You know that feeling when you're on a super tall rollercoaster, and you're slowly rolling up to the top? You always anticipate the drop. No matter what kind of ride you're on, there's always a drop. Once you reach the very top, the ride stops for a few seconds. The view of the world around you looks magnificent from all the way up there. You take it in and enjoy it.

Then you drop.

That's exactly how I felt when I finished reading the letter. Only instead of a roller coaster dropping several feet, it was me falling onto the ground. It was like sky diving from a plane with no parachute. Nothing there to catch your fall. Just falling through the sky, hitting the trees, and hurdling into the dirt.

It couldn't be true. It can't be! Erica never dies. It doesn't matter what situation she's in! She always survives. Like Jason Vorhees. They're both immortal.

"Aurora, what's wrong?" Mason asked, worriedly.

I couldn't talk. Couldn't breathe. I can't let Mason see me like this.

I stood up and ran past her. Out of the door, out of the hallways, out of the school. The shouts I heard were muffled. I had nowhere to go, but I didn't care. Nothing was about to stop me from running. Like Jenny once said, Run Forrest Run!

XXX

Oh, where did she go? I hope she's alright. Those dreaded Rogues! Once I thought we'd seen the last of them, they appear right before our very eyes. Ah, there's no time to lose. I must find Aurora. If they get to her before I do, then our family is truly doomed.

XXX

"I can't find her anywhere," Mason said.

"Did you check the bathroom?" Ethan asked. Mason nodded.

"What about the commons?" Kelsea asked. Mason nodded again.

"Have you looked in the garbage bin?" Aiden asked.

"Why on earth would she be in a garbage bin?" Mason asked.

"Just saying. We lost my grandfather once while shopping. The cops found him in the dumpster looking for his lucky hat. Even though his lucky hat was actually on his head."

"Wow, that is both funny and sad at the same time," Ethan commented.

"Guys! Focus!" Mason snapped.

"Oh! Let's try the treehouse! She could be there," Aiden said.

"Good idea," Mason said, "Although I'm afraid we can't all go together. The guards outside will spot us."

Kelsea scoffed, "Like that'll ever happen. They couldn't stay awake if their lives depended on it. But you're right. Maybe one of us should stay here in case she comes back."

"I'll stay," Ethan said. "I'll keep an eye on the cams. Maybe I could spot her using those if she comes back."

"Man, you always stay back whenever something goes wrong. Seriously, do you ever try to go out into the field and do the dangerous stuff?" Aiden asked, rolling his eyes.

"Nope!"

"Whatever dude."

XXX

Cold. That's the first thing I felt when I regained consciousness. It wasn't like a frosty winter type of cold. It's more of a feeling. Sometimes, when you feel cold you feel alone. Like there's no one there for you to turn to. No one there to help warm you. That type of cold is the worst one.

I thought I was floating at first. Like an astronaut in space. I always wanted to go up there and look down at the huge blue and green marble we call home. Only a dream, I had once heard someone say, some dreams just don't come true.

My wrists hurt. As though something was holding them tightly. I slowly opened my eyes.

Everything was blue. A very abnormal blue. It wasn't the sky, it wasn't a light, it wasn't a blindfold.

It was water.

I snapped my eyes open and looked around. I'm underwater. Why am I underwater?

I looked down and saw my hands were bound together with thick steel handcuffs. There was a bright red light blinking in the middle of it. Could be a tracker.

Or a signal.

I could feel something tickling my nostrils. It was air. Unless if I died and came back to life as a fish, I don't think that's supposed to happen.

"Good morning sleeping beauty," someone said. Their voice surprisingly wasn't muffled for some reason. Sounds from the surface are usually distorted when you're underwater.

"You're in one hot mess, huh?" the voice chuckled, "Should've followed orders when you were told."

I couldn't recognize whoever's voice it was, but I could tell that it was a guy. Or maybe it's a woman using a vocoder. Or maybe it's a woman with a super deep voice. You never really know nowadays.

