Chapter 6

Chrissy's POV

The last day.

The crew was filming the final major scene at an abandoned reservoir in the suburbs. An underwater escape sequence.

In the late autumn reservoir, the water temperature was barely above forty degrees Fahrenheit.

White vapor drifted across the surface. Just looking at it sent chills through your bones.

Lexi stood on the shore wrapped in a thick down jacket, clutching a thermos, still complaining sweetly about the wind.

And I stood in the freezing water wearing only a thin white dress, weighted down with lead blocks and wire rigging, my lips purple with cold.

"All departments ready! Chrissy, after you go under, hold your breath for thirty seconds. Once we cut to Lexi's body double, struggle to the surface. Remember, the movements need to look desperate, realistic!"

Zavier sat behind the monitors, directing loudly through his walkie-talkie.

His eyes stayed glued to the screens. He didn't even glance at me once.

I took a deep breath, nodded, put in my waterproof earpiece, and plunged into the bone-chilling water.

The underwater world was silent and oppressive.

The icy current instantly stripped away what little warmth I had. My left knee and shoulder, with their old injuries, exploded with tearing pain under the cold stimulus.

I clenched my jaw, fighting through the pain, struggling underwater as directed.

Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds...

Time was up. I kicked hard, trying to swim upward.

But suddenly the wire rigging around my waist jammed!

Abandoned fishing nets underwater had tangled in the wire's clasps. A massive force yanked me violently back down.

I panicked, frantically pulling at the wires, shouting into the earpiece.

"Pull me up! The rigging's stuck! Pull me up!"

But what came through the earpiece was Zavier and Lexi's laughter.

"Zavier, look at that cloud. Doesn't it look like a puppy?"

Lexi's voice was bright and cheerful.

"Mm, as cute as you."

Zavier's voice was full of indulgence.

They weren't even watching the monitors!

They'd even cut my main microphone, leaving only the one-way command channel!

The oxygen in my lungs depleted rapidly. Freezing water poured into my nose and mouth.

The terror of suffocation engulfed me instantly.

I looked up at the faint light filtering down from the surface, and what flashed through my mind was every injury I'd suffered, every drop of blood I'd shed over these seven years for Zavier.

What a fool I was.

I'd nearly thrown away my life for a man like this.

Survival instinct triggered my last reserve of strength.

I pulled out the tactical knife strapped to my inner thigh. A self-defense tool a friend had just sent me yesterday.

With every ounce of strength left, I cut through the fishing net and wire rope tangled around my waist, stroke by stroke.

I broke through the surface, gulping the freezing air, coughing violently and spitting up river water streaked with blood.

Only then did the people on shore realize something was wrong.

"Chrissy! Why did you surface on your own? Where's the rigging? Do you realize you just ruined that perfect shot!"

Zavier grabbed his walkie-talkie and rushed to the shore, shouting at me furiously.

He didn't see my face. Didn't see the blood at the corner of my mouth. He only cared about his shot.

I dragged my heavy body step by step up the shore.

Icy water dripped from my hair onto the muddy ground.

I walked up to Zavier, looked at his angry face, and suddenly felt incredibly light.

I reached up, pulled the waterproof earpiece from my ear, and smashed it on the ground right in front of him.

The earpiece shattered with a sharp crack.

"Zavier, I quit."

My voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

Zavier froze, seemingly unable to process what I'd said.

"What are you losing it about? We're almost done. You're quitting now?"

"Yes. I quit."

I looked at him.

"Your movie, your leading lady. You can handle them yourself."

With that, I ignored his stunned expression and the shocked stares around us, turned, and walked straight toward a black SUV parked outside the set.

The window rolled down, revealing Captain Jack Morrison's weathered face.

"All settled?"

Jack asked.

"All settled."

I opened the door and got in.

I handed Jack my phone.

"Standard protocol. Surrendering communication devices."

Jack took the phone, powered it off, and tossed it in the glove compartment.

"Heading out. Next stop: Denali Mountain wilderness sector."

The SUV let out a low rumble, kicking up a cloud of dust, leaving behind the man I'd loved for seven years and that unbearable past, completely behind me.