Chapter 9-P7

Aiden's words echoed into her ears between laps of water. "Now you're going to take deep, even breaths, I'll time them. Okay?" She nodded, hypnotized by a sudden sense of peace, her body falling lax. He chuckled suddenly. "Marley?" "Yes?" she mumbled. "Straighten your legs a little for me?" "Okay," she mumbled again, doing as he asked. "Now inhale...exhale...inhale...exhale..." After about a minute, Aiden's deep, soothing voice had successfully hypnotized her. Marley breathed in synch with his instructions, falling deeper and deeper into peace. Eventually, his words faded away, and her breathing followed his rhythm on its own. Marley's body swayed as if she was one with the waves. Her fingertips stretched, feeling every ripple. "Now open your eyes," he whispered, and she did. Stars. Hundreds, upon hundreds of stars. Her hazel eyes widened and her lips parted, completely amazed. But somehow, in all her surprise, the peace had still reigned over her