Deadly Dolphins, Rebirth at the Shark Island

For our graduation trip, my boyfriend took me to his family's private island in the Florida Keys.

His childhood friend, Lyla, came along too.

Our yacht hit a hidden reef, leaving us stranded. Lyla pointed at some fins circling in the distance and claimed they were our rescue.

Look, dolphins! They're going to lead us back to the shore! she cried out.

My boyfriend nodded in excitement. The rest of the group looked on with hope in their eyes.

I shook my head frantically. Those weren't dolphins. They were bloodthirsty tiger sharks.

I couldn't bear to see everyone eaten alive. I ignored the danger and dove into the water to lure the sharks away from the boat.

By the time I was exhausted, I finally found a rescue team and led them back to the wreck.

On the way back, Lyla suddenly started screaming that I was looking down on her. She threw herself into the ocean and a shark bit off both her legs.

She wailed that I had pushed her. My boyfriend was furious and shoved me off the deck.

I was torn apart by the sharks. They didn't even leave a single bone behind.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment Lyla pointed at the fins.

I clapped my hands with excitement. "Wow, dolphins! Lyla, you should jump in and say hi to them!"

"They're spirits of the ocean. If we show them kindness, they'll definitely save us!"

Lyla's voice sounded so innocent.

Was I really reborn?

"Janessa, don't be such a skeptic. Books say dolphins are friends to humans. They'll carry us back to the beach."

Lyla blinked her big, innocent eyes at me. She made me look like a villain who didn't understand common sense.

Landon and the others stared at me with expectation. If I dared to question her, they would attack me. I was used to this.

I curled my lips into a smile. "Lyla, you're so smart. That's a fantastic idea."

"Go on, jump in. Say hello so they'll swim faster."

Landon, who was standing beside me, gave me a rare look of approval.

"Janessa, I'm glad you're finally acting like a person instead of a spoiled brat."

I didn't bother arguing. My mind was already racing to figure out a survival plan.

There were eight of us on this mid-sized yacht.

Landon and I were supposed to be in the cockpit. But Lyla claimed she was seasick and dragged him out. I had been steering the whole time.

In my past life, I was the only one who knew how to sail. After we hit the reef, I gave them the only life raft and all the fresh water. I jumped into the sea to lure the sharks away to give them a chance.

This time, I wasn't going to save these idiots.

I remembered that just past those rocks, there was a shallow reef. It would be a safe spot to wait for help.

I had the stamina to swim there. The emergency supplies on the boat would last me a few days alone.

Once my plan was set, I felt myself relax.

To be safe, I pulled a bracelet out of my waterproof bag.

It was a birthday gift from Quinton.

In my last life, Quinton found this bracelet in the water where I was eaten. He held the broken chain and cried in agony. He regretted not telling me sooner that there was a GPS tracker inside the charm.

I smiled slightly and twisted the pendant. I pressed the emergency button.

I hoped he would make it in time this time.

"Janessa, don't you have a spare life ring? Give it to us."

My heart sank.

They wanted to take my last piece of safety gear?

"There are three more in the storage locker. Why don't you go get those?" I asked coldly.

Lyla pouted and spoke as if she owned the place. "Janessa, the boat could sink any second. We need to manage the life rings together. You can't be selfish."

I almost laughed out loud. She had just been feeding her crackers to the seagulls, and now she cared about resources?

Landon stepped forward. He used his usual commanding tone.

"Hand it over."

I took a deep breath. I tried to talk sense into this fool.

"I bought this life ring with my own money..."

"Who cares about that right now?" Lyla interrupted, acting like a saint.

"We need to be united in danger. If everyone was as selfish as you, we'd never get home."

As soon as she spoke, the others looked at me with disgust.

"Exactly. You don't need two life rings for yourself. Share with the group."

"Janessa, give it up! Don't make us take it by force!"

"Rich girls are always so greedy. You're nothing like Lyla."

Selfish?

If my family didn't have business deals with their parents, these people wouldn't even be here. They were only hanging around Landon to get jobs at his family's company after graduation.

I finally understood. This trip was organized by Landon's parents to test me as a future daughter-in-law.

Unfortunately, their precious son was being played by a total snake.

When I didn't speak, they tried to grab my emergency bag. I tried to protect it, but two guys pinned me to the deck.

I watched them snatch my life ring away.

Without it, if the boat sank, I'd be left to die in the water.

"Give it back!" I struggled to get up.

Lyla stepped on my wrist. Her eyes were full of malice. "Shut up! If you keep screaming, we'll throw you to the fish!"

A sharp pain shot through my arm. Tears welled up in my eyes. The salty sea wind stung my face, making me feel pathetic.

The others laughed at my misery.

"Is this the great Janessa Jiang? You look like a drowned rat! Hahaha!"

I grit my teeth and stood up. I went to slap Lyla.

Suddenly, Landon grabbed my wrist. Lyla saw her chance and slapped me hard across the face.

The sound echoed across the deck.

Landon froze. He instinctively let go of me.

I fell to the floor, my cheek burning with pain.

Lyla immediately hid behind Landon. She looked terrified. "I'm sorry, Janessa! You tried to hit me first... I was just so scared."

Landon reached out to me, his face full of annoyance. "Get up. Stop embarrassing yourself."

