Chapter 25

“Probably,” the man replied. “Now swim. And swim hard.”

“To where?” Once again the holler Eddie attempted was nothing more than a panicked heave.

“Follow the current, it’ll take you to shore. There’s a reason everything dumped in the sea shows up on the beach eventually.” The fisherman settled both elbows on the railing and stared at Eddie with an odd mix of amusement and defiance. “I’ll even do you a favor and give you a bit of advice, because you seem like the type that’s gonna need it. Swim into the chaos, not away from it. You keep going, you hear? You give up, and it’s gonna be the end of you.” He shrugged and straightened. “But maybe that’s what you came for, hmm?”

As the man moved back, as Eddie lost sight of him, Eddie finally found the strength to shout. “Don’t you walk away from me! Don’t you dare leave me here!”