Chapter 1: The Woman Beneath the Water
“Daddy! Mommy is down there!””
The little girl’s scream shattered the romantic silence.
Marcus Hale froze on one knee beside the swimming pool, a small red ring box open in his hand. He was wearing a tailored navy-blue suit, his hair carefully combed, and his eyes had been fixed on the beautiful woman standing before him.
The woman wore an elegant cream-colored dress. Her name was Vanessa.
For months, Marcus had been planning this proposal. He had chosen the garden behind his house, arranged white roses around the pool, and placed candles along the stone pathway.
Everything had been perfect.
Until his six-year-old daughter came running across the patio.
“Daddy! Mommy is down there!””
Lily was wearing a pink dress and white shoes. Her cheeks were wet with tears, and her small hands were trembling as she pointed toward the swimming pool.
Marcus lowered the ring box onto the small table beside him.
He stood and gently caught her shoulders.
“What did you say?”” Marcus asked.
“I saw Mom!”” Lily cried.
“She's in the water!””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Marcus, Elina died fourteen months ago.””
Her voice was calm, almost rehearsed.
She didn't look toward the pool.
She looked directly at Marcus.
“Sweetheart, you're frightening your father,” Vanessa added, bending toward Lily.
“You know Mommy isn't here anymore.””
Lily shook her head violently.
“No! I saw her! She was looking at me!””
Marcus glanced at Vanessa.
Then he looked toward the far end of the swimming pool.
Beneath the surface, near the deepest section, something metallic caught the afternoon sunlight.
A large rectangular maintenance cover.
It was partially concealed beneath the water.
Marcus's expression changed.
“Then explain that.””
He stepped away from Vanessa.
“Marcus, wait.””
She caught his arm.
“Don't do something ridiculous. She's confused.””
Marcus looked down at her hand gripping his sleeve.
“Let go.””
“Listen to me. Lily has been having nightmares. You know that.””
“She's pointing at something in the pool.””
“It's probably a reflection!””
Marcus pulled his arm free.
He removed his suit jacket and dropped it onto a nearby chair.
“Daddy!”” Lily screamed.
“Stay right there, sweetheart!””
Marcus ran toward the pool.
His polished shoes struck the stone tiles. He reached the edge, took one final breath, and plunged into the water.
The splash sent ripples across the carefully decorated pool.
Vanessa rushed to the edge.
“Marcus! Get out!””
But he was already swimming.
Beneath the surface, the world became strangely silent.
Marcus opened his eyes. Chlorine stung them as he searched the deep end.
The metal cover was larger than he had expected. It appeared to conceal an opening connected to the pool's maintenance chamber.
He had never paid attention to it before.
He swam closer.
Something was caught beneath its edge.
A pale strip of fabric.
Cream-colored.
Marcus's heart began pounding.
He grabbed the metal handle and pulled.
Nothing happened.
He adjusted his grip and pulled harder.
The cover shifted with a heavy metallic groan.
A narrow opening appeared.
Then something moved beneath it.
Marcus stopped breathing.
A human hand slowly emerged from the darkness.
It was pale, motionless, and unmistakably wearing a gold ring on the fourth finger.
Marcus stared at the ring.
He knew that design.
He had seen it before.
It was almost identical to the ring sitting inside the red box on the table above.
His eyes widened.
His entire body went still.
Above the water, Lily stood several feet away from the edge, watching.
Vanessa was shouting something, but her voice sounded distant.
Lily slowly turned her tearful face toward the camera.
“What did my dad find? Watch part two in the first comment.””
Underwater, Marcus remained frozen, staring at the hand.
May you like
And the ring.
The same ring he had planned to give Vanessa that afternoon.
