X
XXXXXX Octavian's arms still flailed madly about in the dark water as he struggled to reach the surface. Of course, his frenzied movements were only causing him to sink lower and lower into what he now presumed would be his final resting place, but his attention was suddenly drawn to a cluster of bubbles swiftly rising around him. What in the—
XXXXX Octavian snapped his head down and was greeted with a luminous blue light swiftly rising towards him.
XXXXX The realization hit him immediately, causing Octavian's eye to go wide and his movements became more unorganized as he tried to get away from the sea monster. In that moment, exhausted and frightful, he was unable to hold his breath any longer and Octavian was forced to open his mouth to gasp for air he didn't have. Water quickly seeped into his airways, causing him to strangle and choke as he unintentionally sucked in more water through his gaping mouth. When he was suddenly pushed to the surface by a strong force below him, the feeling of air hitting his cold face caused him to cough up the liquid sitting heavily in his oxygen-deprived lungs. Though water and bile trickled down his face, Octavian didn't dare raise a hand to wipe the gross mixture, too afraid to move for fear of what the beast would do if he did.
XXXXX However, the moment he did muster up the courage to glance down at the beast, the thing tilted its head. The drop wasn't far, only a few feet, but Octavian landed with a loud splash loud enough to shatter the eerie silence that had blanketed the two of them. He'd landed face down, partially on his stomach, but had braced himself for impact using both hands, which had taken the brunt of the landing. Octavian winced at the shock that formed in his palms and raced up to his elbows. The remnants of the floor were covered in water, and for a split second Octavian feared that he might be plunged into the icy depths again, but the wood held out. The ominous creaking of the hull and constant drip, drip, drip of water was all the man could register as he and the sea monster stared each other down; the beast with a look that Octavian was sure was hunger and pure evil while his own gaze of wide and full of fright.
XXXXX About a minute of this staring contest had gone by, though for Octavian it felt like what had passed was a lifetime, and the man suddenly screamed with all the force he could muster.
XXXXXX Octavian's arms still flailed madly about in the dark water as he struggled to reach the surface. Of course, his frenzied movements were only causing him to sink lower and lower into what he now presumed would be his final resting place, but his attention was suddenly drawn to a cluster of bubbles swiftly rising around him. What in the—
XXXXX Octavian snapped his head down and was greeted with a luminous blue light swiftly rising towards him.
XXXXX The realization hit him immediately, causing Octavian's eye to go wide and his movements became more unorganized as he tried to get away from the sea monster. In that moment, exhausted and frightful, he was unable to hold his breath any longer and Octavian was forced to open his mouth to gasp for air he didn't have. Water quickly seeped into his airways, causing him to strangle and choke as he unintentionally sucked in more water through his gaping mouth. When he was suddenly pushed to the surface by a strong force below him, the feeling of air hitting his cold face caused him to cough up the liquid sitting heavily in his oxygen-deprived lungs. Though water and bile trickled down his face, Octavian didn't dare raise a hand to wipe the gross mixture, too afraid to move for fear of what the beast would do if he did.
XXXXX However, the moment he did muster up the courage to glance down at the beast, the thing tilted its head. The drop wasn't far, only a few feet, but Octavian landed with a loud splash loud enough to shatter the eerie silence that had blanketed the two of them. He'd landed face down, partially on his stomach, but had braced himself for impact using both hands, which had taken the brunt of the landing. Octavian winced at the shock that formed in his palms and raced up to his elbows. The remnants of the floor were covered in water, and for a split second Octavian feared that he might be plunged into the icy depths again, but the wood held out. The ominous creaking of the hull and constant drip, drip, drip of water was all the man could register as he and the sea monster stared each other down; the beast with a look that Octavian was sure was hunger and pure evil while his own gaze of wide and full of fright.
XXXXX About a minute of this staring contest had gone by, though for Octavian it felt like what had passed was a lifetime, and the man suddenly screamed with all the force he could muster.