Timshel

The pain was immediate. She couldn’t even think. The icy water felt like knives and her limbs seized as she gasped, vision clouding as she inhaled, feeling the water freezing her from within. Closing her eyes in acceptance Ana let herself sink barely aware as someone tugged her towards the surface. Ana’s eyes snapped open as she felt ice under her, her lungs working to expel the water from her body as Aleksandr cradled her to him.

“Again,” Ana demanded.

Aleksandr nodded as he helped her back to her feet. Grasping his hand she plunged back into the frozen depths.