n the phone. He's... insistent. He says he's planned a special day trip for us, a boat tri

to go," I said

ameel and I... we think you should go. Say your final piece in a pu

d to face him one last

aid. "Tell

ed as if our fight yesterday had never happened. He chattered excitedly

ng for us. As we were about to board, a car pulled up and J

on's. "I hope you don't mind, Elfrieda. Jaxon though

I thought it would be good for us

beyond feeling surprise or anger. I was an observer

Jaxon," I said, an

nscreen on her back, fetching her drinks, while I sat at the stern of the boat, watching the shoreli

t some physical distance between myself and them. The wind w

follo

eaning against the railing beside me.

fight for," I said

ugh. "He's mine. He was always mine. You were just

turning to face her. "You claim to love him, but all you do is use him. You fake injuries, you stage

th anger. She wasn't used to be

, he knows it. That's why he's so desperate to keep you happy.

She took a step toward me,

twisted sort of cunning. She looked past me, toward the bac

herself backward, off the side of the

terrified yell c

is eyes wild with panic. He saw her fl

on was one of pure, unadulterated

ieked. "I can't sw

se. I had seen photos of he

itation, Jaxon dived i

. The boat, now unmanned, rocked violently as a large wave hit its side. I lost my footing

g swirl of blue sky and bluer water. I pitched over the s

for air, my arm and head throbbing. I could see the boat drifting away. I c

d out, my voice

blood leaving a faint pink trail on the surface. Our eyes lo

s arms, her head lulling against his

oice w

n her. "I've got you," he said, his voice carr

stant shore, towing Janice with h

n, with a head injury, a bleeding arm, and

eavy. My vision started to blur at the edges. I was go

last thing I understood. He had made hi

ng into a silent, green darkness. My last conscious thought was of my broth