Keep It Safe

She remembered. Her mother’s tight grip on her wrist. The fear in her mother’s voice when she had left her at the old, rusty, iron gate. The feeling of the cold test tube being slipped into her hand. Her mother’s words, “Keep it safe.”

Rebecca awoke from a fitful sleep. Her fist was clenched around an old test tube. She had kept it safe all these years. Now it was time to use it. She slipped off her cot, out the back door, and then into the yard. She pulled out the stopper, tipped her head back, and drank the contents of the test tube.   The world bean to spin. Then everything went black.

When she awoke, she realized one thing. She was underwater. A circle of people stood around her. “Welcome,” they said in unison. “We were wondering when you would get here.”

Rebecca looked at her fist. The test tube was still there, but it was empty. “You were the chosen protector of that test tube. You have helped us make a great scientific discovery. A potion that allows you to breathe underwater.”

“Where am I?” Rebecca asked.

“The Mariana Trench. Now, we will give you a choice. Stay here forever, or return to the world above and continues protecting the potion.”

“I would like to return to the world above,” Rebecca said.

“All right, “ the people said. They gave her another test tube. “Drink this to return to the surface.”

“Thank you,” Rebecca squeaked. They gave her a second test tube.

“Here is another one of the water breathing potions,” the people replied. “Remember now, keep it safe.”