Shit, shit, shit!

I am falling too fast for me to grab water from around me to stop myself, too quick for me to think up a new plan.

We had been fighting off a group of women trying to steal from a jewellery shop up on level ten, near my apartment block, when one of the Petram Lorem had struck me, throwing me over the rail of the bridge.

"Eagle!" I scream, pushing myself out of the way of the nearby buildings using the small amount of water I can find, my thin ropes breaking almost instantly, "Eagle!".

The flying member of Lilac Royalty was supposed to catch us if any of us fell overboard, but she is nowhere to be seen as the ground - pushing off the building on my right, I adjust my trajectory towards a patch of water - continues approaching me at a very rapid pace.

I am running on adrenaline, my mind closed as fear clouds my vision.

Focus.

I need to focus.

With water now close beneath me, I do what I can to pull it apart, the water swirling into a circle and creating a whirlpool for me to fall into. I recognise the building next to the river - Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto - and the half-submerged bridge - Rialto Bridge - and so I know that the nearing whirlpool is part of the Grand Canal, meaning it's the deepest patch of water in all of Venice.

Seconds before impact, I pull the whirlpool up, sucking my body into the water so that any damage I might have is minimal. And then I am in, my toes and heels stinging from the impact, my legs now like jelly from straining so much during the fall.

Everything seems to stop underwater, my heartbeat slowing as I take a deep breath, the gills that appeared behind my ears allowing me to gasp in oxygen. It has been a long time since I have used my powers to open them up, but it feels refreshing, despite the dirty water around me.

I stay there for a few seconds, my relief at surviving the fall turning into anger towards Eagle, who had specifically promised she would be flying overhead, making sure we were all safe. She had promised, and despite Vulcan double-checking, asking her to pick them up only if we fell over the rail, she hadn't.

I don't know what hurts more, my body from the fall, or my feelings.

Nobody has ever really had my back - not when it comes to risking my life for a mission - so when I finally do depend on someone, for them to then disappear and not fulfil their promise, it hurts.

The water moves around me, returning to its usual state. It slides around me, caressing my skin as I stay sitting on the floor, my eyes stinging as I look up towards the blurry light. I should get out of here, let Lilac Royalty know I am alright, but the calm here is so peaceful, so relaxing I could stay here forever.

Slowly standing up, I test my legs knowing it is easier to stand on them underwater than on land. I am going to have to swim until Lilac Royalty's hideout and propel myself over the cement wall because otherwise I am definitely going to attract a lot of attention.

My legs aren't as bad as I thought they would be, but I know that once I get onland they are going to hurt quite a bit, and quite possibly be unable to hold my full weight after the impact they had with the water - I'm just lucky I can control the canals and have experience diving. I never thought the classes my parents made me take part in would ever come in handy.

Pushing off from the ground, I do breaststrokes with my arms while keeping my legs as still as possible, not wanting to over-exert them and then have more problems later. Just the thought of having to walk to the lift gives me a headache - I might just swim straight there and send a message.

Kicking a bit, I realise my best option might be to simply go home and relax. Or stay here.

"Sailfish!"

Someone is calling for me, their voice muffled as it travels through the water to my ears.

I can't just pop up in the middle of the river, so instead, I head towards the building on the opposite side of the Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto knowing there will be a smaller chance of anybody noticing me getting out of the water.

Once next to the building I make sure my mask is covering my face, my hood - soaked and uncomfortable - sliding over my head to hide the small ponytail behind my neck, my short hair now plastered onto my skin.

"I'm here!" I call, not because I want to be saved, but because I know they probably want to know where I am and if I am even alive.

Eagle appears in my view, soaring towards me. I should have known she is the person who would come and see if they could count on me during the next mission.

Staying seated on the wooden platform floating on the water, my legs dangling into the canal, "I'm fine. I just need to go home," I say before she can ask anything.

Eagle hovers in front of me, her feet a few centimetres over the water level as she cocks her head, her eyes unreadable under the purple and white lighting down here.

"Are you alright?" She asks tentatively, nearing hesitantly.

I just want to get home and sleep.

"No thanks of you," I reply harshly, my usual patience running thin as I try standing up, not liking my defenceless position on the ground. It's not that I don't trust Eagle, but over the months of training I was taught to expect the unexpected and to always be ready for people to turn on you, so with that imprinted in my brain it's hard to not act this way.

Eagle seems to realize I am angry, "I am sorry! Ember was having some problems so I went to help her, and when I got back to the skies you were nowhere to be seen... Gold and Vulcan are looking for you on the upper levels - we thought you might have stopped your fall,".

I probably could have stopped myself, but because my fear of free-falling had frozen my body during the first few seconds where I could have stopped myself, I hadn't. Instead of admitting this, though, I answer louder than I wanted, "I'm not great at this! I might be able to swing up, but falling from level ten? Do you think anyone else could have stopped their fall?".

My legs are starting to wobble, so rather than listening to Eagle say sorry and ask for forgiveness I dive into the water, propelling myself towards the lift with my hands as tears slide down my face, mixing with the salty water around me.

I don't know why I am reacting the way I am, but sue me, I nearly died.

~~~~~

I decide to sit down during the lift ride, preferring a seat near the door instead of taking my usual standing position on the far side of the moving room.

The walk from the lift to my apartment was painful, even more so when I remembered I didn't have any food in the fridge or painkillers in the cabinet so I had to take the long route back, stopping by the small shop across the road.

Finally home, I grab a glass of water from the kitchen and take one pill before letting my battered body fall onto the sofa, my mind just as tired.

Deep down I know I shouldn't blame Eagle for my fears, but how can I admit them when her own powers are used for the very thing I fear?

I need to stop worrying about what my words might have done to our friendship - fake friendship - and focus on my mission.

But is it a fake friendship? Could I give her up in the name of justice?

"Stop it," I tell myself, trying to focus on something else. This is my job, this is what I have always dreamed of - improving the well-being of our city.

But what if there are other ways?

CHAPTER TWELVE WORD COUNT: 1410

My wrist is getting better! It still hurts but I am getting mobility back, so I can now use both hands to write! Anyway, make sure to vote and leave a comment on what your favourite part is! Please leave any suggestions you have, it really helps!

Question: What are you afraid of?

I think I am mildly afraid of quite a few things, but nothing that paralyses me like Aithne's fear of falling. I'm scared of heights - but only when other people are near me - of spiders - although it's more of disgust really... Don't bring them anywhere near me! - of bees and wasps - I am slightly allergic, and who likes being stung? I can't think of anything else right now lol, but I am sure the list is longer.