Louisa's POV
That was the first time I had ever seen Aegir Sea in my life.
I had heard it a thousand times in Uma's bedtime stories and I had dreamed about it a million times in my mind.
It was the place where giant ocean monsters emerged from the surface and waved their huge tentacles to drag poor fishermen's boats into the darkness of the deep sea in volatile waves.
But on that day, the sea was quiet and gloomy. Having been stuck in the woods for days, I was relieved to see an open area with endless stretches of water for a change.
Above our heads, layers of thick dark clouds were gathering. Underneath the sky of roaring waves, the sea was calm, pulsing rhythmically and breathing with cadence.
I wished I could have more time to enjoy the magnificent view, but I couldn't.
The spartina plants were dancing from side to side in the gentle breeze.
Uma said, this wheat-like plant is the only one that can survive in the estuary area because the water contains too much salt, which turns all other plants into pickles. But this particular plant is able to thrive in this area.
"Because there's a place for everyone in this world," she said.
Whenever I thought of Uma, I just couldn't help shedding tears.
Darren noticed and asked, "Lisa, why are you crying?"
I quickly wiped out my tears and smiled at him.
"Nothing. I shouldn't be so sentimental. It's just the view is beautiful. I wish Uma could be here with me," I said.
Darren held me in his arms.
Mr. Weasel sat on Darren's shoulders and looked at me with a pair of watery puppy eyes.
"Could you please hold me now? I promise you that I'll behave," he said.
"OK. But you have to stay in the basket while I'm collecting the spartina plants." I said as I took out the knife from the belt.
Mr. Weasel jumped into the basket and stayed very quiet inside.
"Are you sure you want to take him with you?" Darren looked worried.
"It's OK. He's learned his lessons," I winked at Darren.
Darren nodded and took out his knife.
"Let's cut down some plants and go. Please follow me and stay at the edge of the marsh, Lisa. Don't go any further." he said.
"OK." I nodded. I knew the salt marsh could be a very dangerous place.
Some large animals would accidentally get caught in the sticky silt of marsh. They ended up being trapped and drowned alive by the marsh.
While we were cutting down plants, Mr. Weasel ran on top of my shoulders.
"Hey, you've promised to stay in the basket," I said.
"I've heard the sound of birds!" Mr. Weasel said.
"Yeah, the vampires hate water, so they won't get closer to the estuary area. That's why all the birds come to the marsh." I said, continuing cutting down the plants.
"Why are you cutting them down?" he asked curiously.
I put them into the basket on Darren's back, "To get salt. You see, when the plants absorb too much salt water, they secrete salt crystals from their ears. That's why they look sparkling in a distance. We can cut them, take them home and dry them, so we'll get..."
I didn't finish my sentences before Mr. Weasel jumped from my shoulders like a shooting arrow and got on the ground.
"Ducks! I saw ducks! Me like ducks!" He yelled with excitement and dashed into the plants.
"Mr. Weasel! Come back! It's dangerous out there!" I dropped the basket on my back and ran after him.
Before Darren could stop me, I had already found myself standing in a deeper part of the marsh.
"Lisa! Don't move! Stay where you are!" Darren shouted at me.
But it was too late.
My legs were already submerged by the silt.
I was absolutely petrified.
"Darren, I'm trapped! What am I supposed to do?" I panicked.
"Remain still. Don't move! Don't struggle! Take a deep breath, Lisa. Nothing will happen to you. I'll get you!" he said and lay down on his stomach.
"I'm sorry, Darren. I mess up again. It's all my fault." I cried out.
He crawled towards me and said, "Don't say anything, Lisa. Everything will be fine. Don't look down. Look at me!"
It was impossible not to look down, especially when my waist had already sunk into the silt.
I looked desperately around, trying to look for something to grab. But I couldn't find anything except for the plants.
I was terrified.
Is this it? Am I going to die? I thought to myself.
I had always been exposed to tremendous fear of death. But I had never expected that I would be smothered to death in a salt marsh.
I was trying to push my feet against the silt and move up, but it only made it worse. The more I panicked, the faster I sank.
"Lisa, please don't move! Look at me, Lisa!" Darren crawled towards me as fast as he could. But he was so far away and it was just too dangerous for him to get near me.
"Darren, please don't come closer!" I shouted at him.
"Lisa!"
"No! Darren! Listen to me! Don't come any closer!" I used all my strength and screamed.
I was shocked by my own voice, but Darren still kept crawling towards me.
"Darren, I've never made a friend in my life. Please listen to me. If you come closer, you'll be trapped as well. Could you please... I beg you! Just stop and listen to me!"
The silt had already swollen my chest, going all the way up to my neck.
Darren stopped in close vicinity. He couldn't move forward because the silt would consume him as well, so he stretched out his hand and grabbed mine.
"Lisa, I'm here. I'll pull you out!" he said, trying to pull me back with all his force. But the silt was too slippery, he couldn't get a firm hold of my hands.
I looked into his eyes and said, "Darren, listen to me. I've got pearls sewn inside my baggage. They were Shaman's tears and they're priceless. Give them to Finn and redeem yourself. Tell Finn that's my last wish, he'll set you free. Please set yourself free, Darren. It's time to let go..."
Darren was stunned. He looked at me as if he had seen me for the first time in my life.
I couldn't tell what was in his eyes.
"Tell me your real name."
I saw black tears running down his cheeks.
It was the last image I saw in my life.
A heartbroken warlock, abused and tortured, drenched in mud, weeping for me.
And he didn't even know who he was mourning for.
That was the saddest scene I'd ever seen in my life.
"Tell me my name," I said to my wolf in my mind.
Silence.
There was no response.
My chin was submerged in the silt.
I gasped the last breath of air and said, "It's good to have you in my life, Darren."
Then, darkness deprived all my senses.