Jackson waved for Lily to follow, motioning her forward as he swam swiftly toward the source of the current.
Lily’s chest burned, pressure closing in on her ribs like an iron clamp. Her lungs screamed for air, and every pulse of the current pressed against her body like two invisible hands trying to crush her.
Thankfully, Jackson never let go of her arm. Without his steady pull through the dark water, she might’ve panicked and drowned long ago.
They shot out from the whirlpool at the lake’s bottom and were suddenly propelled into calmer water. Moments later, they burst to the surface, gasping for air.
Lily came up like a fish yanked from the sea, gulping air greedily, her whole body trembling.
Jackson chuckled. “So? Not bad for your first real dive, huh?”
Still panting, Lily turned t
