Perilous Waters by Diana Paz

herself to follow after Ethan, but Kaitlyn started pulling at her hair. Ethan had gone too deep. She didn’t think she could follow after. Her kicking became spastic as her body choked on its need for oxygen.
    Kaitlyn formed the magic between them. Turn back, turn back, Kaitlyn begged through their connection. Angie’s heart plummeted. She would have to. Her lungs and mind screamed in unison, matching Kaitlyn’s frantic pleas.
    Kaitlyn’s arms grasped at her body, wrapping around her as she began thrashing. With a kick of frustration, Angie changed direction, pumping her legs toward the surface. The thought of leaving Brian and Ethan in the depths of the sea to face creatures alone made her sick to her stomach.
    But a girl appeared in front of her.
    Golden light spilled from her body, leaving a trail of glimmers behind her as she reached out with both hands.
    Angie blinked at the girl, vaguely aware that Kaitlyn had loosened her grip. Despite the frozen world, she felt warmth. An alarm raced through her thoughts as she realized she no longer felt the need to breathe.
    She glanced back at Kaitlyn, who looked on with wide, green eyes. Kaitlyn spun in a slow circle, surrounded by her black, floating hair that wrapped her bare midriff like a dark ribbon. She placed a hand on Angie’s arm, forming the magic between them. Even before their connection solidified, Angie could sense that she wasn’t afraid.
    I can swim, Kaitlyn said. I’ve never been able to swim before.
    The mergirl beckoned them. Kaitlyn moved ahead, but Angie held her. Wait. What about Julia?
    They both glanced back. Julia’s form grew closer. She pointed at the mergirl excitedly, and Angie nodded. This must be the girl Julia had mentioned before.
    They followed as the mergirl swam gracefully backwards. She faced them with undisguised curiosity, as if they were all new toys she would play with. Kaitlyn reached for her and the mergirl smiled, allowing Kaitlyn to touch her arm before spinning and swimming away, descending to the golden light shining beyond the darkness.
    Angie’s desire to follow nearly overwhelmed her. Tendrils of gold reached up from a dome of light below them. She had no thought for how deep they were going, or what they might find when they reached their destination. She only knew that beyond the dark, velvety descent, something called to her. She was powerless now, unable to stop herself from seeking out the golden light.
    The girl urged them forward as soft, high-pitched sounds echoed across the water; gentle noises that reminded Angie of faraway squeals of joy. She wanted to meet whoever made the endearing sounds. She swam toward them.
    The girl beckoned, her golden, light-bedecked hair billowing down to conceal her bare body like a veil. The tilt of her head and expectant eyes tugged at Angie’s heart. She followed, not surprised to find Kaitlyn and Julia doing the same.
    They reached a place where the golden light amassed, forming an enormous, glowing sun beneath the surface. The mergirl dove directly into it. Angie followed after, knowing without looking back that the other girls did the same.
    Passing through the light filled every cell in Angie’s body with energy. Her magic sang as it coursed through her body, the world blazed with a gold so bright she squinted as her feet found solid ground. She breathed deeply as air, not water, touched her skin.
    She sank to her knees and took several great breaths, blinking to clear her vision. The golden light formed a barrier between them and the ocean. She twisted around to see Kaitlyn and Julia, both of them dripping wet, staring with wide eyes. Their gazes flitted across the strange space. Kaitlyn stood, her legs visibly trembling, but her chin lifted as she inched near Julia and Angie.
    Angie glanced around the room, finding the area beyond them divided into hallways, with stairs that spiraled down and away, and others that led up, all branching out from this golden room.
    Movement