I didn't think about the consequences, even if I had no idea what to expect.

As Owen and I ran through the sheets of rain, my responsibilities began to pile up in my mind. I had to tell my parents; I had to deal with a school schedule; I had to tell someone where I was going; I had to at least grab a change of clothes.

However, Owen seemed to worry about none of that, so I didn't either. The smile on his face just revealed the bliss he was experiencing, and it made me feel special. Important. Worth it. He kept looking at me with that smile of his, one that made me rethink all my preoccupations. Were they even important?

"How will we get to your immortal world?" I asked back at his house, excitement filling my veins.

"The ocean," he answered confidently. "You just have to believe in where you're going, then you'll be there."

With that, we took off into the storm, which had become worse during our conversation.

I lost myself to his carelessness and ignored the thunder clapping all too close to our ears. We sprinted down the sidewalk, running to the ocean like when we were kids. He became happy amongst the gloomy weather.

My own emotions followed in suit, and soon, I was no longer concerned about who saw us, or if anyone would stop us. Those occurrences didn't even seem possible as I followed his laughter, feet hardly touching the concrete. I didn't care about the rain or the danger I could be running into. The only thing I cared about was him.

No one dared to drive in the storm. At least, I didn't notice any passing cars. Soon, the road became coated with wet sand, welcoming our footsteps as the rain washed away the imprints of our shoes. Then I was sliding across wood and clutching to the side of dock railing. My mind came to a halt as I squinted through the water.

The rain was hard and cold. As a result, the waves angrily slapped the already soaked sand, the sound almost deafening. Water was every direction I looked: in the air, on my hands, out on the horizon, under the dock below. Nearby, boats bobbed up and down, rolling with the storm, only surviving by the ropes that they clung to. Lightening shocked the sky yet again, bringing the violence involved in chaos.

"Adaliah!"

The call should've been loud and clear. However, with all the booming, crashing, and applause, it was only a whisper. Owen probably repeated my name several times before I noticed.

"This way!" he instructed when he had my attention. I scrambled toward him, toward a small boat only a few meters away. The mask stretched to the sky, but it was still the shortest one among the bigger crafts.

I reached Owen, who was already in the boat, and he helped me in. Before I could doubt him, Owen was already taking charge. He released us from the dock and began navigating. (At least, that's what I hoped he was doing.) I didn't have time to protest about caution.

As my thoughts circled around to my worries, I whipped my face around to see that the dock had disappeared. Panic rose in my chest as I gazed out into the ocean. Gray, irritated water was before us, pulling us away from our home. My home. It wasn't safe to be on the ocean like this.

Just like that, I became fully aware of what I was doing.

This was crazy.

Salt water sprayed my clothes as the boat tipped in rhythm with the waves. I kept looking between the direction of the shore and the open horizon, unsure of what to do.

I swallowed my fear and my doubt. I couldn't go back now. Plus Owen was here... I was safe. Right? He wouldn't lead me to something that could hurt me.

Though I was soaked to the bone, shivering, afraid, and doubtful, I put my trust in Owen. I whipped the water off my forehead, blinking in the downpour. My fingers gripped the side of the boat as I kneeled on the floor, peeking over the ledge.

The terrifying sail felt as if it lasted forever. We tipped and rocked and pushed through the water, Owen's fierce concentration guiding us. I never voiced my opinion, because I didn't know what to say. If I wanted to tell him to turn around, I shouldn't have agreed to come with him in the first place.

Gradually, the waves became larger and the hits to the boat more treacherous. I clung to the slippery surface with all my strength, hoping I wouldn't get thrown into the water. At this point, I began thinking that Owen was just as insane as me, maybe even more so. The immortality story made sense, but if it drove him to do things like this, was it worth it?

He came back for me. That's one of the reasons why I didn't beg him to take me back home. He wanted me to be with him, crazy or not.

Finally, Owen got excited. He leapt down from his position and crouched beside me, pointing out into the ocean. My eyes wandered to the spot he had picked, and I raised my eyebrows. As the water rose and fell, I caught sight of a post jutting out, weathered from the years it's been positioned there.

"That's where the ocean drops off into deeper water, right?" I asked over the roaring wind.

"Most people think so," he answered, "but it also marks the spot where we can enter the immortal world."

I felt my heart drop as I caught onto what he was suggesting. He would have to pry me from this boat if he thought I was jumping into these waves.

"We're jumping? What is there, a portal or something?"

Owen rolled his eyes.

