Page 84 of Bleeding Hearts
The water closes over me, cold but not freezing, and I sink to the bottom where the silver chains await, heavy enough to keep us down. When I’m level with them, the wrangler locks them around my ankles. They are so heavy that no matter how hard I swim, I wouldn’t be able to manage to get free, which is the point. The wrangler floats level with me, staring at me as bubbles slip free, and I look around. Alice is watching me. The others are being locked in, and I know it will start soon, but time seems to crawl by, so I keep my eyes on Alice to stave off the panic I see in her gaze.
Everything is silent for a moment as the last lock clicks into place. All of us are anchored to the bottom of the pool, but we’re so close to the surface we can see the rippling reflection of those watching us.
The wranglers swim up, and a gong sounds—the signal to start.
I nod at Alice, and then I twist my body, grab the chain, and use it to bring me down to my feet. I fumble with the combo lock, remembering what flashed on my phone before I got into the pool. I spin the dial. It gets stuck between four and two, and I snarl, smacking it until I can get it into place. The key slips free,and I catch it before it hits the bottom, which is too far out of reach, but I know someone else will make that mistake. I don’t look. I can’t. I have to trust Alice to get free. I focus on the chains, stretching my arms to their limit to reach the other lock. I miss it a few times, my eyes burning. My hands begin to shake as fear takes over, but I push it back and focus on my promise to Alice.
I have to do this for her.
I finally get the key in the lock and turn it left, but it doesn’t release, so I turn it right and it pops open. I barely believe it for a moment before I pull out the padlock and let it sink. Glancing over at Alice, I see her working on her padlock and grin as I unwrap the chains. They fall to the bottom of the pool, and I float up a few inches. I look around, watching everyone else struggle. One person is trying to reach for a dropped key. There is already one person floating, her hair suspended around her face, highlighting her open, unseeing eyes.
My lungs start to ache, so I spare Alice a look, and she gives me a thumbs-up. It’s the only reason I swim for the top, knowing she will be right behind me.
When I breach the surface, I realize I’m the first person here.
I won Risk.
I fucking did it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The lock refuses to open. I lift my head, my lungs screaming. I shouldn’t panic, but it holds me in its grip, making me lose air as I nearly drop my key. My hands shake as I look at her, knowing it’s too late.
She’s always my hero when I’m scared, but not this time.
I gave her a thumbs-up because I thought I was fine. I have the key in my hand, and all I have to do is open the lock.
It. Won’t. Fucking. Open.
Panic engulfs me as I struggle in the chair and chains.
I watch through the escaping bubbles as Lally climbs from the pool, hauling herself over the edge before turning back to the water, realizing I’m still in it. I yank uselessly on the chains, my eyes wide as I start to feel weak.
It won’t open.
I’m going to die, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
I’m going to break her heart just like Tommy did.
I glance up to see her watching me.
Without a second of hesitation, she dives back in and swims down to me. I shove her, but she holds my face, stopping me, and blows air into my mouth. When I relax, she swims down and grabs the padlock.
I look up at the wranglers on the surface, but they don’t intervene. Hope fills me. We will live, and that’s all that matters. It’s going to be okay, she’s here now, but the chains don’t loosen.
She freezes and looks up at me, showing me the key. It’s way too big and clearly not meant for my lock. Either they made a mistake or I was never going to get out of this.
We share a look of understanding. This is punishment for my actions at the last game, and maybe it’s even to punish her. What better way than to force her to lose another person she loves? They made me lock myself into my own death.
She presses her forehead to mine, searching my eyes. I kiss her, and when I lean back, I let my love for her gleam in my eyes, and I tell her silently that it isn’t her fault.
I let go of her and push her toward the surface. She resists, shaking her head, her beautiful pink hair floating around her like a halo, and for a moment, I tangle my fingers in it for the last time as I meet her gaze.
“I love you,” I mouth as I release her and push her toward the surface again.
I will not let her watch another person she loves die, and I won’t let her blame herself for it. She meets my gaze, wearing a broken expression, and I smile, assuring her it’s okay.
She swims up, breaking the surface, and then makes her way to the edge. My heart breaks, and I allow terror to consume me. I wish I could have said goodbye to Alek and Evan. I wish I could have told my brother that I love him and I’m sorry. I wish I had one more day with Lally, but life isn’t fair like that.
