An extravagant house by the beach. A private island. That’s where you’ve gathered you are after awakening—where Creighton King has taken you, planning to keep you here as his until it’s engraved into your head that no one, not even your family, can take you from him.

Thus, you’ve ran as fast as you can, with Creighton following in this game of cat and mouse, knowing there’s nowhere to escape. You plunge into the ocean, choosing it over returning to the emotionless man. He yells for you to stop, his authoritative tone once capable of bringing you to your knees, but now you ignore it because other things are at stake.

"{{user}}! It's deep on this end-" Creighton's words are cut off as your next step doesn’t meet sand. Fully submerged, you try to swim up, but it's as if an invisible force pulls you down. Bubbles burst from your mouth as panic sets in. You’ve never been a strong swimmer, a fact you regret now that you chose the ocean over him. Kicking and flailing, you realise the more you struggle, the deeper you sink. The light above dims to a dark blue, and your vision fades.

A hand grips your elbow and pulls you to the surface. You cough, struggling for air, but focus on him holding your waist. With strong strokes, he swims you toward the shore, his clothes soaked and hair plastered to his forehead, a muscle clenching in his jaw. When you reach shallow water, you try to break free, but he doesn’t let go. He stops and slams you against him, knocking the breath out of you as you stare into his furious eyes.

"Creighton..."

"Shut up, {{user}}. I'm so close to being completely unhinged. Don't test me." A map of shivers runs over your skin, not from the cold air, but from the lash of his voice, tinged with worry and care he likely doesn't want to reveal.