Hey all. Welcome back! Right so, this is where the action starts and I hope that it lives up to the expectations of all of you!
Enjoy!
Chapter 2 – Going Under
I was sinking like a stone, the light swiftly pulling away and leaving me in absolute blackness. My clothes were pulling me down further into the depths, and I was so paralyzed with fear that all my strength had left the muscles; I could practically feel it draining away from my arms and legs and into my heart. Da-Dum! Da-Dum! Da-Dum! It was beating ferociously, so much that it hurt.
My lungs felt like they were about to explode. I needed air so badly, it was causing little fireworks to explode in front of my eyes. The pressure on me was mounting; the weight of the water was slowly starting to crush me. It was insane but instead of wanting the air I needed, all I wanted to do was scream. But my muscle reflexes prevented me from doing it, clamping my mouth shut in a water tight seal. I twisted and turned, attempting to find which way was up, but my legs were caught in the wire and I only spun on the spot, disorientating me further. Water rushed up my nose, setting my sinuses on fire. I couldn't take it anymore, my body was vibrating with the urge to scream, the water around me shimmering.
I fell limp, opening my mouth to let a tiny bubble of air out. And then I let rip.
I screamed as long and as hard as I could, the pressure around my head starting to clear. But then the water wanted to rush down my throat and invade my lungs, and I knew I couldn't stop it. This was the end. I'd die before I knew anything of adventure or love or anything important. Just another tragic teenage death. It made me laugh internally as I wondered if you could cry underwater.
I breathed in deep.
Pain flooded my system as the burning water coursed down my throat and was soaked up by my spongy lungs. I could feel the little pockets of alveoli bursting, like bubble wrap. But suddenly the pain stopped, and instead, I felt life returning to my heavy limbs. The stinging had subsided and now, it felt as natural as breathing.
But why did I feel the insane urge to scream again?
I did even though I had no air to do it with. Instead of the flurry of gurgling bubbles like last time, this time it was shimmering water and a high long piercing ring. I felt power building in my legs and I kicked, snapping the strong wire. I breathed in deep again, the water I so feared now ambrosia. I screamed again. Was it screaming really, or singing? I manipulated my vocal chords and changed the note. Yes, I was singing. I kicked again and I felt the water whoosh past me. What on God's earth? I was swimming now?! I had to be dead – you know how they say that your life flashes in front of your eyes? Perhaps instead it shows you a more comforting image than reality – that instead of floundering as I drowned, I was swimming as well as any Phelps or Spitz.
After a couple minutes I noticed that to swim, I needed to sing. It was like cranking a generator. But the song was nothing I'd ever heard before. I wasn't even a great singer to begin with! But the tune found its way up my throat and into the water, changing key and harmony without my instruction. This must be heaven, as I felt sheer and utter bliss with each intake of salt water and every explosion of song from my waterlogged lungs.
My eyes adjusted to the dark and I saw where the light was, kicking ferociously towards it, singing the whole way. It only took 3 strokes before I breached, flying high up into the air like a bullet. I could see very clearly now, as the fog had receded to a fine mist. Jacobs boat. I smiled for a millisecond before gasping the strangely dry air in horror. The boat was heading straight for rocks but they kept going as if they'd never seen them.
I fell back into the water, and screamed again, harder, faster and fearful. I swam with all my might towards them, praying that I was not too late, singing the eerie defiant song the entire time.
Cold hard hands gripped my legs and pulled me backwards through the water. They let go but less than a nanosecond later they were clamped over my mouth, disrupting my song. The strength left my legs instantly and I was feebly squirming as icy hands pulled me towards the surface.