Raging Sea (Undertow, #2)(81)

“Keep an eye on yourselves and the rest of the team. Remember, we stick together,” he says.

“Lyric, get your team into the helicopter!” Jackson shouts to us.

“I need you here with the other team,” I tell Riley.

He shakes his head emphatically. “Finn will stay and direct everyone.”

He gestures for the kids to board the chopper. I watch them trudge through the sand, eager to join the fray.

My mother and father look on, with Bex at their side.

“Jackson is having us taken to a safer spot,” my dad says.

Riley is still hovering. “Give me your gun,” I say.

He takes it out of his pocket and hands it to me. I put it in my father’s hand.

“Make sure you get there,” I say to him.

He nods and slips the weapon into his jacket.

“Don’t die,” Bex demands. “’Cause there’s going to be a lot of cats at our place, and I can’t take care of them all.”

I press my forehead to hers. “I’ll come back. I won’t abandon you, again. I love you, Bex. We’re sisters now.”

She pulls back and stares at me for a long moment as if locking what I’ve said into some sort of puzzle, one she’s never been able to solve until just now.

“Sisters,” she says in agreement.

I give my parents hugs and promise to be safe. Jackson shouts for me to board again. This time he’s angry.

“I’ve gotta go,” I say apologetically, and I turn and run to the helicopter.

Chloe runs to the helicopter as I step inside and find a seat.

“I don’t want to be separated,” she says.

“I’m giving you a very special job, Chloe. I need you to look after my family,” I say, pointing to where they stand. “You need to make sure the soldiers get them to safety, and I want you to go with them.”

Bex rushes forward and takes the girl’s hand.

“We’ll stick together,” Bex says.

“I’ll come back, Chloe. I promise.”

Jackson closes the door, and I wave to everyone. The pilot flips switches and pulls back on the throttle. A moment later we rise into the air, and I watch everyone grow smaller. Chloe’s sad face shrinks into the scenery.

Jackson sits in the front with the pilot and shouts information about our mission into the speakers in our helmets.

“Each one of you is going to detonate a concussion bomb when you reach the drop zone,” he says.

“Heads-up: I sort of skipped concussion bombs in public school,” I confess.

“I’ll show you,” Riley offers.

“They’re simple. Don’t worry,” Jackson assures me. “They don’t do much more than make a lot of noise, but try not to get too close, because they will rattle your brain. Loud noises spook them so it should send the Rusalka swimming for the beach. They told me you can breathe underwater?”

I nod.

“Can you talk?”

I shake my head.

“That’s unfortunate,” Jackson shouts. “Stay close together, then.”

The beach disappears into the horizon, replaced by a threatening purple sky. The water below looks like a vast black drain. The children see it the way I do, suddenly losing their eagerness to fight. They are silent and wary, watching the waves with anxious eyes. I know Riley would like me to say something to inspire them, but I’m not feeling all that inspiring right now. Fathom says I’m a raging sea. Right now I feel like I’m going to pee my pants.

About a mile offshore, the helicopter slows and Jackson reaches back and opens the door.

“We’re here!”

We take off our helmets, then our boots.

“Good luck!” the pilot shouts to us.

“Wait! Aren’t you going any lower?” I say, looking out at the water. It’s a good fifty feet below.

“A Rusalka can jump out of the water pretty high,” he says. “This is about as low as we dare.”

Before I can argue, Arcade pushes past me and leaps out of the chopper. I watch her body plummet and then disappear into the waves. If I do the same thing, I’m going to smack into the water. It’s going to feel like pavement.

“You’re not afraid of heights, are you, Lyric?” Georgia teases.

“It’s really what’s at the bottom that bothers me,” I say.

“You’re so funny,” she says as she powers up her glove. A moment later a spout of water rises up until it’s parallel with the helicopter. Georgia jumps out into it, and I watch her body sink down into the ocean below. It’s a pretty cool trick. Eric and Ryan are next, then Emma, Tess, Harrison, and Jonas, until it’s just Riley and me.

“Let’s go, Walker!” Jackson shouts as he shoves a canvas bag into my hands. Inside are ten metal canisters as big as softballs. Each has a single red button on its side. “Here are the explosives. Get as close to those ugly things as you can and push the button. After that, just hold your ears.”

My heart is racing. My head feels like it might pop off. This is so stupid. I am not a soldier. Can’t anyone see that? Why is Jackson shouting for me to jump?

Riley reaches over and gives my shoulder a squeeze.

“You can do this,” he promises, offering me his hand.