It’s dark, but the water’s warm. A green glow shines in front of me. That’s the glow from my eyes. The thick black cobras in my hair are stirring on my head like crazy. They don’t like water and they know where this is heading. My incisors have grown into fangs, my fingernails are sharp as knives, and my face is wrinkled like an old lady’s. Yeah, I’m in full-on Medusa mode. But I probably look pretty silly to the fish as a sea monster swimming in a bathing suit.
Oh, there’s a shark. He’s a big one. Watch out, sharkie, I’ve got teeth too. I adore these creatures, by the way. They’re cannibals. As a monster myself, I play nice and find eating my own kind to be really gross, but I respect killing machines.
I lost the little fella. I smell him more than see him now. He’s giving me a wide breadth. It must be these snakes snapping back at him over my head.
I’ve changed into Medusa because, honestly, I’m totally freaked out. It’s creepy swimming alone in the ocean at night. I’m waiting for a great white shark to latch onto my legs and tug me down, like in that famous scene in Jaws. Remember that movie? You know when the girl at the beginning of the movie is, like, laughing while frolicking on the beach, running from her boyfriend, and she goes out on the water alone? She jerks in surprise because a two-ton shark is chomping off her legs. Then she’s pulled down, spurting unintelligible things as her whole body is torn apart. I love that scene. Anyway, sharkies, you best not pull that shit on me.
Where’s my marker?
The important thing at the moment is finding the statue. It’s not much further out, if I remember.
I peek out of the water for a second to catch my breath. I squint as light shines from a tower under the shadow of a hill by the shore. I see a small boat sailing near me.
Duck down!
I duck. Then I snort sea water and the water trickles over my eyes. My boyfriend’s snorkeling mask is too large. He’s going to hike over to San Fruttuoso Bay and snorkel tomorrow, and he’ll be using aquatic equipment during the day like a normal person.
Which will already be wet. Which you’ll have to explain to him, Gorgi.
Yeah, whatever, Medusa.
I reposition my leaky mask over my face and look down toward the sea floor. A few scattered fish glow green in the light from my eyes. Other than that, it’s just a dark, sandy floor about five meters down. No statue. I gargle more salt water.
Jesus.
Yes, Jesus. Where are you?
I’d really like to return to my dry, warm hotel right now.
I think the effigy is closer to the shore.
One fin at a time, Medusa. One fin at a time.
And there it is! Christo degli Abissi.
The Jesus Christ statue is standing on stone steps underwater, with outstretched arms—glowing green from my gaze—looking right up at me. A few small fish are swimming around a small reef behind him. The marker points to the spot. But I need more air to search. Ready? Well…here goes. Now don’t laugh, but I can only hold my breath for, like, twenty seconds. That makes me a poor free diver. I catch a quick breath at the surface again, then I dive. As I kick, my body darts like a dolphin toward the statue. My hands brush over the stone hand. Then, using my green gaze, I skim the sandy bottom looking for her entrance.
Do you remember where it is? I can’t recall. I mean, the statue’s pretty darn popular so it must be hidden. I remember it being near a rocky structure.
Just go back to the hotel.
I have to find her.
After seeing nothing but sand, I force my way back in the other direction. There are no fish around me now because, for a moment, I was choking on sea water and struggling to breathe. I look up. The monument’s above me now. Illuminated by my emerald eyes, looking more jade in the dark sea, the statue stands over me in full majesty. He’s awe inspiring, and in sunlight, he’d be even better.
I can’t breathe!
I rise fast, gulping more water, until I reach the surface again. Again, there’s the tower to my side; in the other direction, the sea. I’m far out now. The waves undulate, pushing me up and down, making me feel really queasy. Well, here we go again.
Just go back to the hotel. This is horrible.
I have to find her.
Hey, look! I think it’s by those rocks over there beyond the statue.
But I realize my super cursed eyes saw the rock formation, making it appear closer than it really is. Even swimming quickly, it is taking a long time to get there. Far worse, the surface is way up above me now.
I fight myself, air or not, to keep skimming the bottom. I shine my green eyes along the rocks.
Then my body jerks. A huge bolus of fluid comes from my mouth in a bubble and makes me cough, swallowing more and gagging. I squeeze my hands tight to try to remain calm. Then I look at the ocean surface far above me.
Go back up!
I smell humans. I also feel the water stir as they swim overhead. At this time? Can you believe it? They’re scuba divers, judging from the bubbles moving around them, about a half mile to my left, where I saw the boat. Well, these divers have a lot of excitement in store, and not just the thrill of seeing the Christo degli Abissi at night, if I’m still here.
Where are you, Arachne!
* * *
Hi. Blacked out for a moment. Shit, where’s my mask. Shit! My lover’s going to totally kill me.
* * *
I’m bobbing up and down in the waves along the surface, coughing up a storm, gasping for air mixed in the salty brine. Was I out again?
* * *
I’m fucking convulsing.
I catch a glimpse of the statue with my roaming green gaze.
Give up, Gorgiana!
Something tugs at my leg. Something grabs me and I’m yanked down, pulled so hard that my shoulder slams against the sea floor. It reminds me of that scene from Jaws again. I’m dragged along the sand moving so fast, as if a boat snagged me on a fishing line and is dragging me. Surrounded by bubbles, I can’t see a thing above me. And this rush of water. It burns my eyes. And…I feel pain in my chest again…and...