His words turned into a sharp yell as Cinders body slipped out of Thornes hold, sinking into the comforting lull of the waves.

Fifty-Four

Cress and Iko stood gripping each other on the lakeshore, watching Thorne and Jacin dive beneath the surface. Cress was shiveringmore from fear than coldand while Ikos body didnt give off natural heat like a human being, there was a comfort that came from her solidarity. They waited, but there was no sign of Thorne or Jacin or Cinder. Theyd been underwater for a long time.

Too long.

Cress didnt realize she was holding her breath until her lungs screamed. She gasped, the sensation more painful because she knew her companions would have been holding their breath for that long too.

Iko squeezed her hand. Why havent they She took a step forward, but paused.

Ikos body wasnt made for swimming and Cress had never been in a body of water larger than a bathtub.

They were useless.

Cress pressed a shaky hand over her mouth, ignoring the hot tears on her face. It had been far too long.

There! Iko cried, pointing. Twono, three heads appeared over the dark, chopping waves.

Iko took another step. She is alive, isnt she? She she doesnt seem to be moving. Do you see her moving?

Im sure shes alive. Im sure theyre all fine.

She glanced at Iko, but couldnt bring herself to ask the question she knew theyd all been thinking. The live broadcast of the wedding feast had shown them everything. The trial. The massacre. Cinder jumping from the ledge and plunging toward the lake below.

Could Cinder swim?

Everyone had thought it, but no one had asked.

Together, the four of them had sneaked through the city, grateful that the few Lunars they saw were too busy celebrating the queens marriage to pay them any attention. Jacin had led the way, familiar with the city and the patterns of the lake, knowing where the bodies that fell into it from the throne room occasionally surfaced. There had been no hesitation between themthey all knew they had to find Cinder while Levana was reeling from the attack.

When they had caught sight of Cinders dark form among the waves, there was a resounding gasp of joy and relief from the whole group, but they still had no idea what state Cinder would be in.

Was she alive? Was she injured? Could she swim?

When the trio in the water was close enough, Cress let go of Iko and waded out to join them. Together they pulled Cinders body ashore, laying her down on the white sand.

Is she alive? Iko asked, half-hysterical. Is she breathing?

Lets get her to that boathouse, Jacin said. We cant stay out here.

Thorne, Jacin, and Iko shared the job of carrying Cinders limp body while Cress ran ahead to hold the doors. Three rowboats were stacked on brackets against the two sidewalls, with a fourth laid out in the middle and covered with a tarp. She cleared a mess of oars and fishing equipment from the tarp, making a space for them to lay out Cinders body, but Jacin laid her on the hard floor instead. Iko closed the doors, shrouding the room in darkness. Cress scrambled to switch on her portscreen for its ghostly blue light.

Jacin didnt bother to check for breath or a pulse before he leaned over Cinder and locked his hands together on top of her chest. His eyes hardened as he started to pump down on her sternum with quick, forceful movements. Cress winced at the sound of popping cartilage.

Do you know what youre doing? said Thorne, crouched on Cinders other side. He coughed and wiped his mouth with his arm. Do you need help? We learned this in boot camp I remember sort of

I know what Im doing, said Jacin.

And he did seem to know, as he tilted Cinders head back and formed a seal over her mouth with his own.

Thorne didnt look comforted, but he didnt argue.

Kneeling at Cinders feet, Cress watched in silence as Jacin started the compressions again. She remembered net dramas where the heroine was revived by the hero with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. It had seemed so romantic. Cress had even had fantasies about drowning, dreams in which the press of a mans lips could breathe life back into her lifeless form.

The dramas had lied. There was a violence to this they hadnt shown. She grimaced as Jacins hands flattened against Cinders sternum for a third time, imagining she could feel the bruises on her own chest.

She felt suspended in time. Thorne took up sentinel by the doorway, peering out through a small, filthy window to keep watch. Iko wrapped her arms around her body and looked about ready to dissolve into impossible tears.

Cress was about to take Ikos hand again when Cinder jerked. She started to gag.

Jacin eased her head over to the side and water burbled out of her mouth, though not as much as Cress expected. Jacin held Cinder in place, keeping her airway clear, until she had stopped hacking. She was breathing again. Weak and shaky, but breathing.

Cinder opened her eyes and Jacin eased her into a sitting position. Her right arm flopped. Her hand found Jacins arm and squeezed. She spat a few more times. Good timing, she croaked.

Water was glistening on her lips and chin until Iko reached forward and wiped it away with her sleeve. Cinder looked at her and her eyes lightened, though her eyelids still drooped with exhaustion.

Iko? I thought With a groan, she fell onto her back.