Casualty - Water Rings
Chapter 3
Oh, why am I wet? Where is everybody? Am I dead?
After emerging from a thick blanket of icy water into the 'oh so familiar' state of shock which followed unconsciousness, completely alone, those were the first three thoughts which passed through Cyd's mind, in that order.
Hang on, this isn't the canoe, I'm in the river! Oh my God I'm in the river! What's that touching my foot! Ahhhh! Help! Where is everyone?
"GREG! GREG! WHERE ARE YOU? GREG, DJARVAN!"
Cyd span around like a top in the water, splashing around for any sign of life, kicking free of anything that might hold her down!
It was hard to take in the scenery around her, not that she much cared, but at first glance there seemed to be nothing around except a vast expanse of water. She had left the earlier rivers with the beautiful scenery in exchange for a cold, grey desert of water. Eventually she emerged once again into reality, or to be more precise, a pointed rock which stubbed Cyd's toe did that for her.
Cyd gasped with pain, and immediately regretted it! Her training as a paramedic completely left her; fear shot down her throat, cold as liquid ice, her entire body cringed with pain. A scream, dark as the water which engulfed her, echoed throughout the clearing.
Eventually, after much coughing, Cyd calmed down and began to fully take in the place around her. The lake she was in was not too dissimilar from the bottom of the flume back at the hotel, except a lot larger, colder, deeper and a lot more poorly maintained. But the flume, and the hotel, and the people she cared about were another life away. Behind her the rapids which had carried her here splashed feebly at the end of their journey, to the edge of the lake a small wolf cub sniffed hopefully in her direction, a clusters of trees leaned gently into the breeze, and right in the middle of the lake, she saw, that she was not alone.
Drifting ominously a few metres away was a dark lump, barely noticeable in the dusty light which flickered through the trees. If it wasn't for the trickle of scarlet floating eerily towards the figure, she may not have noticed it. Shrugging away the pain in her left foot, Cyd forced her attention solely on the figure before her. Was it Greg? Is he hurt? Suddenly, her senses as a paramedic returned to her. She started paddling, or perhaps limping in the water, more drops of scarlet followed her in her wake.
Kick, Splash! Kick, Splash! Cyd worked towards him slowly; eyes fixed on the body before her.
Greg? Please be O.K.!
Kick, Splash!
I'm so sorry!
Kick, Splash!
I never meant for any of this to happen!
Kick, Splash!
Was it Greg? Is he alive? She reached for the body, he felt unreal in her hands, and spun him around in the water. His hollow eyes stared up into hers.
"No!"