Panicking is losing, she reminded herself. Not that it distracted her from actual panic. Surely, not even the bravest could sink and strain their lungs without panicking. Still, it was enough motivation to work quickly. She raked her claws over the ropes. This time, the tension worked in her favor, as it didn't take much pressure to split the fibers.
Finally, her arms floated like spaghetti. Her lungs, on the other hand, just about reached their breaking point. Enough drive to regain control of her arms and rake them across the ropes on her feet. Eliza mentally thanked her dad for the swimming lessons as she kicked upward.
Air had never tasted sweeter than when she broke the surface. With only the moon as a light source, the shadow of an island loomed ominously before her. Eliza could see where it got its name, as the round cliff bore the likeness of a titan skull in Greek mythology. Eliza's bones chilled and it wasn't from the water. It didn't help seeing her captors' boat moored to a rackety dock, on which stood a rackety shack lit only by torches. No doubt the criminals were enjoying a good rest from their journey. Well, there was no other land in sight.
Eliza floated on her back, once again relaxing her body like her father taught her. This was the best stroke for long distances as long she kept steady breathing. Except she never had to swim this far or this deep before. How long before she tired? What kind of terrors lurked fathoms below? A little salt water splashed into her mouth, nearly throwing off her rhythm.
"A swallow of salt water won't kill you," Silas had told her. "But panic will. Just focus on your breathing."
That sounded familiar. Eliza allowed a small chuckle as she resumed. Despite being at odds, the Khan brothers weren't that different. Even when they were training in different fields, they used the same methods. And she was still alive thanks to them both.
For now at least. What were the odds of seeing them again? Or her friends from Higher for Hire? Her classmates? Kit?
Don't think of that now. Not when you're so close.
In that moment, she almost forgot where she was. She must have moved another three feet without thinking about it. That's it! She just had to keep her mind occupied. With each stroke, she focused on memory of her life in Cape Suzette. Meeting Kit for a root beer float and laughing over their shenanigans. Her father ruffling her hair. The fearsome yet playful venus flytraps nuzzling her as she fed them live insects.
As hard as she tried to distract herself, these memories only built the homesickness. And with it came questions of how she would get back. If she could get back at all. Those questions pushed her to pick up momentum, which was efficient but tired her out quicker, forcing her to steady her breathing.
Finally, the island grew in view. Eliza felt around with her foot until it touched the bottom and allowed herself to stand. The force of the waves nearly knocked her off her feet, but she made it out of the water. Once her toes touched dry sand, she fell on her face. Sand hadn't felt this satisfying since she escaped the Iron Vulture.
Eliza wanted to sleep right there but a bumping sound drew her attention to the boat moored at the dock. The lights had gone off, so they must have gone to sleep. Not even criminals would be crazy enough to roam a mystery island at night, right? Just to be sure, she crept under the windows and peered inside. As she suspected, all cozied up after a long night of kidnapping and attempted murder while she awaited pneumonia in the morning.
Shing.
Her head grew so hot, she hadn't noticed the tingling on her fingers until now. Seemed she still had a lot to learn. Then again, this was convenient. She had claws, they were asleep, believing her to be fish bait. It would be so easy to sneak in and then…
"Gah! What the heck?" Eliza clapped her hands to her head. "Get a grip!" she hissed.
A light flicked on from the window. "You hear something?" Covington's voice shook.
That snapped her out of it. Keeping herself below the windows, she crept parallel to the wall until she was around the corner and up the hill. She crouched into the bushes until the light switched off before crawling toward the thick trees.
One of the trees had a hollow split at the base, big enough for her to squeeze. It was too dark to see inside, so she poked a stick around to make sure nothing else had made its home before crawling in and curling in a fetal position. Outside, crickets, owls and bullfrogs chorused in an eerie symphony, sometimes interrupted by a twig snapping. Lightning bugs that would have looked beautiful anywhere else now looked like little golden eyes blinking in and out of the darkness.
Eliza hugged herself, shivering. For the next two hours, she kept her eyes on the moonlit silhouette of the shack. Her heart jumped at the slightest noise. Just like when she was on the water, her mind drifted to those waiting back home. Uncle Shere must have realized she was missing by now, but not even he was powerful enough to find her. His pilots could circle the globe, but there was no way she would last that long.
Finally, she cried herself to sleep in a cold perspiration.