"Get an imagination, Adaliah. It's not cheesy like that, this is real life." He turned to me, setting a firm grip on my shoulder. His expression became serious. "You have to believe it exists, Adaliah. People have died trying to get there, and all they needed to do was believe."

"I trust you, but I don't know if I trust all this, yet," I stated.

He bit his lip, facing the water.

"Just try," he replied. He gave me an encouraging smile before standing. He tugged me up with him, my nerves going crazy.

"This is it," I thought. "This is where our insanity drives us to drowning."

At least I was dying with Owen.

The boat tipped forward, and I clung to him for balance. The water content in the boat was rising at an alarming rate. I understood that I didn't have much of choice: it was either try to get back to shore without Owen, or jump into the water and possibly make it to immortality. Was this part of the tests he was suppose to go through?

"You'll be fine!" he exclaimed. "If you believed I was still alive, you can do this!"

He pulled away from me, giving my arm and assuring squeeze. Then, he jumped in and began swimming toward the post, which was coming in and out of view. I was glued to my spot for a long moment, unsure of what to do. My heart hammered in my chest as I looked back in the direction we came. What would people think? What rumors would come of us?

I focused on Owen again, who was staring at me hopefully. He moved with the water, going under when the mountains of water were too high to go over. He managed to stay relatively in the same spot.

If Owen could do it, then I could too.

I took a deep breath and prepared to jump. Before I could bend my knees and suck in a breath, a wall of water slammed into me. I hardly had time to gasp for air. In an instant, I went from hesitation to absolute terror as I was pounded by the water into the ocean.

Out of the will to survive, I pushed myself upward. My head surfaced and I began coughing violently, only to be pulled under again. This time, I forced my eyes open. The salt stung and my heart beat wildly while my throat throbbed, but I could just see the post that Owen clinging to under the waves.

I kicked and pushed my way toward him, trying to keep my lungs from pulling in the water. When the burning in my chest was unbearable, I forced myself to the surface for a quick breath, hoping with all my mind I wouldn't be slammed again.

Owen finally turned toward me and understood what I was coming to him. He proceeded to swim down into the water after taking his own gulp of air. I followed in suit, trying not to be afraid of what would come of me.

Soon, I was right behind Owen as he pulled himself down with the post's help. My lungs burned and my mouth became itchy with the bubble of oxygen I was keeping. Regardless, I pushed myself under the mounds of water threatening to crush my bones.

The water grew cold and dark. Thankfully, we had reached the bottom of the sandy floor, which wasn't as deep as I thought. An archway of rocks was standing beside the wooden post, its path leading into darkness. I peered in just as my head became dizzy with the pressure. I felt my strength fading as I refused to breathe.

Owen gripped the top of the archway, looking straight at me. I focused on him, ignoring all the warning signs that I could die.

He tapped his temple and closed his eyes, a smile on his lips-- at least, the best smile he could manage while holding his breath. My heart jolted as he did the unthinkable: he opened his mouth and sucked in water.

I lunged for him, even though my movements felt slow and bulky. He pulled away from me and demonstrated once again, this time forcing me to watch.

He wasn't thrashing or holding his throat. Owen was inhaling the water, and surviving. I drew my eyebrows together as he pointed to me, insisting that it was my turn to try.

Part of me desperately wanted to believe Owen, but the other half just wanted to live. Was he still alive before me or was I hallucinating his survival?

I was running out of time. Owen knew this.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the arch. My finger tips were placed in the spot on the archway that was carved out to be a hand-print. He took my face in his hands just as my vision was beginning to go. I wanted to open my mouth so badly to breathe, but I knew I couldn't. My free hand gripped his wrist feebly.

His index finger tapped his temple.

Believe, I remembered.

I closed my eyes.

Owen couldn't be lying to me. He hadn't before. He had come back for me. There was no way that he would risk his life here to retrieve me for a life that didn't exist. He was alive when everyone -- including me -- was convinced he was dead. Shouldn't his appearance enough be evidence that his world existed?

I had to believe him. What was the point in me following him out here in the first place?

Unwillingly, I forced my lips apart. I trusted Owen wouldn't lead me to death. He genuinely cared about me, that's why he was bringing me. He wasn't stupid enough to follow a delusion. Immortality had to be real.

I slowly opened my eyes as all of these thoughts flew through my mind. Owen was smiling again as his hands dropped from my face. My brain cleared off all of the confusion and fear of drowning. Suddenly, I was filled with relief and satisfaction-- because I had done it. There was no going back now.

I was breathing.

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{August 12, 2017}

(PC: dfreske || Instagram)