Again, these are the musings of my imagination, but the characters in essence belong to Stephenie Meyer and the Twilight saga. I hope you enjoy this next chapter and stay with me as I get through it. Enjoy - Aeternum 3

Chapter 2 – And so it began..

Sam went hurtling into the cold water of First Beach, the waves pounding around his head. It felt like his blood boiled beneath his skin and even the chill in the water wasn't helping much. Still he swum, trying to cool off, trying to focus. His head felt fuzzy and he couldn't hold on to a coherent thought. It was making his life difficult. Working was hard, class was nigh on impossible and worst of all, he wasn't hearing Leah when she was talking to him. And she was mad. So mad that he would have to stay away the rest of the day until she calmed down. She would have understood if only he'd told her, but they were in the middle of exams and she was stressed enough. It was times like this he wished that he had a family like Leah's, complete with both parents. He loved his mother, but she was so busy working two jobs and trying to keep her head above water that she didn't have much time to be a parent. Most of the time, it didn't bother him, but he was feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Suddenly, a cramp hit him. Instinctively he curled up but as he stopped swimming, a wave crashed down on his head, forcing him down into the grey swirling surf. He fought for the surface and narrowly avoided another wave by ducking underneath. He turned to look at the beach, and was astonished that it was miles away. He was in deep water. How had he gotten so far out? Even being distracted as he was, he had only been swimming for about 10 minutes. Or had he? More than a little frightened he turned around and swam for shore.

Mid-stroke, the cramp came back. Coursing down his spine, it felt like it was ripping him from inside out, straight down the middle. Sam gasped, and was pounded from behind by a wave, forcing him down into the dark depths of the water. He wanted to scream, but water filled his mouth and sent him into a panic. He looked around him, the salt water stinging his eyes, and he could only see the white water. Gritting his teeth against the agonising pain, he struggled in the direction he thought was up, but was then tumbled about by another wave crashing in. He swam franticly, his lungs burning. His eyes were having trouble focusing and the cramp stopped him from being able to move properly. All around the foam swirled and he was beginning to get light headed. He stretched his arm out, pain rippling through his back and was relieved when he broke the surface. A hot surge passed through him and the cramp abated. He began swimming towards the beach again, trying to coast along with the waves and take it easy. His whole body ached and he was starting to get tired. The burning felt a little bit like unbearable itchiness as well, though he couldn't stop to scratch. He was focusing on the shore.

He was on the crest of a wave when the next cramp immobilised his legs. Toes curling and gasping in pain, he was dumped again into the surf, without time for a breath. He wanted to cry out, but he knew it would not help. There was no one waiting for him, no one who knew he was here. Still a mile from shore, he was struggling and frightened. Why had he swum so far out? He was in trouble here and there was no chance of help. The pulsating, feverish surge rushed through him again and he was released from the cramping. His head broke the surface and he pushed all of his remaining strength into swimming. He needed to get back, back to shore, back to Leah. He needed to make it. His focus was so complete, he didn't see the figure on the cliff top, peering out in his direction. They startled, seeing the tired body so far out in the water, and began running down towards the beach. Stroke after tired stroke, he inched toward the beach. His head was spinning and he had to keep opening his sore eyes to check he was heading in the right direction. He needed to make it in past the rocks and he would make it, would be safely on the beach. After so much swimming, his arms felt stiff and heavy, and not even the shoreward current was helping much.

On the beach, a girl started stripping down, watching the weary head bobbing in the waves. She ran to the water's edge and dove in, surfacing and swimming with confident strokes towards him. He was struggling and his head slipped beneath the surface again. Another burst of energy had him fighting up again, taking some gasping breaths, but his rhythm was slipping and he was not making progress. The girl hurried her pace.

The cramp coursed through him again, and he arched in agony. He couldn't move, it hurt everywhere and any movement only made it worse. He was tumbled over and over again, and was starting to sink. Another wave picked him up and tossed him against a rock. It hurt, but was no match for the cramp. He couldn't breathe, any effort sucked in water. He was starting to accept he was going to drown. He wanted to swim but he just couldn't. It was too much. The pain was just too intense. He was sinking and there was nothing he could do.

