Page 118 of Rescuing Mia

One hour isn’t much time to prep Mia, but it’s good to do this right before we hit the water. She won’t have time to overthink things.

Ethan’s signal has everyone moving with purpose. In less than an hour, we’ll be in the water, and the submarine will be on its way. I look around at Charlie team, each of them methodically checking their equipment, their expressions focused and serious.

Blake and I head over to our designated area. He’s my dive partner for this mission, and I trust him with my life. We go through our gear, ensuring everything is in perfect working order. The weight of the BCDs, the snug fit of the masks, the smooth functioning of the regulators—every detail is crucial.

“Everything looks good on my end,” Blake says, tightening the straps on his tank. “You?”

I nod, double-checking my own gear. “Good to go. Let’s get Mia ready.”

Mia stands off to the side, watching us with wide eyes. Fear fills her entire face, but there’s also grim determination. She knows what’s at stake.

I walk over to her, carrying an extra BCD and tank.

“Time for your dive briefing,” I say gently. “We’re going to go over everything step by step. You’ll be attached to me the whole time, and I’ll handle all the gear. You just need to stay calm and follow my instructions.”

“Okay, I’m ready.” She nods, her hands trembling slightly as she reaches for the BCD.

“First, let’s get this on you,” I say, helping her into the BCD. “This is like a life vest on the surface. It’ll keep you afloat. We’ll inflate it fully while we’re waiting for the submarine.”

I adjust the straps and make sure the tank is secure. “Next, your mask and snorkel. The mask needs to fit snugly but not too tight. On the surface, you will breathe through the snorkel like you’re breathing normally. The regulator is only for when we’re under the surface.”

She puts on the mask, and I help adjust it until it fits perfectly. “If your mask floods, all you need to do is blow out through your nose. The air will push the water out. Keep your head level so the air can rise and purge the water.”

I hand her the regulator. “This is your lifeline underwater. Put it in your mouth and breathe normally. It’s just like breathing on land. If it helps, you can count—breathe in two, three, four. Breathe out two, three, four.”

Mia takes the regulator, fitting it into her mouth. She takes a few tentative breaths, her eyes widening as she realizes it’s not as difficult as she feared.

“See? You’re doing great,” I say, giving her an encouraging nod. “When we’re on the surface, we’ll all be attached to each other to stay together. You’ll be attached to me, and I’ll control your entire dive gear. You don’t need to touch anything.”

I show her the thumbs-down symbol. “When it’s time to gounder, I’ll give you this signal. We’ll descend slowly and hover about twenty feet down while the trawler leaves. Once it’s gone, we’ll return to the surface and wait for the submarine.”

“What’s this one for?” Mia reaches for her backup regulator, and I explain its purpose. She takes a deep breath, nodding. “I hate this, but I trust you.”

Fear still lurks in her eyes, but there’s also a spark of determination. She’s stronger than she thinks, and I have no doubt she’ll make it through this.

“Alright, team, let’s move!” Ethan’s voice cuts through the air, signaling the final countdown.

We all gather at the edge of the trawler, the dark waters of the South Pacific stretching out before us. The plan is set, the gear is ready, and the submarine is on its way.

There’s no turning back now.

I look at Mia, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’ve got this.”

She squeezes back, a hint of a smile breaking through her fear.

With one last nod, I double-check the inflation of her BCD, and then we prepare to enter the water.

It’s time.

Chapter Forty-Two

MIA

I standat the edge of the trawler, the dark, foreboding waters of the South Pacific stretching out before me. My heart races, pounding so hard it feels like it might burst from my chest.

Fear grips me hard, a cold, paralyzing sensation that makes breathing difficult. I’ve always been terrified of the ocean and what lies beneath its surface. The thought of plunging into its depths fills me with dread.

Doing it at night?