Find Me (Immersed Book 1)

by Francesca Riley

  Skye struggled to comprehend the devastation, felt the chill of ancient ocean graves.

  Hunter raised his restored hand and they both stared at it. “This is what waited for us. Those that pressed against the resistance and crossed the boundary dissolved in torment, became mist, foam upon the sea.”

  As she searched his eyes, sharing his pain, she suddenly recognised something else. Something she didn’t want to hear. Even before he spoke she was shaking her head.

  “Skye –”

  “No,” she interrupted. “No... I know what you’re going to say. Just – don’t.” She tried to look away but his cold hand along her cheek prevented it.

  “I never wanted to cause you pain,” he said softly. “Skye, I thought I could ‘manage’ our differences. But this is… I was wrong to think, to even imagine… I thought – you were here for such a short time, what could be the harm, to either of us? And here you are, hurting because of me.”

  Dread of him sending her away made her angry. “I’m not hurting because of you, but for you,” she insisted.

  “You’re sad – because of me. This is all wrong, and it’s my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault, and it’s nothing like the same thing. Someone has hurt you. Aren’t I allowed to care about that?” They stared at each other, and Skye’s anger dissolved at the expression in his eyes. “Aren’t we…friends?”

  At the word ‘friends’, Hunter closed his eyes tightly, lowering his head. After a moment he looked at her again, his face revealing a struggle she’d seen in him before. “This – this shouldn’t even be possible.”

  “Why?”

  “Skye, we were cursed to be forgotten. We exist beyond memory.”

  Skye stared at him. “What does that mean?”

  “We are visible only to humans on the point of death. Very few can see us at ordinary times, no more than a shadow anyway. And if we are glimpsed, we pass from memory almost the instant we pass from sight. Forgotten.”

  “That’s so strange. And horrible.”

  “The annihilation of a Line was probably the worst punishment a powerful Ruler could imagine,” Hunter said. “But no one reckoned on the twist of magic that skewed whatever passed through the Seers’ reach, or through me. What we’ve ended up as is worse. Can you imagine how it feels to be invisible? An existence so pointless, so worthless, that the moment you pass from sight, if you were glimpsed at all, you’re an empty void once again?”

  Skye recalled home, her father, his eyes so often not seeing her, or searching her face only for a likeness to her mother. “I can maybe guess what that might feel like.” she said quietly, “Just a little bit.” But his words had suggested something to her that might help him. “The girl you were friends with, the one in the chair who – who drowned?”

  Hunter nodded, guilt flooding his face. “I’ve never let myself be close to anyone since. Not that anyone not on the point of death could ever see me. I don’t know why she could.”

  “You said she was weak and pale. I think she was sick. Really sick. I think you met her in her last days. That’s why she could see you. I think she was dying.”

  Hunter stared at her. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t figured that out before, but his haunted expression softened a little at her revelation and she was glad of that at least.

  “But I’m not sick,” she assured him. “Why can I see you? And remember you?”

  He hesitated. “I don’t know. I only know that of every human I’ve ever encountered, the only one I truly care about is the one who sees me. Who remembers me. You. My life has been endlessly bleak for longer than I can remember. But now – you. And everything is different. But I’ve been so wrong, being with you like this, even talking to you,” he murmured. “This can only end badly. I’ll only hurt you – or worse – but, I don’t want it to end. God help me…I don’t want it to end.”

  There was no mistaking the truth in Hunter’s eyes. His feelings were real, and it gave her courage to follow hers.

  “Please,” she whispered, years-old self-preservation discarded. “I don’t care about any of…whatever it is that you’re saying.” Her voice grew stronger. “Hunter, so what? So what about any of it? Why can’t we just…be together when we can? Talk on the rocks. You help me with the sea. What’s so wrong about that? Friends can be together, can’t they? And I’m sorry, but I just don’t believe you would ever hurt me – ever. You’ve protected me from all kinds of harm ever since the channel. That doesn’t seem like hurting me, to me. So…just…no.”

