Chapter Twenty-Nine
Violet
The cold is the first truth. It swallows the shock of the impact, seeping into my skin. A final embrace. The second truth is the pull. An iron grip on my ankles, dragging me down into the blackness so complete it erases the world.
I hear the faint sound of a thud or a bang. It’s hard to tell with the pressure building in my ears.
Panic is a bright flare that consumes the last air in my lungs. I thrash, a silent scream trapped behind my lips, bubbles free toward the surface. Then, the burn subsides, replaced by a heavy, terrifying calm.
My mom’s face, smiling.
Goodbye, Mom.
Skye’s rough hand against my cheek.
Goodbye, Skye.
The water fills the spaces inside me, and my fight bleeds away.
Goodnight, world.