Chapter 5 - The Guardian's Dive
The heavy glass sliding door of the penthouse suite exploded open with immense, rattling force.
Maya crossed the threshold at a full, desperate sprint, her athletic frame propelled by instant instinct.
Her dark ponytail lashed behind her like a whip as her eyes locked onto the submerged disturbance.
She took in the scene in a fraction of a second: the empty chair track, the wet tiles, and Victoria’s posture.
Victoria turned in startled panic, but Maya did not waste a single breath on words or accusations.
The twenty-four-year-old assistant vaulted over a row of wicker lounge chairs without breaking her stride.
Her black trousers and white blouse fluttered violently against the rooftop gale as she approached the rim.
She saw the faint blue outline of Clara trapped beneath six feet of clear, suffocating water.
With a thunderous launch from the coping stone, Maya threw herself headfirst into the center of the pool.
The water parted with a sharp, concussive crack as Maya penetrated the depths with streamlined precision.
A trail of crystalline bubbles surged behind her powerful, sweeping arm strokes.
The cold engulfed her instantly, soaking through her clothes and adding drag to every movement.
Maya kicked hard against the water, her eyes wide open and focused entirely on the locked restraint.
She reached Clara within three seconds of hitting the surface, diving straight for the floor tiles.
Clara’s fading eyes fluttered open underwater, registering the arrival of her rescuer through the gloom.
Maya planted her knees firmly against the armrest of the wheelchair to counter the buoyant resistance.
She reached both hands directly to the plastic buckle, feeling the jammed release pin with her fingertips.
May you like
Bubbles exploded from Clara’s mouth as the last reserves of the mother’s oxygen slipped away.
Maya locked her jaw, bracing her core, and attacked the mechanism with raw, adrenaline-fueled strength.
