Nick's POV
I tried. God knows I tried. I swear I did.
I dove until my lungs burned, until the salt stung my eyes raw, until my body screamed in agony. But the sea, that cruel, merciless sea I once called home, swallowed her whole. The same waters that had once sheltered me, that had been my escape from the world's judgment, had now taken everything I loved.
She was just… gone. No trace, no clue where she had gone.
"I have to go back!" I roared, my voice breaking as I pushed off the dock, ready to dive again.
Liam caught my arm and yanked me back with all his strength. "No, Nick! If you go back now, it'll be you we'll be searching for next!"
"Let me go—"
"You're done!" he snapped. "You've been diving for hours. You're barely standing, look at yourself! Rest. Let the Coast Guard do their job. Once you've regained your strength, I swear I'll go with you to search for her again."
