly-like translucent being that Ze is currently wrestling in the narrow tunnel?

I blink once.

Twice.

Bubbles erupt from my mouth as I slap my hand over it to keep myself from accidentally ingesting water.

Ze's head turns to the side, noticing me. His features are tightly drawn together as he turns sharply toward the jelly-being. It's almost as if the water is not affecting him in any way, able to both breathe and move freely as if he were on land.

His hands grasp onto two tentacles, purple energy emanating from his palms and spreading to the jelly-being. From the point of contact, the energy permeates the entirety of his opponent, like an eternal flame that can survive anywhere—even in the depths of the ocean.

A blink of an eye. That's how long it takes for the jelly-being to disintegrate, leaving behind only some purple sparks that now float into the water.

Ze turns his attention to me, swimming toward me. It takes him a few strokes to reach my side. I do my best to motion to him that I can't swim upward—that the water is somehow caging me and dragging me down.

He frowns.

Frustration gnaws at me as precious seconds trickle by. Pointing to my mouth, I attempt to tell him that I'm moments away from running out of breath and that we need to go back up.

I'm not sure if he understands my urgency or if he misconstrues my meaning. But as he plants himself in front of me, he cups my cheeks firmly in his hands, leaning forward.

My eyes widen as it dawns on me what he means to do, and I turn my head just in time to avoid the brush of his lips against mine. His mouth grazes my cheek, and I bang my fists against his shoulders, pushing him backward.

He seems equally frustrated at my refusal.

I shake my head at him, pointing again upward to the surface. Although I appreciate his offer, I'm still not quite at death's door. Since I've seen him wade through the water, I know he can have us back to the surface before my lungs give out.

He leans back, his eyes narrowed as he watches me. I motion up again, this time with increased urgency. His features are still full of tension as he wraps his arms around my midriff, pulling me close to him until our bodies are flush together. Using only his legs, he propels himself upward.

His movements are brisk and sharp, cutting through water at an alarming speed. In no time, we both break through the surface of the water, back in the cave.

I draw a sharp breath in. Then another. I cough and splutter as my lungs get used to getting a steady supply of oxygen again.

God, but it feels good to breathe normally again!

My heart is beating in my chest like crazy, my adrenaline levels probably through the roof. I don't know what happened down there, or what that creature was, but I don't want to experience that again. Although I've never particularly had a fear of water, I now realize I'm not overly fond of it either.

Ze doesn't let go of me, carrying me along until we reach the stony shore. Only then does he hoist me up on the rock before hauling himself up too.

We're both soaking wet. I'm breathing hard, barely able to get up on shaky legs.

"What the hell was tha—" My words die on my tongue as my mouth hangs open in shock.

He's... He's... Was he before, too? How did I not notice? Well, I might have been too focused on staying alive, but still...

Ze is naked. Entirely naked. Head to toe naked. As in, there's not a stitch of clothing covering his body. He's with his back to me, droplets of water falling from his hair down his broad shoulder blades and his...

Oh my god, I don't need to see that!

"Huh?" He raises a brow as he half turns.

My eyes bulge in my head as my jaw drops to the floor.

He's naked. He'sutterlynaked.

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