The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 109

Standing outside was a crew member in uniform, his face contorted in panic, sweat beading heavily on his forehead.

"Ms. Taylor?" he gasped between ragged breaths, speaking rapidly. "We need your help!"

"What happened?"

"An American girl fell overboard!"

A deafening roar flooded Sloane's ears, completely blanking her mind.

"The crew is already attempting a rescue, but the swells are too huge. We can't lower the lifeboats!" the crew member rushed out. "We need all hands on deck! You're a professional diver, can you..."

"What's the name of the girl who fell?!"

"I think it's... Lilah Lane."

"Let's go!" Sloane immediately spun around, bolted back into her room, and yanked a life vest over her head.

"Which side?!"

"Port side, hurry!"

*

When Sloane burst onto the port-side deck, the ferocious gale threatened to hurl her right off her feet.

Rain lashed at her face relentlessly, mixed with stinging sea spray that felt like shattered glass. The ship rocked violently beneath her boots. Clinging to the railing with one hand and bracing against the bulkhead with the other, she staggered forward.

The entire expedition team was already gathered.

Coach Liam Jensen stood at the very front, both hands locked onto the railing in a death grip, his body pulled taut as a bowstring. Beside him, Professor Hayes wore a grim expression, speaking in frantic bursts to one of the sailors. Josh and Diego stood a few paces back. Seeing Sloane approach, Josh rushed forward and grabbed her arm to steady her against the violent pitching.

"What the hell happened?" Sloane yelled over the storm, her eyes scanning the ocean.

The grayish-black water was boiling with rage, massive rogue waves crashing in endless succession and hurling white foam dozens of feet into the air. Out in the distance, a small skiff was bouncing wildly on the swells, making absolutely zero headway.

Coach Jensen snapped his head around, his face a furious shade of ashen gray. "We have no idea how she went over. The crew said every inch of the deck was rigged with elevated safety barriers; it should have been completely impossible—"

Josh grabbed her wrist in an iron grip. "Sloane, you can't go!"

"Why the hell can't I? I'm a diver too." Sloane met Liam's gaze with absolute calm. "Two people in the water doubles the chances of pulling her out. Plus, I'm lighter. The skiff's weight distribution will be safer."

Liam stared at her for two intense seconds, then gave a curt nod.

"Follow me."

The color drained entirely from Josh's face. He let go of her wrist, grinding his jaw. "I'm coming too."

"Josh!" Professor Hayes barked. "Stop making things worse!"

"I won't be a liability," Josh replied, his voice steady, though his eyes never left Sloane. "I know how to swim, and I have search and rescue training. If Sloane... if you guys need backup, I can man the skiff and pull you in."

Professor Hayes tried to protest, but Liam was already waving them forward. "We're out of time! Move!"

The three of them sprinted for the gangway.