Why... just why,... am I stupid?!

The Great Escape... Sort Of

Okay, this is it.

I'm dragon chow....

It finally got tired of my present....

I am done for sure!

The dragon's been staring at me for what feels like forever, and I can see something change in its eyes. They narrow, and its whole body tenses up like it's preparing to strike. Every instinct in me screams to run, but, you know, chained to the ocean floor and all that. So, all I can do is watch as it moves.

The dragon coils its massive body, and I see its tail swish through the water, those razor-sharp fins slicing through the darkness like a knife.

Oh gods, this is really happening.

I shut my eyes tight, bracing myself for the inevitable. 

Great.

You survived so many monsters and so many shits, only to get taken out by a dragon. Dad, if you're listening, I could really use some help right about now.

I'm holding my breath—not that it really matters underwater—waiting for the pain, the crushing force of dragon teeth, the end. I can feel the water shifting around me, the chains rattling with the movement. It's all happening so fast, and I can't do anything but hope my death is quick.

Please let it be quick. 

And not too painful. 

And maybe let them find my body so Mom doesn't have to wonder what happened to me.

I'm squeezing my eyes shut, heart pounding, when I feel something brush against me. It's not the sharp, crushing pain I was expecting. No, this is different. There's a strange pressure around my wrists and ankles, a sort of tugging, like something is pulling at the chains.

Wait... what?

The pressure increases, and suddenly, I hear a loud snap. One of the chains around my wrist gives way, then another, and then the ones on my ankles. There's a series of metallic clinks as the chains loosen, and suddenly, I'm floating freely in the water.

Am I... alive?

I open my eyes, cautiously, half expecting to see dragon jaws about to close in on me. But instead, I see the dragon's massive tail sweeping past me, its fins gleaming like blades as they slice through the last remnants of the chains. The dragon's eyes are still focused on me, but now there's something different in them—something almost... gentle?

What just happened?

I glance down at my wrists and ankles, and sure enough, the chains are gone, snapped clean by the dragon's razor-sharp fins. I'm free. The realization hits me like a wave, and for a moment, I'm just floating there, completely stunned.

The dragon... freed me?

The dragon's massive head tilts slightly, as if it's waiting for me to understand what just happened. Its enormous body moves with surprising grace as it circles me, keeping a careful distance but still close enough that I can feel the rush of water with every movement.

I'm still trying to process this when the dragon lets out a low rumble, almost like a purr, and then it simply... stops. It hovers in front of me, eyes locked onto mine, as if to say, "You're welcome."

Me: "Uh... thanks?"

The words sound ridiculous even to me, but what else do you say to a giant sea dragon that just saved your life? I can feel my heart still pounding in my chest, the adrenaline making my hands shake, but I'm not about to question my luck right now. I'm alive. I'm free. And the dragon isn't trying to eat me.

Dad, I have no idea what just happened, but thanks for not letting me get turned into a Percy-flavored snack.

The dragon gives one last soft rumble, almost like it's acknowledging my gratitude, and then it slowly pulls back, its massive form gliding through the water with an elegance that doesn't quite match its size. It lingers for a moment, watching me, before finally turning and swimming off into the darkness, leaving me alone in the strange, glowing cavern.

Well, that was unexpected.

I take a deep breath—again, not really necessary underwater, but old habits die hard—and try to steady myself. My body feels lighter now that I'm not weighed down by the chains, and I can actually move. I'm free.

Thanks, Dad. And thank you, random dragon. 

Now let's figure out how to get out of here.