Beneath the Surface – Chapter One
June 26, 1972 – Monday
The water looked deep and inviting. He wondered what it would be like to jump in, and have his body engulfed by the water. He imagined breathing in the beautiful seawater, allowing it to enter his lungs. He could almost feel the burning in his chest as his body fought against him, trying to get oxygen. He smiled; it sounded wonderful. He knew he didn't have anything to live for anymore. They told him so. Honestly, they even showed him proof that he had nothing to live for. More than that, they showed him that he was responsible...for everything.
All of his blood relatives were dead. His fiancee was dead. His friends, his best friend...all dead. And because of him. They showed him the evidence; provided him with the proof. They told him he was incompetent, and stupid. He had possessed the ability to stop the deaths, but he couldn't. And the reason behind that? He was a failure. He knew that now, they had told him repeatedly, and he finally realized how right they were.
That was why he was here now, on top of a big lava rock overlooking the ocean, ready to jump at any given time. They told him he didn't deserve to live; told him he was a bad person. He had caused his friends and family's deaths: he was solely responsible, couldn't he see that? He had seen it, and he said he would do anything to make up for it.
They told him he could. They said he could pay a small percentage back to those who had died because of him. When he asked how, they told him. He hesitated for a moment, but once he was reminded of the horrible deeds he had done, he made up his mind. They were right. He deserved to die, and he deserved to die by his own hand. Then they told him that not a soul in the world cared about him, but they cared enough to help him pay back those he owed. They were the only ones who were going to be there for him, and he believed them
He had never gotten the chance to see his deceased loved ones after their deaths. He didn't know if he wanted to have seen them...he was told that they died horrible deaths. He knew that it was his fault, and now he was ready to take the punishment for what he had done.
He looked around, he was alone up here on the rock. There were only two ways off, straight down or back the way he came, where they were waiting. His gaze returned to the ocean, and his heart began to pound as he readied himself for what was about to happen.
Somewhere in his subconscious, something told him he shouldn't do this. Something told him that somebody out there did care, and he wasn't acting in his own free will, therefore he needed to stop. He conquered the thoughts, telling himself he knew exactly what he was doing. Not only did he deserve this, he wanted this. It was the least he could do for his fallen comrades.
With that last parting thought, Danny Williams stood up shakily and dived headfirst, beneath the surface of the glistening blue ocean.
H50
To be continued...
H50
A/N: Hi There...so, here it is: the first chapter of my ongoing work-in-progress. I've been working on it for some time now, trying to figure out where I'm going with it. I think I now know where I'm headed with this, but the fate of certain characters is yet to be decided...