Alex Rider: Contamination

By: Edna B.

Chapter Eight: Anna's Heaven

Annabelle's POV

Silence...

Everything was so serene. I was weightless, floating, on top of the world. My senses, shrouded by calmness, breathed a sigh of release. I could feel the edges of my lips turn up as a supple breeze surrounded my body.

This has to be heaven.

Floating through my buoyant escape, something tugged at the back of my mind. I turned my head the other way, refusing to think of anything other than where I was, and the cool touch of the air nipping at my bare shoulders. My hair swirled around my face, tickling beneath my chin.

And there it was again.

A tugging.

An image popped into my head: Alex.

I marveled at my memories of him. His face, stone-like and cold, yet beneath the surface, a volcano of warmth was waiting to erupt. His eyes, so serious, brightened on occasion. I smiled, the memories resurfacing. I remembered the way his body felt against mine after the death of Smithers, the warmth radiating from his smile, the sensation of his soft lips barely touching my own-

Alex.

I wasn't ready for death.

I wasn't ready to leave Alex.

The heavens around me started to crumble. The soft airy breeze intensified, transforming into a painful chill. I no longer felt light, but weighed down by some unknown force, pulling me down, deeper into a pit of fruitless pain. There was a pounding in my head. I could feel my blood, angrily pumping in my veins. I wished desperately for the pain to stop, but it only multiplied. The pounding in my head reflected the pounding on my back.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

I opened my mouth to scream, but I could find no voice. My throat refused to let any air pass through. I struggled, coming back into reality.

First, I got my hearing back. The sound of crashing waves and frantic screams flooded my ears.

"Breathe!" A voice was shouting.

Thud!

Next, I received my sight. The blackness shrouding the edge of my vision began to retreat, letting the intense sun burn my eyes. But I could see him again. His face was mere centimeters from mine, filled to the brim with worry and anguish.

"God damnit, Anna! Breathe!"

Thud!

Last, I got my feeling back. I wish I hadn't. The pain I felt before, was nothing compared to now. The pounding on my back shook my entire body. I felt as if my heart was about to burst, the veins, about to give up. My life wasn't worth the pain.

But it kept coming, in waves and spasms, each one forcing tears from my eyes. I could feel something tight wounding around my arm as the thudding on my back continued.

Thud!

Thud!

THUD!

Water. It was everywhere, pouring out of every crevice. It flowed steadily from my open mouth, forcing its way out of my nose. I couldn't get a second to breathe. The water continued to gush from my body, as I gasped for air.

And there it was.

Sweet, sweet air.

Oxygen.

I sucked it in, greedily, as if it were candy. My throat was on fire. Each breath hurt more than the last, but I ignored it, my lungs expanding with life.

"Annabelle!" Alex screamed, cradling my face in his shaking hands. I smiled. He looked even more beautiful now than I could remember. I attempted to raise a hand, to caress his face. I wanted nothing more than to feel his ivory skin, but my strength failed, and the blackness took over again.

Alex's POV

My hand pounded against Annabelle's back as I frantically tried to hammer some life back into her. Tears sprang from my eyes in relief as she coughed the salty water up, struggling for breath.

"Annabelle!" I screamed, relief consuming my senses. I took her face in my hands and I could feel her shivering. Or was that just me?

Dale frantically skipped about the small boat, shouting at the giant shark, performing scare tactics. I didn't have time to see if they worked. All my focus was on Anna. I needed to get her out of here. Blood poured from her arm, she was white as a ghost and she was trembling. I gathered her close to my body, although I didn't have much body warmth to spare. My blood had turned to ice in my veins. Anna's ragged breathing made me smile.

She was alive.

I know, I know. It was way short.

If you guys want chapter 9 to be longer than this, submit some reviews :D

Edna B.