Chapter 18: Chapter 18- Life Jackets

"Pull on the jacket and click the two buckles on the front," Mindy instructed.

My shaking hands could barely pull the neon jacket over my shoulders. I felt hands on mine, their comforting warmth stopping my hands from shaking altogether.

I didn't need to look behind me to know it was Lukas. He reached his arms out from behind me, snaking them from under my arms, and proceeded to fasten my buckles. Once done, he let his arms stay there, pulling me into a hug.

"Oy, you two, get in the water!" Tobias yelled from the raft. He was seated next to the motor, while Jacques climbed in. Ebinezer, Kathleen and Claudia were already in the raft.

I started to visibly shake again. Although the waves in the water were small and innocent-looking, the deep blue colour of the water looked anything but inviting.

"Hey, hey, it'll be okay. Look, I'll go first, then you follow me in, alright?"