  After a long moment his sad face lifted with a sweet half grin. “Well…I guess we still have lesson number two. Can’t have you all helpless in the sea now, can we?”

  Skye smiled with relief, not caring how needy she might seem. “Right, totally. Lesson number two. And you haven’t finished your story yet.”

  His smile matched hers and she was staggered at the intensity of the happiness filling her, like someone had switched on a sun inside. Like he had. “No time like the present?”

  “Not a chance,” he smiled, his eyes crinkling. He reached for her hand, and turned it palm up. “Look, your hand is like all kinds of seaweed.” She looked down at her puckered fingers.

  “Right now, you need to get dry and warm.” When she frowned he shook his head, “It’s not easy to let you go, Skye, believe me.” She felt the presence of something behind his words. “But, you’ll find me again,” he continued, “And when you find me, I’ll tell you more. After lesson two – diving with me.”

  Skye’s stomach flipped in anticipation. “I have to help Morgan and Rowena with something. But I’ll come as soon as I can.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” he smiled, and her heart lurched. “I shouldn’t be here at all. But I came back, because of you. So, if you need me, find me. I’ll be waiting,” he promised again.

  Skye nodded, overwhelmed. He stood, helping her to her feet, and glanced around at the misting rain shifting lightly through the air. “I’ve kept you too long. Again.” He looked angry with himself. “You make me forget everything.”

  “It’s just water. I can get warm again.”

  But he shook his head tightly. Taking her shoulders, he gently turned her toward the shore. After wading a few steps, she looked back.

  A movement in the water metres out caught her eye, and Hunter’s beautiful face rose from the surface. He was already further out than she would have thought possible in those few seconds. Even at this distance she saw sorrow.

  To be trapped by a boundary of mere foam tumbling over of sand. Sadness for him filled her again. If only she could fix this. Set him free.

  She wouldn’t make it harder for him. She forced a smile and waved, hoping he could read her absolute determination to return to him as soon as possible. He lifted a hand in farewell and sank below the surface. Unable to help it, she waited, watching for him to resurface again like any normal person would have to. The fine drizzle beaded on her skin and still she waited. He didn’t resurface.

  Despite what he’d told her, and shown her, and what she thought she’d accepted, adrenaline laced with fear jangled through her body, and her heart pounded. This was real. She had fallen into a fairy tale. One of the dark ones.

  Turning away, she splashed from the water onto firm wet sand. It was effortless. She looked down at her wrinkled but whole fingertips. As she passed Lithus Rock the misting rain billowed around her. It felt like some sort of metaphor. A moat of water encircled the slick rock, trailing seaweed exposed by the vanished tide. Like a stranded Mermaid’s hair.

  When she was little she’d had a secret hope that one day she would find a stranded mermaid. They’d be friends. She remembered the ending to ‘The Little Mermaid’ and felt sick.

  25. Acquaintances Old and New

  When Skye reached her bag it was damp, and its contents felt damp too. She patted herself as dry as she could with the towel before dressing, but her clothes clung uncomfortably to her damp togs as she crossed the beach t
o the steps. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t see the figures near the steps until one of them spoke.

  “Hello Skye. Fancy meeting you here.”

  Skye turned.

  “Nice...walk?” Amber leaned against the stone wall, careless of the light rain. Jasmine, next to her, watched avidly.

  “Yep,” Skye said, and trotted quickly up the steps.

  “Catch you later,” she heard Amber’s voice behind her.

  At the top of the stairs Skye was unable to resist one last look for a glimpse of Hunter. She saw the two girls still watching her. At once they laughed, moving from sight behind the wall. Skye crossed the road to the apartment feeling distinctly uneasy. After showering, changing and drying her hair, she made for the café. The drizzling rain had lifted off although the clouds were still heavy. She tapped on the café’s glass doors.

  Annie let her in, “Hey starfish girl.”

