The interference field was down. The massive red crystal in the center of the room was finally calm, pulsing with a soft, inviting white light.
"It is ready," King Caspian said, floating near the console. "You have sixty seconds of transmission time before the atmospheric pressure scrambles the signal again."
Primrose nodded, swimming up to the crystal. Her heart hammered. She hadn't spoken to anyone from the surface in nearly a month.
She placed her hand on the crystal. It hummed, waiting for her voice.
"Hey," Primrose started, her voice cracking slightly. "It's me. Primrose."
She took a deep breath.
"I'm alive. I'm safe. I... I washed up in a place where I can't leave just yet, but I'm okay. Please don't burn down the ocean looking for me. I promise I'll be back soon."
She paused, imagining the chaotic scene at the daycare.
"Vali, stop biting people. Arjun, don't break the furniture. Jasper, stop calculating the odds of my death. Silas, keep drawing."
She swallowed hard.
