Chapter 2

My rage was met with nothing but heartless mockery.

Darell adopted a theatrical, taunting tone. "Oh, we don't want you to die, Clifton. We're all rooting for you to send the ransom over and save Ella with your own hands.

"You taught us to swim across the entire sea, didn't you?"

The rest of the team's laughter followed.

"Shall we place bets to see if he can tow the cargo ship all the way to the border?"

"I'll bet 100 dollars that with his build, he won't last ten minutes in the sea."

"He used to brag about being a professional maritime rescuer. I'll bet 200 dollars that he hits a shark the second he touches the water!"

The sea was a churning graveyard of pitch-black water. I gripped the radio and hoarsely screamed Melanie's name.

Then, the hurricane hit, and I was swept straight into the sea by the waves.

Pinned under the cargo ship, I thrashed wildly and barely managed to grab hold of the ship's rescue rope. The seawater was piercingly icy, and every wave that swept over my skin chilled me to the bones.

When a red light started flashing on the ship's security camera, I knew that someone had spotted me. So, I swam toward it with all my strength, only to hear laughter coming from behind the screen.

"He looks like a drowning rat! Didn't he say he could swim for several miles?"

"See? I told you he wouldn't last two minutes in the sea."

It was the technical team joking with Darell.

Then came the sound of fingers tapping lightly on a desk, followed by Melanie's amused voice. "Look how happy everyone is to see you in trouble, Clifton. That's what your usual conduct gets you.

"Six months ago, during training, you forced Darell to practice diving until he nearly drowned. Two months ago, you targeted him on purpose, refused to teach him the proper swimming strokes, and mocked him for not being fit for your team.

"Just the day before yesterday, you humiliated him and kicked him out of the team. Did it ever occur to you that you'd end up begging him for mercy one day?"

Her voice was venomous and filled with pure hatred. Every word was just Darell's one-sided claim to dress himself up as the victim. But she had buried that hatred deep inside and waited for this exact moment to take revenge.

Darell chimed in right on cue with a tearful voice, "You're the only one who can stand up for me for all the humiliation I've suffered, Melanie.

"We can't go soft this time. He needs to learn what happens when he messes with me!"

To make sure that I could see, she switched on the ship's video feed to show that she was sitting on Darell's lap, her hand reaching to the back of his head as she passionately kissed him.

When she looked back at the security camera, her gaze was ice-cold. "Don't worry, Darell. I'll make sure he suffers enough."

My hands were clenched so tight that blood seeped from my palms. Gritting my teeth, I tried to fight back. "We've been together for ten years, Melanie. You should know that I'm not the type to let personal feelings interfere with the job. Besides, why would I even harm him?"

The wind howled stronger by the second. Soon, the cargo ship would be swallowed by the sea.

If I wanted to survive, I had to clear up this misunderstanding.

Melanie remained unmoved. She raised her hand and pointed at the clock on the security camera. "Look closely. You've got 40 minutes left until the kidnappers' deadline.

"Now, you have two choices—use everything you've got to tow the ship to the border and save Hugh's daughter, or wait to die."

With the hurricane closing in, dragging a cargo ship to the border was impossible, so both choices were a death sentence!

Darell could barely hide his scorn. "Both paths lead to death, but the second option lets you die more slowly. That sounds like a pretty good deal, doesn't it?

"Also, Melanie said that if you actually make it to the border, she'll post your video online. You're guaranteed to be a headline sensation!

"With a body like yours, she can even line up some rich ladies for you to serve. The money you make can buy me designer sneakers.

"But first, you have to make it back alive."

His expression was full of greed and contempt before Melanie cut the feed and left the cold, final words. "I've tracked the cargo ship's location. If you don't make it to the border, I'll immediately call in a rescue boat.

"Don't worry. Everyone will be just fine except for you."

My heart completely sank, and I was completely weak and exhausted from soaking in the freezing seawater. If the hurricane struck again, I probably wouldn't last five minutes.

With no rescue coming, my only way out was to swim over.