Amanda came back to life with seawater still choking her. Her fingers clawed desperately at the sheets as she coughed, expecting muddy floodwater, blood, and the crushing weight of death.Instead, warm cotton pressed beneath her trembling palms, and familiar darkness surrounded her. She dragged in another breath and stared at the ceiling, her chest rising violently.Her heart hammered against her ribs as memories crashed through her mind—the flood, the shark, the locked door, Eric, Katie, Susan. “No…” Her voice came out broken.Amanda pressed both hands against her stomach, terrified of what she might find. Then her breath stopped completely. There was no wound. No blood. No seawater. Her body was whole.And when she felt the faint warmth beneath her palm, tears immediately filled her eyes. “My baby…” She whispered the words as though speaking louder might make them disappear.Amanda slowly sat up, one trembling hand remaining over her stomach while the other reached blindly for the
Last Updated : 2026-09-10 Read more