Chapter 15

"You okay, Yiheng?" Aiyu called out .

Yiheng nodded, his voice catching in his throat.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he stammered, despite the panic gripping his every nerve. "Just... just don't move, Aiyu.

I'll find a way to get you out of there."

Taking a deep breath, Yiheng inched closer , he  extended his hand, ready to pull her to safety.

Just as their fingertips grazed each other, the ground beneath them shifted . Aiyu's heart sank as she stumbled, unable to maintain her balance. In that split second, the moment slipped through their grasp, and Aiyu was pulled back into the churning depths of the water.

The sound of the rushing waves engulfed  her senses. Desperate to resurface and gasp for air, she fought against the relentless grip of the water, but it refused to release its hold on her. It was as if an unseen force conspired against her, dragging her further into the unforgiving depths.

Suddenly.....

She felt a chilling grip on her foot , mercilessly pulling her down with an iron grip. Aiyu's strength waned, her breath growing shallow .

Aiyu gasped for air, her lungs burning as she struggled against the relentless force of the water. She kicked her legs furiously, desperately yearning to break free and resurface.

The suffocating pressure of the water pressed against her eardrums, muffling the outside world and replacing it with the deafening roar of the drowning depths. She fought against the invisible hands that clutched her, mercilessly pulling her deeper into the abyss.

As panic set in, Aiyu's mind raced, desperately searching for a way to escape. She thrashed her arms, trying to grab hold of something, anything that could aid her in her struggle. But  the grip only tightened, the pull growing stronger. Aiyu's mind spun with confusion and terror. Who or what could be down there with her? What vile creature wanted to steal her life away?

Her lungs now screaming for air, Aiyu's vision blurred, darkness closing in around her.