Chapter 2
905 Words
Ariana struggled to stay afloat, her terrified eyes looking around the dark water for a lifeline.
She looked back at the boat but it had already gone too far. She screamed but no one could hear her.
she began to panic and with each attempt to breathe, she took in a mouthful of cold saltwater.
Her body became weak from exhaustion and she began to sink deeper into the water.
Meanwhile on the boat, the reality of the situation dawned on Ariana and she became anxious. What had she just done?
Should she tell the boat to go back for Ariana?
No, she couldn't do that. Ariana might have already drowned to death. If she did that, she would be admitting to having something to do with it.
Plus, if Ariana was rescued, she would tell everyone what she did.
She had to come up with a plan quickly. As she frantically tried to think of one, Lucas came onto the deck wondering why Emily hadn’t returned.
“What are you doing up here? You should let Ariana be. After all, we are now officially divorced and I'm all yours aren't I?”
“I didn't come up to see her.” She lied smoothly.
“I just came to grab a glass of champagne but I found this on the floor by the edge of the boat” she said handing over the wedding ring to Lucas.
Lucas's expression changed as he inspected the ring. “This is Ariana's wedding ring.”
“I guess she must have tossed it away.” Emily shrugged.
Lucas's facial expression changed a bit. He remembered the day he gave Ariana the ring.
“I think I should talk to her. Maybe I was too harsh in breaking the news. She shouldn't have found out about us like this.”
Emily's eyes flashed with annoyance. “Really? You're feeling bad now? Spare me the pretense.”
As Lucas scanned around for Ariana. Emily's anxiety grew.
“Where did you say you found it?” Lucas asked.
“By the edge of the boat.” Emily's response was automatic.
Thoughts ran through Lucas’ mind. “Could she have… No…. Ariana is terrified of water. There's no way she would have….”
Suddenly anxious, he rushed across the deck, searching every corner, but Ariana was nowhere to be found. He dialled her phone. It rang, but no one answered.
Emily clenched her jaw in annoyance. The way Lucas was reacting infuriated her. Why did he care so much about Ariana? He was supposed to be hers now.
She even started to feel glad that she had pushed Ariana off the boat.
He called again as he went back down to look for her and heard the faint sound of her ringtone coming from their cabin. Going in, he found her phone in her drawer.
His throat tightened. Ariana wasn't on the boat!
Running back onto the deck, his voice cracked with panic. “We need to call the coast guard! Ariana might have…done something to herself.”
The coastal guards arrived, and the search for Ariana began. The police also came to question those who were present on the boat.
“Please help us find her.” Lucas spoke to the officer.
“What was your relationship with her?”
“She is my wife-” he stopped when he noticed the look on Emily's face.
“I mean my ex-wife.”
“Who was the last person to see her?”
Lucas hesitated. "I...I think we were. We had just signed divorce papers."
The officer noted this. “Okay. Some of the people at the party remember her going into the cabin but they don't remember her returning to the celebration. Did anything happen for you to think that she might have committed suicide?”
"Well...she didn't take the divorce well," Lucas explained, leaving out the fact that he wqs cheating on her.
The officer's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see. And you," he turned to Emily, " you found her wedding ring?"
Emily tried to maintain her composure, she couldn’t afford to give anything away.
“Yes. That’s’ right. I came out to get some champagne, and I found the ring on the floor.”
The officer studied Emily's expression before asking, "You didn't notice anything unusual when you left the cabin?"
Emily's eyes darted to Lucas before responding. "No, nothing."
The officer paused, scribbling notes. "Thank you for your time. The team is actively searching for her. We'll let you know if anything comes up."
As the officer left, Lucas's suspicion grew. "Emily, are you sure you didn't talk to Ariana after you left the cabin?"
Emily quickly turned defensive. “I already told you. I came up to get champagne! Are you accusing me of something?”
Lucas's tone softened. He didn't want to upset her “No. I'm just trying to figure out what happened”
Emily pressed her lips together. “I don’t really understand why you’re stressing so much. It’s me you want to be with, right?” Emily pressed.
“Yes, but still she was my wife and your friend wasn’t she?”
Emily gave no answer and simply walked away rolling her eyes.
The search continued for 3 days, but there was still no sign of Ariana.
The officer's expression was grim. “I'm sorry, but we have to assume the worst."
- Writer
