27. Drowning Man – Greenwheel

Shizuka didn't even leave time to finish her thought, she got as far as Katsuya's in the water- and then she was too. It was colder than she expected, and the moment she hit it drove all the air from her lungs, so instead of a perfect dives followed by a dramatic rescue it was a perfect dive followed by spluttering, followed by a bit of gasping, then ducking under the water to rescue her heroic brother.

Big Brother, where are you?

The ocean was far murkier than a swimming pool, but Shizuka was used to seeing the world through a haze of encroaching darkness. Before her operation she'd been glad for anything big enough to appear sharp to her eyes – especially labels on the doors of public bathrooms. More than once she'd gone into the wrong one when 'women' and 'men' exchanged their signs for 'ladies' and 'gentlemen' and she just headed into the one with the longest label as usual. Picking out the smear of a white and blue tee-shirt wasn't her biggest problem. Her biggest problem wasn't even the stinging agony of saltwater on eyes still sensitive from delicate laser surgery.

No, her biggest problem was swimming faster than a sinking anchor.

Big Brother, I'm coming! I'm coming to save you.

In her mind she was five years old again, playing on the beach and pretending to be Wonder Woman. Katsuya had tied the top button of his coat and pretended to be Superman, until he realised neither of them had anyone to rescue, so he took it off and became a Helpless Civilian instead. He'd found a crab in a rock pool and Shizuka had 'rescued' him from the nefarious Crustacean Monster, and they'd collapsed in helpless giggles when she missed her footing and they both ended up in the water.

"Some superhero," Katsuya had laughed, scrubbing his hand through her hair because he was too big for girly things like hugs anymore. "But I still love ya."

I'm coming, Big Brother!

Katsuya was very still. Shizuka panicked. It made her fingers fumbly as she inserted the key, but she still got it in and was about to turn it when Katsuya seemed to come awake suddenly and shoved her, pointing back to the surface. It was clear he wanted her to go back before she ran out of air, but Shizuka was more concerned that his shove had made her drop the key. It spiralled away into the murky water, and her panic grew so large that it burned her lungs.

No, that was the lack of oxygen. Her head felt funny and the back of her throat ached.

No! No, no, no, no, no…

Frantically she scanned around her, but the key was gone. Katsuya had been down here a lot longer than her. That shove had taken the last of his strength. His arms trailed limply above him, like he was a victim in a hold-up, as the heavy anchor dragged him down and down.

Shizuka clamped her arms around him, refusing to let go. He was her Big Brother. He'd risked everything to save his best friend. That kind of heroism couldn't end like this. She tried to swim upwards, pulling him with her, but he was too heavy. Her chest was on fire, there was an iron band around her skull, but still she couldn't bring herself to unclamp her arms.

I can't let go, she thought as she passed the point where the only way she could get back to the surface was if she floated very, very slowly. Still, she couldn't leave him.

Remorselessly, the anchor dragged both brother and sister down into the dark.