The Journey of the Water Maidens

Allina grinned and took Viv’s slender hand in her own. “Try to breathe as evenly as possible.”

Before Viv could decipher what that meant, Allina yanked her downwards and they sped off through the depths of the sea. At first, the salt stung her corneas, making visibility a blurred, bewildering shapes. But soon, Viv’s eyes adjusted and she marveled at the colourful schools of fish they swam in-between. In a flash, they were surrounded by translucent jellyfish, glowing pink and orange, sizzling with a current of intensity. They seemed to dance through seaweed groves and smooth rocks which littered the ocean floor. Viv gasped in muted horror at a shark zooming towards them, its sharp teeth bared and poised to attack. But Allina’s firm hand gripped hers tightly and pulled her to safety behind a wall of coral; that same shark swam dumbly past their hiding spot several seconds later.