CHAPTER 39: TO THE SURFACE

  Helel guided Suryel from his abode to hers. His warm hands holding her cold ones, he was able to coax her out.

  Each step they took echoed in soft, hollow thumps, bouncing back from walls that seemed to breathe with the rhythm of some hidden creature.

  The lapis lazuli corridor felt narrower and shorter than it should, almost liquid in its shadow.

  The pulse of golden light from above painted their steps with ghostly patterns, twisting across the floor like a warning.

  Her fingers unconsciously clutched at Helel’s hand, squeezing as if she could draw courage from him.

  The ceiling above rippled like liquid obsidian, dark and restless as they stepped back into her Abode.

  Helel led Suryel carefully to sit on the edge of the bed to prepare for their next move. He removed extra drag, folding and tucking in their sleeves.

  The faint golden glow of the Star Bearing Tree filtered through the black lake. Every pulse of light drew a shadow. Every shadow could be a Shade waiting.

  Suryel shivered. The shadows didn’t merely move on her sight, she felt as if they stretched and coiled, teasing her mind with shapes that might not exist.

  Her stomach twisted from anticipation, as if the water were alive— Like it was watching, waiting for a wrong move.

  Every pulse of light reminded her that Helel told her that the surface was not just water, it was a mirror of her fear.

  Suryel was brought back to the present when she felt a rope tied to her right wrist. Helel tied the other end to his left, it calmed her enough to listen.

  He started to explain what to expect between his pauses. It sounded clinical, a habit inherited from Michael’s commanding tone, but gentler since this was Suryel.

  “Remember,” He said, voice calm but firm. “Once you touch the ceiling, the water will pull us in. The Shades will notice us.”

  “They’ll gather, curious as little fishes. Not dangerous. Just curious.” He said, as she tied her hair into a bun and tucked her shirt.

  “Fishes don’t swarm…. Unless to feed.” She deadpanned, as she crossed her hand, still sitting on the bed.

  She glared at him.

  “Okay, okay. But these Shades…” Helel chuckled softly.

  A small puff of air that barely stirred the heavy atmosphere, “Fine. Think sharks. Simply curious sharks.”

  “Think less classroom, Fishes can be polite… Sharks too.” As he sweat-dropped and kneeled, carefully removing her shoes.

  “They’ll try to tap into your fear. So stay calm. Do not be afraid.” His tone shifted a bit more serious, “You’ve got this and I’ve got you. I’ll do the swimming.”

  Suryel rolled her eyes but felt a tiny relief— Humor in fear, a moment of light before the plunge.

  “I will keep you safe. I promise.” He tucked both shoes and his cloak into a slit in space, to his pocket dimension then turned to face her. “Ready?”

  “I’ll never be ready. But I trust you.” She admitted, standing barefoot.

  They shook out their arms and limbs, warming up— Helel hoisted her onto his shoulder.

  Suryel’s muscles tensed instinctively. Helel felt the small tremors running up her arms. He adjusted his grip, testing the weight distribution.

  “Ready, Helel?” She asked, hand outstretched, tense. He held her steadily by the leg, “Whenever you are.”

  “Three… Two… One.” They inhaled— Suryel tapped the miasma.

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  There was silence as her hand broke the ceiling’s surface.

  Then it rippled like water. Gravity pulled them in like a riptide, with the force.

  There was a deafening noise of underwater tornadoes.

  They swirled around violently.

  Helel wrapped one arm around her wrist, pulling her close behind him.

  Then his other hand went around her stomach where it remained.

  He kicked powerfully, breaking free from the violent current into calmer waters towards the light.

  Within the deep, shadowy shapes shimmered.

  Suryel looked down when a silvery glint caught her eye.

  She saw the Shades, they saw her too— The swarm had started to give chase.

  She felt the water’s cold bite like her dread, it twisted and mixed.

  Her navel felt weightless compared to the weight of the water pushing them down.

  She closed her eyes, clinging to Helel’s arm, wishing she could also swim— Feeling like a heavy burden slowing him.

  The Shades seemed to swim faster in response to her fear.

  Helel assessed the pursuit, eyes narrowing as he glanced up. They wouldn’t make it— He gambled.

  He let go of her for a heartbeat, and her eyes snapped open.

  With both still holding their breath together, they watched the rope between them.

  It started to float upward then they looked at each other.

  Then after a smile that’s supposed to give comfort, Helel drew a dagger from the pocket dimension.

  He sliced the rope that kept them together— In one swift downward motion.

  There was an air bubble as Suryel breathed out.

  She reached out, trying to grab at his sleeve, to replace the anchor with her hold.

  But Helel got to her ankle first.

  He pushed with all his strength to propel her upward.

  As the Shades caught up and grabbed his feet— Suryel burst through the surface, she was gasping as she took a deep breath.

  Helel’s instructions echoed in her mind.

  Suryel rolled onto her back, spread out like a starfish, and let the natural buoyancy of the water hold her.

  She waded like she was rowing a boat.

  Ahead, the Star-Bearing Tree loomed.

  Looking to the sky and trying to remain calm— She thought in mantra: ‘Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming.’

  As she continued, without realizing, to swim.

  She flipped and grabbed an exposed root once she reached a shallow shore.

  Relief flooded her.

  “Helel! We made it like you promised!” Suryel cheered, smiling brightly as she looked back.

  But there was nothing. No splash, no arm, no smug-teasing voice— Just the quiet lake surface.

  A cold wind hit her stomach like a punch.

  “Helel? No…” Suryel took a deep breath. The water rocked her knees gently, deceptively calm now.

  She was waiting, holding her breath, counting to her next inhale.

  Her body twisted, scanning the surface again and again, breath hitching.

  Three times she had held her breath for a minute.

  Still nothing.

  Her fingers dug into the root until her knuckles burned.

  It’s too quiet. Too wrong.

  He promised.

  Her thoughts spiraled, she looked down at the rope, its red dye mixing with the water.

  Her scream cracked against the surface of the lake, “HELEL!”

  Realizing why Helel had cut it and she muttered, angry, “You said we’ll get out. You said I’ll get home. You promised…”

  And a deeper realization, “No. You only promised…. that you’d keep me safe.”

  Her anger burned. ““They said never to trust the shadows. They omit and lie. Offering comforts…”

  “...While their intent is hidden in the surface. Within line of words.” Suryel muttered.

  She remembered her younger self, ‘Find Helel. Don’t let him drown.’

  Suryel’s eyes sharpened, she silently vowed vengeance for getting tricked to safety at a cost. She climbed the roots, not accepting their fate.

  Below the surface— Helel was slammed hard into the current.

  The cluster of Shades wrapped around him like living ink.

  Cold and curious hands clawed at his limbs, his shoulders, his throat. They weren’t biting nor tearing. They were laughing silently in the water and holding— Keeping.

  Helel’s lungs burned. Pressure screamed behind his eyes.

  He kicked once, twice, trying to break free. But the water felt heavier here, thick with memory and intent.

  “Good. She’s up.” He thought grimly, “That was all that mattered.”

  Helel closed his eyes in resignation.

  Author’s Note:

  *Sips coffee.* Hmm…

  *Types* Google, How do you explain survival swimming strokes to a child?

  BTW Three times she had held her breath for a minute. 3 minutes is how long it takes for a typical human to start drowning.

  *Winks*