"You're probably wondering why you're here. That's understandable. After all, it's not you that we're after."

What's that supposed to mean?

"We've been watching you. Following you. Every transaction you've made, every trip you've been on, every person you've come in contact with have all been closely monitored for years.

Okay, huge stalker vibes from this guy. Or girl.

"Who we are and what we're doing here isn't of any importance to you, but you must know this: if you try to signal, escape, or do something that might save your life..."

The metal handcuffs all of a sudden got tighter. It was as if my wrists were about to be sliced in half. I could feel sheer pain jolting throughout my body like lightning. Red started streaming from the handcuffs. I watched it float up and up and up until something dawned on me.

I was in a huge shark tank.

Up above were tens maybe hundreds of sharks swarming a huge tuna carcass. They were all mako sharks. The fastest of their species. Fleshy bits of tuna started sinking down from up top. Showering me with fish bits and bones. An eyeball landed on the cold, hard floor beneath me. Ain't that something from your nightmares?

"...you will die a very gruesome death."

I tried to look past the vast blueness and find whoever was speaking. But everywhere I looked, I could only see my reflection. A one-way mirror shark tank. Only a psychopath could've come up with a crazy invention like that.

"The only thing that's keeping those sharks from eating you is me. I control them. They obey my every command and will. So if you so much as try and move..."

One of the sharks from above dispersed from the carcass and started making its way towards me. It was bigger and stronger than the rest of the sharks. It stopped just inches away from where I was kneeling. Rows upon rows of jagged, bloody teeth could be seen. This wasn't a mako. This is a great white.

To anyone else, this might've been the scariest moment of their lives, but not to me. It might be hard to believe, but I've been through worse. Besides, sharks aren't that bad if you get to know them a little.

"...I'll ask Phil here to finish you off."

Hang on, did he just call that thing Phil?

Phil gave me a mean glare. Or at least, I thought he was glaring. I really couldn't tell. Great whites always look like they're mad at something.

He started circling me. His jagged mouth hung open a bit. He was definitely larger than most males. At least fifteen feet long with a huge appetite. He had scars all over his gills and dorsal fin. I wonder if those are from another shark.

Maybe they're human inflicted.

There was a black collar around his dorsal fin with a blinking orange light. Syringe needles lined the exterior, piercing into his rough, sandpaper skin. Must be some sort of solution or drug that intoxicates him. Makes him do what he's told.

"The oxygen that's flowing through your mask is also controlled by me. I could cut off all air flow if I wanted to. Watch you gasp for air. Like a fish out of water."

The tuna carcass above was completely demolished now. The makos were retreating to their respective areas of the tank. Since Phil is the only great white, he certainly takes up most of the tank space. If Phil wasn't intoxicated, he would be eating the other mako sharks instead of a shared tuna entrée. Makos might be faster, but great whites have size and strength advantage. Phil could pick off all of them one by one if he wanted to.

"Your CIA friends won't be able to help you this time. Not unless they grant my one wish."

There was a pause. It was as if the speaker was contemplating on what to say next. I hope that's what it is. Honestly, if this is another dramatic pause, I'm gonna feed myself to Phil.

"In three days time, they must eradicate the Red Notice they have on me. They know who I am, but not where I'm at. Once I'm assured that they'll do what I ask, only then will I disclose my location. If they try to do anything stupid or if they don't grant my wish in time, your precious air will go bye-bye in three days."

The water all of a sudden got colder. It were as if the pool water had been replaced with a melted glacier. Phil traveled upwards where it was assumingely warmer.

"That is unless you don't die from hypothermia first."

I heard them chuckle. Then the voice was gone.

I know I know. You're all pretty mad at me and I get it. I'd be mad at me too lol. It's been a while since I've actually been on this app. Lots have been going on. But anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Hopefully it won't be another year till the next one comes out 😉

Thanks for reading my stories!

- MSORAR