Then a voice. Far away. A whisper. Something I can feel more than hear. My name, spoken into my head.

Ana.

And I know who it is. Malik.

Ana, are you OK?

Malik! Where are you? What’s going on?

First tell me you’re OK.

I’m underwater, Malik.

Listen to me, is Vidhan with you?

Did you hear me? I’m underwater. I’m drowning.

Ana, you need to…

He doesn’t finish. His voice fades. And—like that—he’s gone.

Malik?

No answer.

MALIK!

Still nothing. I don’t feel so calm anymore.

My lungs are burning, bursting.

I thrash my legs and look around, frantically.

Then I get a sense of movement, something in the water with me. I look up (what I think is up—I can’t see the surface, but I follow the stream of bubbles) and I see a figure diving down to me, pulling through the water, hair floating.

My heart gallops. But it’s not Malik. It’s Vidhan.

Ana!

Vidhan! Need air. Drowning.

Breathe comes his insane reply into my head. Just breathe.

Breathe? He’s out of his mind. I’m seeing dots now. Spinning circles of light. My chest convulses. I thrash in panic. I can’t hold my breath any longer.

I can’t.

I watch Vidhan in horror. His mouth is open. He’s shouting something at me. Bubbles explode around him.

Can’t hold…must breathe…can’t…hold…must…

I open my mouth—it’s involuntary.

I choke in a breath…

The water surges into my lungs…and flows out again. In…out…in. Smooth and fluid and—staggeringly—I’m breathing. I’m underwater…and I’m breathing. It’s not possible. I look at Vidhan, in amazement.

I’m breathing underwater. Like a fish!

I’m not sure what I expect from Vidhan. One of his grins, maybe. A laugh. But instead he looks strained.

I’m breathing, I think to him.

I know.

Underwater.

I know, he thinks to me. That’s Jöve for you.

He winces, clutches at his side. And that’s when I see it. A red cloud, floating around him. It can only be one thing. Blood.

What happened, Vidhan?

It’ll be OK, he thinks back to me. It’s nothin. A scratch.

A brief glance at his belt confirms his short-blade has gone. And the red cloud blooming from under his hand is unrelenting.

I swim towards him but a sudden strong current rips through the water. It yanks me away from him and I flip upside down and tumble away like I’m spinning in a washing machine. When I’m finally upright again, he’s further away, being pulled away from me by the second.

He points down, below his feet.

Down there, he thinks to me, his voice fading. Get help.

No. Not leaving you.

No choice, Ana.