  “Hey, Annie.” Skye glanced around the airy space. Chrome appliances gleamed on the counter. Mismatched tables and chairs were stacked in the middle of the room, conjuring up the future sound of chair legs scraping over wooden floors, of laughter and conversation. The faintly paint-scented air was tinged with the aroma of fresh ground coffee.

  “Taking shape, huh?” Annie said proudly. “Hey, I should get you to come and stencil my place,” she said, looking down at some of Skye’s work. “Not just on the floors either – everywhere, man. It would be like being underwater, fish and starfish all over.”

  “Uh, sure. Anytime.”

  “My landlord would freak, but it’s art. Ooh, and some mermaids and a hot merman too. That’s my dream life, under the sea with the beautiful fish-people. Wish they were real.”

  Skye looked at Annie, surprised, taking in her short-cropped hair, shaved on one side, and array of delicate piercings; the tough vibe she put off. You couldn’t always tell a person's soft spot. “Sure...me too,” she said quietly. She wondered what Annie would say if she knew something so close to her fantasy existed practically on her doorstep.

  Nemaro. She traced the word in her mind, tasted it. Nemaro. Hunter. The sudden desire to be with him, to hear his husky voice while she watched his sad, storm-filled eyes was almost a physical ache and she had to look away.

  Annie turned back to the coffee machine. “Got this working perfectly. Want one? There’s a snack in the fridge for you too.”

  Skye forced herself to focus. She realised she’d left her packed lunch at the apartment when she’d changed. “Sounds good. I won’t be here long. Just have to sand back the stencils.”

  “Sweet. I’ll make the coffee to take away just in case.”

  Skye opened the fridge. Her name on the paper-wrapped slice of quiche and cookie in Rowena’s quirky handwriting was like a friendly smile. With it was bottled water. Feeling suddenly ravenous, she consumed all of it perched in the window seat, staring across the road at the brooding bay.

  Energised, she retrieved sanding block and sandpaper, and began to scuff back the stencilled rock-pool inhabitants, creating a faded look that suited the café ambiance. It took longer than she’d expected. When she’d finished and had swept up the colourful dust, Annie brought her coffee in a takeaway cup. Skye took a sip, Annie watching.

  “Delicious, thanks,” she wiped foam from her lip.

  “Told you I was the best.”

  “Morgan might have something to say about that.”

  “Bring it on,” Annie smirked. “Can’t wait – two more sleeps!”

  Skye felt a burst of anticipation. Morgan and Rowena’s dream, so close to reality.

  On her way home she collected the new flyer copies, still warm, from the copy shop. But even the imminent café opening couldn’t engage her thoughts for very long. Hunter’s words filled her mind. That night, her dreams were of trying to catch happiness that dissolved in mist from her empty arms.

  She woke early the next morning with a delicious sense of anticipation. But remembering the squall of bad weather haunting the coastline, cold worry for Hunter returned. Morgan was still asleep. Getting up quietly, Skye hurried to the lounge window and stared through water-streaked glass at heavy rain hiding the Bay.

  The thought of Hunter out there made her feel ill. She knew that today her friends came first. The café opening meant everything to them, and they needed her. If she was honest with herself, she’d had visions of zipping through the flyer drop and ending her day with Hunter. But in weather like this, how could she explain any kind of beach visit without provoking questions?

  There was no way she would use the flyers to hide behind again. Morgan and Rowena deserved better. Today would be all about them. She made herself turn away from the window, disconcerted by how much the thought of not seeing him bothered her.

  Morgan stumbled blearily past to the bathroom, and she could hear Rowena stirring. No sleep-in for them today, Skye thought with a pang. They were working so hard on this. She would do the same. She had a good stack of new flyers, and she would do them justice.

  Rowena and Morgan barely took time for coffee before leaving, Rowena to the café, Morgan to the restaurant. Shortly after, Skye stepped out of the foyer into a buffeting wind that drove rain under its projection. The sea was alive with frothing teal-grey waves, and the wet pavement danced with pelting raindrops. Great, she thought, soggy girl offering soggy flyers. Sure to be a hit.

