"Alicia, I don't think I have much time left!" Todd yelled above the sound of rushing water. "Did you get your hands free?"

Alicia spluttered as she choked on some of the water. "N-no! My hand slipped. All I've got is a bloody wrist now. But I might be able to reach your ankles, which should buy us a little more time. Just hold on!" She let herself sink under the water and strained against the chains to reach for Todd's bound feet. She was short by mere inches. Cursing herself silently, she tried again and again, then broke the surface in despair. "Todd! How are you holding up?"

"Alicia," he said, the fear evident in his eyes. The water was well above his chin, and she could tell he was straining to keep it that way.

"Don't give up yet. We'll get out of here. We have to." Todd tilted his head further back as the water kept rising. Alicia dove under again, then resurfaced. "Can you move towards me at all?" Todd shook his head, and Alicia swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm not going to stop trying," she said firmly. "I'll stay under with you the entire time. Just hold on for me, okay? Don't give up yet."

Together they took one last breath, and Alicia slipped under as the water closed over Todd's nose and mouth. She tugged at her chains as Todd struggled as close to her as he could move. She reached out with the small shift she was able to find, and she almost could slip it under the shackle. She looked up as Todd gave her another centimeter, starting to panic without oxygen. It gave her the room she needed. She grabbed his foot and slid the small piece of metal into the brace, and after a long four seconds, felt the satisfaction of it popping unlocked. She smiled up at Todd and broke the surface. After a moment, she realized Todd hadn't.

"Todd!" she cried. She dove back under, trying to push him back up to the top for air. As she tried and tried, she felt the darkness closing in around her as well, her instinct telling her to break to the surface. She finally was able to get Todd above the water level, but at a great cost to her energy. She couldn't fight the weight of the chains anymore, and looked up. The surface looked closer, almost. She let go of Todd and slipped into unconsciousness.


Sorry, Huge writer's block, but I'll give you what I've got :) Please feed my mind with reviews :)