Chapter Two

Monja was panicking. There was nothing else left to do. She was screaming now, at the top of her voice, hoping that someone would see or hear her plight.

Sam was almost back to shore when he turned to check on the girl who had followed him out to sea.

He was puzzled to see she was still practically in the same place he had left her. Was she waving? Or was she in trouble?

He couldn't leave the water without finding out. He turned back to Amelia and waved to catch her attention, and then he gestured back to Monja indicating that he was going to check on her. Amelia got to her feet, suddenly nervous. A sixth sense told her something was certainly wrong.

Monja started screaming again when she realised that the big fit guy was swimming towards her. She had to get his attention. He had to help her.

Sam heard the screams and began to swim faster, desperate to get to the poor girl. "It's okay, I'm coming. I'm coming." He called out, trying to reassure the panicking woman. "It's okay, I've got you. I've got you." Sam said as he reached her. He swam behind her, looping an arm around her waist. "What's the matter have you got cramp?"

Monja tried to catch her breath. Between gasps she answered. "My foot. It's trapped. I can't swim."

"What?"

"My foot. It's caught in some sort of net."

"Hang on. You okay for a moment?" Sam let go and studied Monja closely to make sure she would be okay without him holding her up.

"Yeah."

"Okay, hold on." Sam swam below the surface, down to Monja's ankle. He tussled with the net until he ran out of breath and had to surface again. Taking another breath, he dove down again and had another try.

"That's not budging," he said once he burst through the surface again.

"What am I going to do?" Monja wailed.

"Hold on, I've got a knife." Sam made to swim away.

"Don't leave me."

"I have to. I have to get a knife to cut you free." Sam ran a hand down Monja's face in a comforting gesture and then turned away.

He swam about halfway back before meeting with another young lad swimming out.

"Everything okay?" the man asked. "You're wife? She thought there might be trouble."

Sam looked towards Amelia and then back to the man beside him. "Swim back to her. Tell her to get my knife from my backpack. Then bring it to me."

"What?" the lad looked confused.

"She's trapped in netting. I need a knife. Go!"

After a brief hesitation, the man started to swim back to shore.

Sam swam back to Monja.

"Hey."

"Hey." Monja replied. "Back so soon?"

"Yep. Help's coming. We just gotta keep you above water."

Sam swam behind Monja, looping his arm around her waist again. He decided not to mention how the tide was rising and how he couldn't get any more leeway on the netting trapped on the sea bed, but also wrapped around her ankle. He reckoned five minutes and it would be up to her nose, and with the swell she would undoubtedly be underwater repeatedly from then on.

Monja though was fully aware of the rising tide. She wondered if her friends back on shore knew what was happening. How ironic if their first meeting was going to be their last. What about her family back home, who had been so against her journey. What if she never saw them again…?

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

Sam's words cut across her thoughts. "Monja."

"Okay, Monja. I'm Sam. Someone is bringing out a knife so I can cut you free, okay?"

"Okay."

"But we don't have much time."

"I know."

"It's possible that you could be underwater before I get you out."

"I don't want to die."

"You won't die. I won't let you die. Now listen to me. When you go under, because you most likely will, I will breath for you." Sam loosened his grip on Monja so he could twist round to face her as he explained what he was going to do. "I will bring you air, underwater. Do you understand?"

Monja looked at him bemused.

"Like mouth to mouth, only underwater. You will need to stay calm, but we can do this."

Monja's huge brown eyes widened. They filled with salty tears, which fell down her cheeks and mingled with the deadly sea that was waiting to claim her.

"We can do this!" Sam repeated, lifting an arm to caress and then grip the side of Monja's head in support and affirmation of his convictions.

The next wave surge covered their heads, leaving Monja coughing and gasping. Thirty seconds later it did it again and Monja floundered in the water even though Sam had hold of her.

"Keep calm, Monja. Keep calm and go with the waves. When I say so, take a deep breath."

Monja tried to calm her nerves. She was going to be okay. This huge hulk of a man had hold of her. She could feel his muscles pressed into her back. His arm had a good grip around her waist. She could see his bicep muscle flexing if she turned her head slightly to one side. She was going to be okay, she told herself once again.

"Okay, deep breath," the voice husked in her ear.

Monja gasped and held her breath. The wave broke over her, it seemed to take ages and then she up again, breathing air.

A few moments later he commanded again, "deep breath."

Monja managed this a couple more times but on the third time, she realised she was not going to break the surface. She tried with all her might, but she was not getting there. Then she felt Sam's arm let her go and her mind went wild, with fear and terror and she couldn't be calm no matter how she tried. Her lungs were bursting. She had to breathe. She would die if she didn't. It hurt, it physically hurt.

And then a mop of hair came into vision. A vision that was now blurred at the edges, but Monja was sure it was hair. Beneath the hair was the face of Sam and he came up to her, gently pinching her nose and opening her mouth, breathing air, lifesaving air into her lungs.

Monja exhaled and then her lungs began screaming for more. She searched around for him, silently begging him to come back, and seconds later there he was again, breathing for her again.

Each time he came back Monja was more desperate than the last time but then he disappeared completely. Why didn't he come back? Why didn't help her?

Sam had broken the surface to see the lad swimming back with the knife. Lunging for it, he grabbed the handle and the kicked down below the surface. Cutting the netting was the most important thing now. He still had a chance with Monja once he got her to the surface but for now, he had to get her free.

Every second counted, and Sam wielded the knife with expert precision, cutting the net with a deliberate ferocity. He was desperate for air himself, but he would not stop until he got her free. As the final thread broke, he yanked Monja by the hair and pulled her above the surface.

Gasping air into his lungs, he checked Monja quickly. She had a pulse but she wasn't breathing. Giving her two quick breaths, he came up behind her, locked his arm across her chest and began to swim her back to shore.

Once on land, a small circle began to form around the two of them. Sam continued to give Monja mouth to mouth, praying to God, Cas, anyone who would listen to at least give this girl a chance. Her friends stood in silence, fearful, hopeful, and watchful.

It was a minute or so later when Monja gasped her first breaths for herself again. Rolling her onto her side to stop her choking, Sam heaved a sigh of relief, brushing heavy wet tendrils from his eyes.

# # # # # # ##

Monja had to spend twenty four hours in hospital. Simply as a precaution. Her friends stayed with her continuously, sometimes in shifts, sometimes all together not caring about the beach or the convention, or anything but their friend.

It was whilst they were all together that Sam and Amelia paid a visit. Wanting to know that she was doing okay. Monja was pleased to see him. She couldn't express how grateful she was. For everything he had done. For just being there, because even his presence had been reassuring.

Emilie sat on the bed holding Monja's hand. Trying to be brave, but feeling overwhelmed by the day's events but determined to be there for her friend.

Simona and Bettina stood by the window, the sunlight shining on them, two angels who had held a watchful vigil between them.

Valorie stood by the door, next to Sam and Amelia. Relief shone in her face. She would never let them know the terror that gripped her. She would only make sure they looked forward with hope in their hearts.

Sam made to leave, but before he went he gave Monja a quick hug. "I'll leave you with your friends," he said as he backed away again towards the door.

Just as he turned to leave Valorie asked one last question.

"We are so lucky you were there. Do you do this all the time? Saving people?"

Something warm curled in the pit of Sam's stomach. He turned back and smiled. "Yeah. It's the family business."