I forced back my tears. I looked him straight in the eyes.

"Landon, we're done. It's over."

"Lyla was just startled! Stop being so dramatic," Landon snapped. He shielded Lyla as if I were a monster about to attack his precious flower.

A huge sense of exhaustion washed over me.

Dramatic?

Since we started dating, everything I did was labeled as "dramatic" if it didn't go his way.

Choosing a different college was dramatic.

Wanting to start my own business was dramatic.

Every time Lyla cried, I was being dramatic.

"Landon, we don't belong in the same world. Let's just end this."

Time had turned him into someone I didn't recognize.

When we were sixteen, his family's business almost went bankrupt. My father stepped in to save them.

That was the year I met Landon at a gala.

He wore an ill-fitting suit. He looked so insecure and lost in the corner.

I went over to him and told him everything would be okay.

Landon worked hard. With my father's help, his family's business got back on track.

At graduation, he confessed his love to me in front of the whole school. He gave me a thousand roses.

He said, "Janessa, you're the light of my life. I'll protect you forever."

We started dating, and it seemed perfect.

But then his attention started drifting toward Lyla.

She was like he used to beDordinary and fragile. She triggered his hero complex. Eventually, his heart completely shifted to her.

I stumbled to my feet. I grabbed my bag back from the group and turned toward the railing.

If I could reach those rocks, I'd be safe.

Landon blocked my path. I crashed into him.

A flicker of pity showed in his eyes. "Don't be stupid. Jumping in alone is suicide."

Lyla grabbed Landon's arm. She gave me a mocking smile. Then she turned to the group with a "great" idea.

"Wait! Janessa is the best swimmer among us. She loves diving. She has more energy than any of us!"

Everyone turned to look at me.

"Lyla's right!" one guy shouted. "Since she's so good at swimming, she should be the one to go for help!"

"Yeah! We're all in this together, but she's the most capable. She should step up!"

"Take her bag! We should split the supplies. She doesn't need them if she's swimming!"

My heart dropped. I held the bag tight. "This is mine! You have no right!"

This whole boat was a gift from my family to Landon!

Lyla tilted her head innocently. "Janessa, we're doing this for everyone. You swim faster without the extra weight. We'll keep your stuff safe until you bring the rescue team back."

Everyone nodded as if this made perfect sense. They looked at me like I was a criminal for being selfish.

Landon sighed. I hoped he would stop this madness. But his next words broke my heart.

"Janessa, Lyla is right. You're physically stronger. This is our only chance." He paused, then used his bossy voice. "Hand over the bag and get in the water. I'll wait for you here."

I had no hope left. I turned to jump.

Lyla screamed, "She's trying to escape! Catch her!"

They tackled me and pinned me to the deck.

"Ow!" Lyla suddenly cried out. She clutched her stomach and looked at Landon. "Janessa, why did you kick me?"

Landon shoved me away. He rushed to help Lyla up.

I was stunned. "I didn't even touch her!"

Lyla sobbed in his arms. "I'm sorry, Janessa. I shouldn't have suggested it. Please don't kick me again. It hurts so much..."

Landon glared at me. "Apologize! Now!"

"I didn't do anything! I won't apologize!"

The others started shouting at me.

"You were struggling so hard, of course you kicked her!"

"Lyla is too sweet to lie. You're a liar and a bully!"

Lyla started breathing heavily. "It's okay... Landon, just let her go. The 'dolphins' look like they're waiting. Let her go attract their attention. Maybe they'll be happy and carry her to shore."

The tiger sharks were circling closer. Without my bag and supplies, I wouldn't make it.

I refused. "I'm not going."

Lyla sniffed. "Fine. I guess our lives aren't as important as yours."

Landon was furious. "Janessa, how did you become so heartless?"

The word "heartless" was like gasoline on my fire.

I used all my strength and slapped Landon as hard as I could.

"I'm heartless? You can swim too! Why don't you go?"

Landon's face showed red finger marks. Lyla screamed.

"Are you crazy? How dare you hit Landon!"

Landon's expression went dark. "Janessa, you clearly need to learn a lesson."

I felt a chill of dread.

"Grab her. Throw her over. Let's see if she'll swim then."

It was a cruel plan, but everyone cheered.

"Yeah! Stop wasting time!"

"Dump her in!"

Two guys grabbed me. They ignored my screams and dragged me to the edge.

I panicked. "Landon, you're insane!"

He looked at me with cold eyes. "When you realize you're wrong, swim back."

He turned his back on me.

They shoved me. I hit the cold water with a massive splash. Salt water filled my nose and mouth.

I heard them laughing from the deck. Nobody cared that I was struggling.

The yacht started its engine. They didn't leave; they just moved a short distance away as if I were a plague. They watched from afar, waiting for me to be torn apart.

The jagged metal from the reef had cut my skin. Blood started clouding the water. I screamed, "Stop! Please pull me up!"

Only Lyla's laughter answered me.

The engine noise drowned out everything else. I thought I was going to die.

My vision blurred. Then, I saw a huge white speed boat racing toward me. A man's voice screamed, "Let her go!"

The two sharks noticed the commotion and turned toward me.

Someone on the yacht yelled, "Oh no! Those are sharks!"

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