Drowning was one of the worst ways to die. Couple that with the cold November weather, and the situation was made all the more dire. Elliot didn't let himself panic, at least not on the outside. Inside he was a terrified mess. If he could just get his arms around Rae, the task of getting her back into the safety of the boat would be simple. But of course it wasn't going to go that way. Something was playing tug-of-war with Rae as the rope, and both sides were ferocious in their attempt to win the prize. Which, again, was Rae.
A hand? Reining in his fear was getting to be as difficult as trying to rescue his friend. All manner of beasties that could hold onto someone as well as breathe for that long under water, filtered through Elliot's mind, none of which fit with what was happening now. Maybe Rae was imagining it. The water was freezing, after all. The sleeves of his jacket were soaked, the cold seeping through to his bones, numbing his fingers. Rae had been in that water long enough for hypothermia to begin to set in. The only thing that assured him that it wasn't a shark or other hungry sea creature hadn't gotten her, was the absence of blood in the water.
Whatever it was, was strong. Elliot had to brace his knees against the side of the boat to keep the thing from pulling him in. Hands on his shoulders gave him more balance, the pressure pulling rather than pushing, telling him that whoever was helping him was on his side, instead of trying to push him overboard. Elliot barely heard the exchange between Andreas and the people urging him to just... let Rae go. He couldn't do that. Wouldn't do that. Wouldn't let himself believe that trying to save Rae would get other people killed. Saving people, helping them, was what he did, especially at the end of the world.
Whatever had her wasn't letting go. Nor did it have the same concern for keeping Rae in one piece as he had. Dislocated (or even broken) bones, Elliot could deal with, though he sincerely hoped that wouldn't be the case.
Giving up wasn't an option. Elliot's expression darkened when Rae dared to suggest that he should just... let her go. If she died — which she wouldn't, not on this trip — it would be partially his fault. The whole reason for this trip was so Elliot could reunite with his brother, and he was damned if he was going to be the reason Rae died.
"No," he growled, dipping down over the side of the boat to slide his arm around her. A better grip was all he needed, and if Andreas could get a clear shot at whatever was holding her? All the better.