Page 48 of Corrupted Lies

Don’t give up.

Swim.

Swim.

Swim.

Don’t stop.

Don’t give up.

The words played on a constant loop in Alannah’s mind.

Alannah had zero idea how long it had been since she and Jake found the bomb and jumped off her yacht, but she knew it felt like a lifetime. It could have been minutes that had passed, it could have been hours.

Time had no meaning when it was dark, the rain pounded down around you, the waves did their very best to grab you and shove you under, and your entire body was working against you.

Exhausted didn't even begin to describe how she felt. She’d thought she knew what it felt like to have no energy, that’s how she’d felt in those days following the first fire. Empty, drained, barely able to function.

But this was different.

This was all-consuming.

This was barely functioning.

This was wondering how you were could possibly keep going.

It shouldn’t be possible. Her limbs felt like lead, she was so cold she shook uncontrollably as she swam, and pain painted her entire being.

Whether or not she had any actual injuries, Alannah wasn't really sure, but she knew she hurt, knew she couldn’t keep going like this indefinitely.

Then again, what choice did she have?

It was keep swimming or die.

Which was why the mantra continued in a loop.

Swim.

Swim.

Swim.

Don’t stop.

Don’t give up.

Swim.

Swim.

Swim.

Don’t stop.

Don’t give up.

She didn't want to give up, didn't want to die out there, didn't want to leave Jake all alone to face the horrors of being lost at sea in a storm.

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