Gem had always loved the water.

The ocean, more specifically.

Ever since she was a little girl, she would visit the coast by her home village and just stand, ankle deep, in the ocean.

The ocean seemed to like her too, or at least that's what she thought when she was little. The waves smoothed out around her little body, never knocking her over or giving her a face full of seawater.

It would tug at her ankles, like it was trying to get her to walk deeper.

Even as an adult, she still felt the pull to the ocean, the unspoken need her mind had for the clarity and peace that came with the stormy grey skies and crashing waves.

Now, as shots rang in her ears and yells echoed through the sleepy streets of her hometown, she needed the ocean more than ever.

Her feet pounded against the pavement, running straight for the pier next to the nice, elderly Mr. Johnson.

As soon as she got to the pier, she felt a boost of energy, like the ocean was revitalizing her.

She leaned down to remove her shoes, tossing them aside, ignoring the tears spilling from her cheeks that hit the old wood of the pier.

With her shoes off, she started running again, reaching the end of the pier quickly and swan diving gracefully off the edge, beginning to swim, needing to get as far away from the coast as possible.

"Get out, Gem!" Her mother had yelled, fear and panic on her face. "They're here for your father! Run to the water! It will protect you!"

The ocean pulled her further out to sea, and she was far from the beach in almost no time at all.

Something grabbed her ankle, and she went under, just barely taking a breath before the water covered her head.

As black spots danced over her vision, slowly growing larger, she closed her eyes.

Mum... Dad... I'm so sorry.

𓆞 𓆝𖦹 ༘⋆𓇼 ࣪𖤐⋆｡ 𓆝 𓆟

Gem awoke to two curious faces staring down at her, confused and concerned.