Mac has been particularly stressed in the last period, because of the unsuccessful research of his father, so you and the team decide to take him to a peaceful place, where he can relax and free his mind. You and him come for first, spending the whole afternoon at the beach: the wind is cold so you stay wrapped in your heavy jackets and beanies all the time. When itβs around 7 pm you hear the sound of a car, parking in the street that hugs the coast of the beach. You turn yourself to look and see some familiar faces getting out the vehicle.
βReinforcements arriveβ Jack reaches for you with some packets of beer in his hands. βYou guys didnβt think to throw a bonfire party without us?β he says laughing.
Riley and Bozer walk behind him, bringing food. βGuys, how long have you been here? Iβm arrived from five minutes and Iβm already frozen.β Riley says.
βYes, Mac, why donβt you start a bonfire using some of your βin the wildernessβ hacks?β Bozer asks the blondie while rubbing his hands to warm them.
Mac does as you requested and you, Bozer and Riley cook the dinner for everyone. When the food is ready you all sit in a circle around the fire: Mac and Jack from one side, and you between Riley and Bozer from the other. You all spend a beautiful evening together: and from where you are sit, you can tell that even Mac is enjoying it.
After dinner, Jack insists to play βTruth or Dareβ, as usual. It is your turn, and since you donβt have anymore interesting truths to tell, you choose dare.
βOkay, Y/N I dare you to go swim in the seaβ Jack says.
βJack I hoped you asked me something more difficultβ you say starting to open the zip of your coat.
βDo you really want to do this?β Mac says looking up at you shocked.
βDo you really want to do this?! Sheβs a grown up woman. Let her do what she wantsβ by the way Jack is mocking the boy you have the suspect heβs a little bit drunk, but you donβt dislike the idea of Mac getting worried for you.
βDo you know what temperature is the sea at this hour? You can riskβ¦β
"Let me guess hypothermia or some other weird stuff you talk about everytime?!" Jack interrupts laughing at him.
"Donβt worry Iβm better at swimming than walking, and then I donβt have to stay there for an hourβ you reply to him, trying to hide your amused smile.
βAtta girl!" Jack keeps talking nonsense under Riley and Bozer's concerned looks.
βJack, seriously it doesnβt seem a good ideaβ Bozer says shyly.
βYes, Jack, if Y/N wonβt be okay, I donβt think youβll come rescue her, after all those beers you drankβ Riley says mocking the man.
βDonβt you worry, guys. Iβll be good.β You say removing your trousers and sweater. βAnd then if youβre so concerned, you can always come and join meβ you wink at them but you doubt that anyone will follow you in this challenge.
You are walking towards the sea, wearing only your underwear. You take a deep breath anticipating the cold feeling of the water on you skin.
βY/N, waitβ you turn yourself hearing Macβs voice from far βI wonβt let you go aloneβ he says taking off his trousers and shirt in front of you. You look at him speechless before diving in the dark water.
When you come back to surface, you are surrounded by darkness. The coldness of the water penetrate your skin like a knife. You keep swimming in deeper water until you feel something touching you on your lower back. Your heart starts beating faster.
βItβs me, donβt be afraidβ he says smiling.
βYou scared me to death! Never do that again, okay?β You say leaning on him to take breath.
βAre you okay?β He keeps his hand on your hip.
βYes. Now letβs come back, okay?β You say starting to swim in the opposite direction.
βTell me if you need help. I will keep youβ he says swimming faster in front of you.
βI follow youβ
You see his wet haired head and his muscled arms moving in the water, until you donβt see him anymore. Maybe heβs gone underwater or you just swim too slowly and you lost him. At a certain point, you feel something hitting your feet. Thatβs weird since the sea is deep at least 150 inch in that point.
βI told you to stop, Mac!β You scream in the darkness, only silence as response. βMac, are you there?β You scream louder.
You are about to do it again, when you feel a rough hand on your mouth and two arms lifting from the water and pushing you with violence on a motorboat. You can count three men on the small vehicle: one of them got a flashlight in his hand and, while heβs struggling to turn it off, he lightens the portion of sea where you were swimming until few minutes before. You now understand what was the thing that touched you. There was a dead body floating under you.
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