  Forging her way through the wind-driven rain, she got as far as the corner before admitting the mission would have to wait until the weather improved. Feeling like a failure, she turned back, sprinting for shelter. Minutes later, bedraggled and puffing, she watched the lighted numbers of the apartment elevator descend. Her hair was plastered to her head, and she was dripping onto the polished floor yet again. One way or another in this place she seemed to end up with water pooling around her.

  The elevator doors opened and she stood back to let a few people out. Stepping inside, she narrowly missed someone slow to leave. Murmuring an apology, she turned to push the button for her floor, and saw that he’d stopped to stare at her. The brief glimpse of him as the doors closed gave her the impression of affluence. She smirked, wondering if he’d be making a complaint to the building’s owner about the soggy riff-raff frequenting the lobby.

  After drying off and a change of clothes, Skye looked out at the Bay, the distant waves like ghosts behind the deluge. Staring at the rain, she had a sudden brainwave: there was a practically captive audience for her flyers right here in the building. The apartments were at capacity, either as holiday lets or to occupying owners, and most would be trapped by the weather. Perfect.

  Skye spent some time at the bathroom mirror making sure she looked presentable, wanting to make the best impression for the Lauders. When she was ready, she picked up the pile of flyers, determined to hit every apartment in the building, starting at the top.

  Pressing ’P’ for penthouse on the elevator control panel, she half expected a security code or a doorman would prevent her exiting on that floor. But the door opened quietly onto an empty elegant hallway.

  She wondered if she was just imagining the hushed air of privilege. There were only two apartments here, one per half of the building. They must be huge, Skye thought. Her first knock went unanswered, so she slipped a flyer beneath the door. The second was answered by a cute guy, not much older than her. He had a lazy charming smile, but his eyes were intelligent. “Bit dryer?” he asked.

  It took Skye a second to recognise the young man who had stared at her in the lobby.

  “Oh...yeah, thanks. Um, sorry to disturb you, but...would you like to come to our café opening? It’s on Friday.”

  He accepted the flyer, and looked at her quizzically. “Friday, you say?” he asked.

  “Yep. Time’s there on the flyer.”

  “New café, huh? Bit like Jump?”

  “Oh!” Skye smiled, pleased, “You heard of Jump?”

  “Sure, local hot spot for a while. Best coffee in town?”

  “Th
at’s the one. This will be even better. Same great coffee though, I can guarantee.”

  “Must be the same great Baristas then, right?”

  “You got it.” This was easy, she thought. If everyone else remembered Jump her job was half done.

  “Guess I’ll have to stop by,” he looked at the flyer, then at Skye. “You’ll be there, right?” he asked.

  “Uh...sure,” Skye said awkwardly. “We all will.”

  “Great,” he grinned. “Thanks for stopping by.”

  “Sure,” Skye repeated, turning quickly away. She was conscious of not hearing his door close as she retreated to the elevator, as if he was watching her go.

  Hours later Skye felt drained and hungry. It had taken much longer than she’d anticipated, and the response hadn’t been great. Half the people she’d met acted as if she was rubbing their noses in the fact that they were trapped inside. The other half were so bored they kept her with endless questions. Flyers in shop windows were definitely the way to go, much better than door to door, she decided. The windows at the ends of the hallway showed the deluge had eased. She would have a break, then head to the village, even if she had to wade.

  When she got back to the apartment Morgan was asleep on the sofa. She stirred when Skye entered the room, and sat up, yawning. “What time is it?”

  Skye checked the microwave on her way to the fridge. “Going on two.” Morgan groaned and got up. “Don’t get up Mags, just rest,” Skye said.

  “Can’t. I had to swap with Aarti’s shift to get the opening off.”

  “You’re going back to the restaurant?” Skye exclaimed. “But you’ve been there practically all day!”

  “Tell me about it. It’s okay. It won’t be forever. But while we’re here, gotta dance when the piper plays.” She stretched hugely.