The heavy wet sensation was crushing him, squeezing his chest until he thought his lungs were going to explode through his ribs, the sharp ends of bone piercing his skin. Desperate, he opened his eyes trying to orient himself, to find the surface. The light was struggling to pierce the murky waters turning his surroundings into an eerie alien landscape. As some of his last bit of oxygen slipped past his lips he focused on the bubble watching to see which direction it would travel in. There. To his left. Fingers growing weak, he fumbled with the last padlock. Finally, it opened and he was free!
His body shot to the surface like an arrow loosed from its bow, just a little more, now he could see the buildings coming into view.
Air!
The teenager gasped and heaved as his oxygen starved lungs gratefully sucked in the precious commodity. Moving to his back to float while he recovered his breath and prepared for the swim that lay ahead, the teenager allowed himself a triumphant smile.
"Ha ha! Take that you bastards!"
The triumphant feeling quickly died as he thought of the eyes he knew were watching him.