Drowning Chapter 3 – Darkness

Bit, Leon and Jack waited for the next wave to come. This one was Big. Just as it arrived Leon realized how dark it had gotten, even though it was only noon. He looked up at the sky but was thrown in to the water because of the wave. When he surfaced, Jack was stroking over to him. "You okay?" he asked calmly.

"Yeah, but that storm has arrived I think look at the sky." Leon said holding on to the edge of Jack's board.

Jack looked up and saw there was no blue. It was only dark clouds. He looked further out to sea and saw only dark clouds. He looked further into the land and saw only dark clouds. There was a flash and a loud crash soon followed. The sea became rough and harsh. Jack turned to call Bit but he was gone.

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Bit caught the wave and saw Leon fall off of his board. Jack saw it also and stroked over to him. Leon surfaced and seemed alright. Bit turned his attention back to the wave but it was too late. He lost control and fell head first into the water. The sea was rough with him. He was spun in circles and soon became disoriented. He didn't know which way was up or down. He frantically kicked and punched the water but it was useless, he didn't even know where he was going. /What am I going to do./ Bit saw only darkness. A few bubbles passed by. He saw a faint flash but he didn't know what direction it had come from. A rumble followed it. He lay in the water perfectly still. Hoping he would float to the surface, but he felt he was only sinking. So he tried turning around and going the opposite direction. His head and lungs hurt. His head was spinning from lack of oxygen. He didn't know how much longer he could hold his breath. /This is it! I can't hold it anymore!/ Bit thought to himself. But he was able to hold his breath longer. He felt himself drifting. /The undertow!/ Bit was caught by the undertow he had to get loose. He saw a faint light again and followed it. His hand reached up and passed through the surface. He brought his head up and took a deep gasp of air. He sunk a little from exhaustion but remained floating. A loud crash made him jump a little. His entire body was under water except for his ears up. His mouth kept falling under and he kept getting salt water in his mouth, but he spat it back out. Something lightly drenched his head. It was raining. He turned and tried to find land, but the waves were blocking his sight. He saw Jack on his board looking around frantically. Jack was a long way off, a good 200 feet. Bit splashed a little and caught Jack's attention. Jack began stroking over to him. But something hit Bit and he went under again.

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Jack turned to call Bit but he was gone. He looked around him to his other side but didn't find any trace of him. Leon looked at him. "What's wrong?" He was still in the water.

"Bit's gone!" Jack said looking around him frantically.

"What?" Leon found his board and mounted himself on it. He looked around also. "Where was he? Did you see him go under?"

"I didn't see anything! I only saw you fall off your board and when I turned around again he was gone!"

Leon was horrified. The sea was getting rougher and more violent. Suddenly something red floated near them a smaller wave pushed it in their direction. It was Bit's surfboard. Leon grabbed it and pulled it closer. "I'm going to get one of the water Zoids."

"Good idea. I'll stay here and try to spot him." Jack replied. Leon stroked to shore which was barely 20 feet away. Jack waited and looked around trying to find any sign of Bit. A wave came and pushed him back a little towards the shore. He looked around again another flash of light lit up the sky. The waves were getting larger. A loud crash made Jack jump a little he looked over the sea again and again. He heard a small splash very small. It could have just been a wave. But he was hoping it was Bit. He turned to where he had heard it and saw Bit hardly above the water. He was struggling with the water. He began stroking toward him. But it was too late a huge wave fell on top of Bit and he disappeared below the water.

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Something hit Bit and he fell under. The force was so strong. It hit him in the back and shoved him under. Bit felt like his back had been broken. He felt his legs drift somewhere too suddenly and he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. The force had shoved him down to powerfully that Bit's legs and head came up and collided. Bit felt like he had been punched in the stomach from the pressure. He didn't know where he was again. He was circling like crazy and tried to stop but it was too hard. He saw something nearby it was larger than he was longer anyway. It came at him suddenly and slammed into his abdomen. He let out a gasp and bubble surged downward in Bit's point of view. Bit couldn't move. He was choking. He tried to hold his breath. He tried to kick but it didn't get him too far. Something came up from above him and slammed into him again this time in the back. He fell upward. He kicked as hard as he could until he reached the surface again. He fell under slightly but resurfaced. He was still choking a little he coughed up some water. He heard something faint in the distance. His vision was blurry he tried to look around he something nearby. He wasn't sure what it was though. The faint sound came again. It sounded like shouting. However he could only hear his own heart beat in his head. It was loud, and somewhat slow. He felt something grab his leg. It hurt at least he thought it did. He was under water again.

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Jack disappeared below the water. He was ready to swim down after Bit but all the waves looked familiar. He didn't know exactly where Bit had gone under. He looked around frantically again. He looked back at shore. Leon had just gotten there. He jumped out of the water and headed for one of the Zoids. Brad ran up to him and started frantically talking with him.

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"Leon!" Brad cried running up to Leon. "I saw Bit go under!"

"Did you see where?" Leon asked starting to get into the Zoid.

"Somewhere over there." Brad pointed to the spot. "But he resurfaced over there." Brad pointed again near where Jack was. "But he went back under again when a wave came."

"Okay thanks I'll try to find him." Leon said as he shut the cockpit and dove down into the sea.

Brad ran to tell the others.

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Jack saw Brad run up and start talking to Leon frantically, pointing to places. Leon got into a Zoid and dove down. Jack looked back out to sea to try and find Bit but was still under. /How long as he been under for?/ Jack wondered. /He was under for about a minute and a half before he surfaced. And it's been about a minute since last I saw him./ Leon came up beside Jack and opened the cockpit. "Where did you see him last?"

"Somewhere around here." Jack said indicating the area.

Leon was about the shut the cockpit when Jack started shouting. "There! He resurfaced! There he is!"

Leon looked and saw him also. He shut the cock pit and headed over for him. Jack started yelling Bit's name as he stroked over to him. "Bit! Hold on I'm on my way!" Bit's head was bleeding from the looks of it. Jack began to stroke faster but it was too late again. Bit was under as though something had pulled him down.

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Leon dove down and saw a large creature approaching Bit. It was a shark. He saw traces of blood from Bit's head. The shark came up and grabbed Bit's leg. It yanked him down under the water and started swimming away. Leon put the Zoid in gear and charged after the fish.

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AN: Sorry I'm ending the chapter like that, but the rescue is for the next chapter.