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Jumping off the boardwalk should've felt free any other circumstance.
However, this was a very specific circumstance, and seemingly faking her death seemed to be the only way out of it. No tricks that hadn't already been used would word, and she was effectively cornered. Death by drowning, or death by blade, and neither seemed very good in Aria's eyes. Fortunately, she had always been a bit lucky in life. Without wasting a second, she leapt off the boardwalk, plunging into the deep, cold water.
It pressed it on all sides, making moving in the maid outfit a struggle. That wasn't even the worst part, there were fish in the depths trying to get whatever scraps they could. She cracked her eyes open, blade cutting deep into the neck of the Fishes, blood mixing with the dark water.
Quickly after finishing off the beasts, Aria reoriented herself, eyes stinging in with every passing second. She had to live, if not for herself, for Elena. She would never be able to keep her promise if she died like this.
Aria broke the surface tension of the sea, holding onto a discarded tail as it drifted to the top of the water. Nearly blue, she opened her mouth to take in as much air as possible. She had to get stronger. Aria crawled onto the beach, knife clutched in her hands. The only thing that kept her alive.
She would be able to secure the future of her promise.