Thanks to all my readers! Quick update for you all


Chapter Three: Rushing Waters

Greg had expected the initial impact of the water. He had prepared himself for the rushing river as best as he could; what he wasn't prepared for was the temperature. Greg hadn't thought it possible to become any colder or wetter than he already was, and he was proven wrong.

The fierce current grabbed at him the moment he hit. The cold water stung his already numbing body, and for a moment, he found himself disorientated. Then he was at the surface, drawing in the first ragged breath in what seemed like minutes before he was pulled back under.

His first thought was to swim, to get out in any possible method. It was what he did as well, with little success. There was no sign of Sara, and his worried increased; though she could be anywhere, flash floods were merciless. The next time he was pulled under, he was down there for longer than he would have liked. Breaking the surface, he came up coughing, choking on the water he had swallowed.

Something hit him in the face then. Not only that, but it brought him to a halt, the river water rushing past his chin, flowing over his shoulders. It took him a moment to realize that his jacket had become entangled in a tree. It took him even longer to realize he was not the only one.

"Sara," he managed to sputter, grabbing the branch and moving towards her. She was further out than he was, holding onto the tree branches with a death grip. He was glad to see that she looked unscathed, at the very least, alive.

It was a long and hard process, each movement of his drew the branch further into the water, shaking and straining against the current, threatening to pull him under. His jacket kept on coming snared by the protruding limbs, smaller than the one he held, but still difficult to maneuver around. Reaching her, he somehow managed to wrap and arm around her shoulders, pulling her back towards him, except she wouldn't let go of the branch.

"I've got you," Greg tried to convince her, yelling over all the noise. Sara shook her head, not even looking at him. Her breathing was quick and fast, the water lapping at her chin. "I won't let go of you," he promised, trying to pull her free again.

Her grip tightened, then relaxed some as she nodded, using one arm to grab onto his. Greg grimaced; she had a stronger grip than he thought possible. Greg began to pull her back towards the shore; the tree was on the banks at the bottom of the cliff. If they could get out her, the cliff face should be easy to climb, unless of course it was like the other one. It was a start at the very least.

It was even more difficult getting back than it was going out. Sara was too frightened to provide much help at first, but she slowly caught on to his movement, and began moving with Greg, rather than leave him to do all the work. Everything seemed to be going fine until they neared the end. Greg had grabbed a smaller branch; it had broken off his hand.

It dropped both of them back under the surface. Sara grabbed onto the main body of the tree before she had gone all the way under, pulling herself back up. But Greg hadn't been so quick. Relief flooded her when his head broke the surface on the other side, he had managed to snag on a branch under the water, wrapping his arms around the tree as Sara had, only on the other side now.

Greg could already feel the tree straining, trying to support their weight and the power of the current. His body was being pulled more forcefully now that nothing was between him and the current. Greg reached over as best he could, grabbing Sara's hand. It was as cold as his was, and clumsily he gave it a squeeze.

He had been surfing and scuba diving, but neither of them could compare to this. The river moved differently than the ocean. But he did know one thing. "Listen," he told her, waiting until she was watching. "Whatever happens, don't fight the river," he explained as best he could, making sure to pronounce each word clearly and loudly so that she could hear him. "You'll only wear yourself out. Just keep your head above water. We'll get out of this," he said, quieter than before. "Okay?"

He watched her nod as a sickening feeling worked its way over his stomach. The branch wouldn't support the two of them for long and he knew it. Giving her one last nod he slowly let go, letting the current pull him away. Her shocked expression was the last thing he saw before he disappeared under the surface.

TBC