Chapter 2
Unfortunately, they hadn't been listening when I repeatedly emphasized dive signals before we went into the water.
Chloe thought I was showing off, and she rolled her eyes at me.
She impatiently cut me off: "Alright, alright, how many times have you said it? Do you really think we've never dived before? We know all about it, you don't need to lecture us."
Ryan gently stroked Chloe's head, completely ignoring my awkward situation.
Now, seeing my signal, Ryan paused, then a flicker of triumph crossed his eyes.
They thought I was agreeing, even praising them for being 'awesome.'
He probably thought I had finally learned to be submissive.
Chloe, even through her mask, rolled her eyes at me again, then linked arms with Ryan. Like two reckless lovers, they plunged headfirst into the darkness that had devoured my life in my past existence.
I watched their figures gradually blur.
Without hesitation, I turned, checked my pressure gauge, and initiated the standard ascent procedure.
You can't save people who are determined to self-destruct.
Since you're so adventurous.
Then I wish you an eternal embrace in that silt.
I surfaced alone, the sunlight so bright it made my eyes squint.
The safety officer on the boat looked at me in shock: "Christiana, why are you alone? Where are Ryan and Chloe?"
I removed my mask, slowly unhooking my BCD.
A timely look of helplessness and bitterness crossed my face.
"They said I was getting in the way, too controlling. They insisted on challenging the hundred-meter crevice."
"I couldn't stop them, so I came up first to avoid any arguments escalating into an accident down there."
The crew members exchanged glances, and the live stream comments started scrolling furiously.
【This instructor is so irresponsible, just left them down there?】
【Shut up, Ryan brought this on himself. Christiana is an instructor, not a babysitter.】
【Exactly, they signed a waiver. Adults are responsible for their own actions.】
I ignored the commotion and found a corner to sit in.
My GoPro was clutched tightly in my hand.
It held the most dramatic scene of our farewell.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
The surfacing time had already passed by ten minutes.
The atmosphere on the boat began to grow heavy.
The safety officer kept checking his watch, anxiously calling into the walkie-talkie, only to hear the dead static of silence.
Another five minutes passed, and suddenly, many bubbles appeared on the calm sea surface. The water churned.
Two figures burst out of the water, looking disheveled and frantic.
They weren't performing a normal 'decompression ascent,' but an uncontrolled emergency ascent – extremely dangerous.
Ryan dragged a semi-conscious Chloe, his face contorted in agony, blood gushing from his nose and mouth.
These were classic symptoms of lung overexpansion injury and decompression sickness.
"Help! Quick, save her!"
Ryan's voice was hoarse, filled with extreme fear and trembling.
The crew members scrambled to pull both of them onto the deck.
Chloe's face was ashen, and her legs were twisted in a grotesque way.
As soon as Ryan was on board, he didn't even bother to wipe the blood from his face.
His bloodshot eyes fixated on me, like he wanted to devour me.
The next second, he charged at me like a madman.
"Christiana! You venomous witch!"
"You turned off our spare air valves! You tried to kill Chloe!"
His shout drew everyone's attention to me.
Divers from nearby boats also gathered around.
The person filming, thinking they had stumbled upon great material, shoved the live stream camera right into my face.
Ryan lunged at me, raising his hand to strike.
I was prepared, sidestepping quickly.
Due to severe decompression sickness, his balance was terrible, and he face-planted onto the deck, falling flat on his face.
"Agh!!!"
He screamed in pain but didn't forget to point at me and roar.
"Everyone saw it! It was her! She was jealous of Chloe and deliberately messed with our gear underwater!"
"Christiana, I'll make sure you go to jail! I'll make you pay for this with your life!"