Something warm wrapped around his waist and hauled him to the surface. He spluttered and coughed as the warm binding tugged him toward the beach. The waves crashed around them, but they just kept moving. Still paralysed by the cramp, he didn't move, didn't pay any attention. Then, rubbing against his feet, he felt the stony bottom of the beach. Unable to move, he just sighed in relief, regretting it an instant later when the pain claimed him.

"Sam?" a voice breathed in his ear. "Can you move?"

"No," he hissed through his gritted teeth.

A hand began massaging his knotted back, rubbing hard. Sam's eyes rolled back in his head as the pain intensified like a flame blistering his flesh. But suddenly, he could move his back. The hands moved to his arms and kneaded them. He could move. The bonds had been lifted. He bent and rubbed his legs as the pair of arms held him firm. He could walk. Exhausted, he fought the knee deep surf up on to the beach and collapsed to his knees. The sea water in his stomach sloshed and he was swiftly bringing it all up again. Hands held back his hair and rubbed his back in soothing circular motions. When he was done, he crawled further up the beach and lay exhausted on the sand.

He heard the soft footsteps as his rescuer walked around him and knelt beside him.

"Sam, are you ok?"

His eyes opened to see Leah staring at him, dressed only in her underwear. Her eyes were wide with concern. He nodded very minutely and closed his eyes again. He heard her get up and walk back down the beach. Funny, he could hear everything as he lay there. The crisp sound of her shaking out her clothes, the sand shifting beneath her feet as she put them back on. He listened to each light pad of her footsteps as she came back across the beach to him.

She stopped beside him and sat on the ground. He looked up at her through his bleary eyes, hoping that she could read the silent thanks in his gaze. Her brow wrinkled as she frowned, the anger of her fright finally making its way to the surface.

"What happened out there? What were you doing out so far?" she asked, her voice cracking.

He coughed, and she was all concern as she slid in next to him, her hand stroking his hair.

"Never mind," she said quickly. "Tell me when we get you home. Do you think you can walk?"

He took a deep breath and quickly tested his limbs. They seemed to function. He was exhausted, but at a slow pace, he thought he could make it. He coughed harshly again, and nodded at her. He pushed himself up on to all fours, her hand quickly snaking across his back to steady him. Slowly, they got him upright and he leaned against her heavily. He became aware of her trembling against him and he looked down at her.

"Lea-lea?" he asked, his voice like gravel.

Instantly, her face lifted to his and he could see the tears in her bright worried eyes. At his grimace of unhappiness with himself, she quickly turned her face away and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Her grip tightened around his waist and she leaned into him.

"Let's get you home," she said, tugging him toward the path.

"I love you Lea-lea," he all but whispered into her wet hair.

She looked up and smiled tightly at him. "Love you too."

Together, they stumbled exhausted up the path.

...

Sam lay in bed, restlessly curling in pain. He was trapped in the middle of some horrible waking nightmare. Fever raged up and down his body, making him sweat all over. He couldn't get comfortable and his body itched and burned from head to toe. He groaned as the cramps would pass through him, making every cell in his body scream in silent torture. He panted with the exertion of every breath. Every sound was excruciating and every time he opened his eyes the room spun. Tears leaked out the corners of his eyes as shut them tight, his eyes burning from the searing pain of the overhead light. His mouth felt so dry and swollen simultaneously. He wanted water but to reach out and grab his cup of water brought on new spasms of pain every time. Leah had finally gone home an hour ago when he had begged her. He couldn't bear the thought of her seeing him so weakened like this. She would not go and he had all but screamed at her to do it. The hurt in her eyes stabbed at him like a knife, but he couldn't watch the pain it caused her to see him like this. It briefly crossed his mind that he might really be sick, but he couldn't concentrate on that thought for long.

Finally he got up and switched off the light. He swayed unevenly and crunched against the wall. He slid down to the wooden floor and hit the floor with a thud. For a second he lay twitching in the moonlight, before passing out and going deathly still.