The deep blue ocean surrounds me on all sides.
My scuba gear weighs heavy on my back.
I check my oxygen levels…
There’s a quarter of a tank left.
What WAS that down there?
Even in the darkness, it glistened.
I swim these waters every day…
But I’ve never seen anything like it.
I dive down and kick my flippers.
A quarter of a tank is enough.
The sunlight disappears as I swim further.
My headlamp illuminates a school of sunfish.
Their silver scales gleam as they scatter.
I know these waters like the back of my hand.
My mom hates it when I stay out too long.
But I know where I’m meant to be:
It’s half sunken in the sand:
A brilliant blue sapphire.
It’s bigger than my fist.
And the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
It must be worth MILLIONS.
But what is it doing here?
This could pay for my college tuition…
I carefully dig it out of the sand.
It’s heavier than I thought.
I kick hard off the bottom.
Slowly but surely, I rise to the top.
Sunlight blinds me as I surface.
I gasp for air, pulling out my snorkel.
The sapphire catches the sun at a thousand angles.
I swim over to my tiny boat.
Maybe now I can afford a new one.
I place the sapphire on the stern.
I hoist myself out of the water.
Just then, I hear a voice call to me.
Drifting towards me is an elegant speedboat.
A handsome boy stands on the bow.
His blonde hair blows in the breeze…
Kelsey
Hi! Sorry, you scared me.
The boy smiles at me warmly.
Kelsey
Didn’t see you there.
Boy
I saw you anchored over here.
Boy
I figured I’d come say hi.
Boy
Great spot for diving, huh?
He stretches his arms into the sky.
Wow…he’s actually kind of cute.
Boy
What do you have there?
Boy
Doesn’t look like nothing.
Boy
You should see the other one!
He points to the horizon.
There, floating like an island…
Is the biggest yacht I’ve ever seen.
It must be 500 feet long.
Kelsey
Please don’t tell me that’s yours.
Boy
Well…technically it’s my dad’s.
Boy
But it’s mine for the weekend.
Boy
The chefs are serving lobster.
Kelsey
Uh, I should really be getting back.
Boy
Do you come out here often?
Kelsey
Yeah. It’s my happy place.
Kelsey
I’m a marine biology student.
Boy
I’m studying marine biology, too!
Boy
Come have lunch with me. Please.
Boy
We have so much to talk about.
He gives me that warm smile again.
Kelsey
Well, I do love lobster…
He glides the speedboat over.
I quickly grab the sapphire…
And tuck it into my backpack.
He doesn’t seem to notice.
Boy
I’m Damien, by the way.
Damien
Nice to meet you, Kelsey.
He helps me into the speedboat.
We start flying across the ocean.
Kelsey
So, what does your dad do?
Damien
Ah, well, it’s complicated.
I crane my neck up at the yacht.
The closer we get, the bigger it is.
Damien
You haven’t seen anything yet.
I see 5 crew members in matching outfits.
They tie up the boat and help us aboard.
I get no response from the crew.
In fact, they don’t even look at me.
Damien
Set the dining table on the top deck.
A crew member pulls out a radio…
Damien
And take her backpack for her.
Kelsey
Oh no, I’ll hold onto it.
We step into an elevator.
He pushes the button for the top deck.
Kelsey
I’ve never seen an elevator…
Damien
And I’ve never seen a sapphire…
The elevator doors close.
Damien
I’m going to make this simple…
Damien
Either you give me the sapphire…
Damien
Or I’m going to sail to open ocean…
Damien
And throw you overboard.
I scream at the top of lungs.
The elevator doors open up…
Damien
No one can hear you up here.
Damien
And even if they could…
Kelsey
You’re a psychopath.
Lunch is laid out on the table…
Damien
So what’s it going to be?
Damien
Do you want a nice lunch?
Damien
Do you want things to get complicated?
They aren’t warm anymore…
Kelsey
What do you need the money for?
Damien
That’s not really the point.
Damien
I like shiny things.
Damien
And keeping them away from…
Damien
Stupid girls like you.
I take off, sprinting across the deck…
Damien calmly walks out behind me.
Damien
That’s pretty risky…
Damien
It’s a 4-story drop.
My heart beats in my chest.
Kelsey
Well, I like taking risks…
Kelsey
And anything is better…
Kelsey
Than lunch with you.
I reach for it desperately.
Damien looks down from high above…
My boat is in the distance.
I know these waters like the back of my hand.
If I have to come back here every day…
I’ll find that sapphire again.
