Chapter 9 · The Dead Man Knows

"Let go."

The corpse's grip tightened.

Eliza tried to scream but water filled her mouth. She kicked hard, lungs burning, but the fingers around her wrist didn't budge. The face staring up at her was pale as frost, lips blue, eyes wide open and absolutely clear.

Not dead. Alive.

"Let—" She choked, bubbles streaming from her lips. She clawed at the hand with her free arm but it was like scraping stone. The corpse—no, the man—pulled her closer. His mouth moved.

She couldn't hear him through the water but she read his lips.

*Valen died ten years ago.*

She froze.

He smiled. It wasn't kind. It was the smile of someone who knew a secret and enjoyed watching you drown in it.

Then his grip loosened.

Eliza kicked toward the surface, lungs screaming. She broke through with a gasp and grabbed the edge of the stone platform, hauling herself up. Water streamed off her hair, her clothes. She coughed and spat and looked back down.

The man was still there. Floating just below the surface, arms loose at his sides. Watching her.

"Who are you?" Her voice cracked. She hated how it sounded—thin and scared.

He didn't answer. Just stared.