A/N – A story I wrote for neighbours fanfiction website, sorry if the chapters are too short.
Chapter 1 – The Rafting Tragedy
"Now!" Shouted Justin and all the boys in the raft immediately started back paddling. It was their plan, stop right in the middle of the rough waters so the other raft would have to hit them and hopefully capsize, giving Declan and the others an early bath.
The only problem was that they weren't the ones that capsized.
As the impact neared everybody panicked and scared screams and yells filled the air. Libby and Dan shouted over everyone giving orders that would get both boats to safety, only no one listened…
And then Bang! The rafts collided and the incriminating raft capsized instead. Libby, Zeke, Bridget, Justin, Kyle and his mate were all thrown into the raging current of the river.
"Bridget!" Declan screamed
"Libby!" echoed Dan in complete shock. He took a moment to gather his senses then started shouting orders to the students in his raft.
***
Zeke broke through the surface, gasping, only to find he was under the capsized raft. He could hear someone beside him, their short ragged breaths matching his own.
"Zeke?" The person called out, "Is that you?"
"L...Libby?" He spluttered, trying to keep his head above the water.
"Yeah, It's gonna be ok, take my hand."
He fumbled about in the water a while for it, but when he finally grabbed it, a wave of relief washed over him; everything was going to be ok…
Zeke held on to Libby's hand for dear life but it was getting harder and harder as the waves kept crashing into them, the tiny pocket of air space under the raft was running out…
"Zeke!" Libby cried out alarmed, she could feel his hand slipping, "Hold on, don't let go!"
"I'm trying…" he stuttered, struggling to get a firm grip.
"No! Stay with me!" Libby screamed terrified.
"I c…cant, I can't…"
His hand slipped and the fast-flowing current swiftly took him downstream. Libby sobbed to herself whilst trying to keep afloat before she too was taken by the current…
***
With the other raft safely on the bank the students and Dan looked out over the river to spot the casualties. Justin, Kyle and their mate were clambering onto a bank nearby but where were the others?
As they looked about an overwhelming feeling of despair crept over the teenagers and their teacher, tears rolled down many of their faces, others simply refused to acknowledge what had happened.
Where were Libby, Bridget and Zeke?
And who had survived?