Savage Run

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

There's a time in all our lives where we come to a realization that no matter what we do or how we choose to spend the hours and days that are ours, death is the only outcome. It's crazy really how we walk around as if that momentous day will never arrive—like it's a myth or an illusion—avoiding thinking about that instant when we will no longer exist. Maybe it's a survival instinct. If we truly understood that death could snatch us before we're even aware of it, we would be freaking out, desperate to avoid the inevitable, searching for a remedy that would immortalize our bodies.

But it's too late for me.

Arthor and I jump over the edge, and the sudden drop makes me breathless. The wind whips against me and howls in my ears, but I keep my eyes shut and continue to squeeze Arthor's hand, telling myself that by doing so, the impact will be less painful.

As if by chance, I remember to plug my nose and not a second later, a force as hard as concrete smashes against my feet. Cold liquid rushes around my body, and I sink into the seemingly bottomless ocean. At first, I'm glad there are no hidden rocks I collide with, but when I continue to drop at a fast pace, it occurs to me if I don't stop sinking, I might never make it back up. Just like Cory.

I kick my feet and move my arms, but I continue to sink. I kick more vigorously, but the faster I move my limbs, the more my lungs burn and the farther I'm drawn under. I exhale halfway. When I open my eyes, thousands of bubbles surround me, obscuring my view in the dark ocean. At first, I become desperate, not being able to see anything, but then it occurs to me: these bubbles must be coming from somewhere and sinking deeper and deeper is all part of the plan. This is why Cory and all the other participants vanished. I'm desperate to take a breath, but am able to hold off a little longer, believing that I'll soon be safe. Then I exhale completely.

My thoughts are confirmed when I get to the ocean floor, and I see light shining from an open hatch. Arthor and I are sucked toward it and into some sort of a capsule. The pull is so strong that I become stuck to a wall right next to him. But things are not happening fast enough. As I inhale, the salty fluid burns my throat and chest, and I start to heave. Unwilling to die alone, I take Arthor's limp hand in mine.

The door to the container closes with a bang, and not a second later, the water drains out of the capsule and is replaced with air. Collapsing onto my hands and knees, I vomit the water out and gasp for air.

"Please take your seats and secure your harnesses," a woman's voice says.

I continue to cough until all the fluid has come up. When I come to myself, I see Arthor still lying lifeless on the floor. I crawl over so I'm kneeling next to him, stoop down beside him and bring my ear to his mouth to check for breathing. My heart nearly stops when I realize there's no sound or movement.

"Arthor!" I scream, taking him by the shoulders and shaking him.

The female voice says, "Prepare for departure."

I try to lift Arthor up, but he's too heavy. Instead, I lie on top of him and hold onto the bottom of a seat in hopes we won't go flying when the capsule takes off.

"Three, two, one..."

The capsule ejects to a start, and unable to keep my grip, we are thrown into the back wall. My skull hits against the glass, and I fall to the floor with a thud. The impact is so hard my head spins. I get the wind knocked out of me, causing me to gasp for air once more. As I catch my breath, I kneel beside Arthor, place the base of my palms on his chest, and start to compress. His face is limp and gray.

"Arthor! Wake up!" I compress his chest again—harder this time—and grant him a few more breaths. "Come back!" I grab his shoulders and shake them. "Just don't die..." I push on his chest again, putting all my weight into it.