Chapter 4 - The Dive
Daniel didn't wait for his mother to explain. He didn't yell for the guards. He sprinted across the slippery terracotta tiles, stripping off his linen jacket as he ran.
Without a second of hesitation, he launched himself into the deep end of the pool in a clean, desperate dive.
The cold water enveloped him, but he ignored the shock, opening his eyes against the stinging chlorine. He swam downward with powerful, frantic strokes.
Through the murky blue, he saw her. Valeria was suspended mid-water, her eyes wide with terror, her face deathly pale. She was struggling to hold her breath, her chest convulsing violently.
Daniel reached her in seconds. He wrapped his arms around her waist, kicking hard to propel them both to the surface. But they didn't move. A massive, unyielding weight yanked him back down.
Confused, Daniel looked down toward Valeria's feet. His heart stopped.
He saw the thick iron chain wrapped around her ankle, connecting her to the massive marble statue on the pool floor. He saw her wrists bound tightly together with thick plastic.
This was no accident. This was an execution.
He grabbed the chain with both hands, planting his feet against the statue’s base, and pulled with every ounce of strength he possessed. The iron links dug into his palms, but the chain didn't break. The padlock held firm.
Valeria’s eyes began to roll back in her head. She was drowning right in front of him.
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Daniel needed oxygen. He needed a weapon. He needed the key.
He kicked away from the statue, shooting toward the surface like a torpedo, breaking through the water with a massive, gasping breath.
