Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 19

Epiphany
A moment of sudden revelation

Aria thought of every movie scene she had ever watched where a person was drowning it was always loud and chaotic. The person always splashed around and screamed for help. Their head dipped under the waves and then came up again in a dramatic fashion. It reminded her of a game of whack-a-mole.

As she floated in the water she realized drowning was actually silent. You didn't splash around instead your movements were subtle. You saved any energy you had in you to keep yourself awake. Movies romanticized drowning way too much. Showing you that the person felt no pain once he let go of the fight and accepted his faith. In reality drowning was ugly and it hurt like hell. Aria's eyes burned from the salty waters of the ocean. Her lungs were on fire from the lack of oxygen and her head throbbed as if someone had grabbed the largest hammer they could find and started pounding it against her temples.

Panic filled her heart causing it to thump against her rib cage as she felt herself start to sink. Her fatigued body wanted to fight. She wanted to be saved. She longed for a rescuing hand to tow her back to life, back to the world above.

~~~

Ransom watched on in horror as the car in front of him broke through the barricade and disappeared down the cliff below.

Parking his car off to the side, he quickly sent an S.O.S text to Veronica with his live location before racing towards the end of the cliff. Looking at the drop made him queasy. His legs shook uncontrollably, fear filled his heart. But rather than fear of jumping off the cliff, it was fear of losing Aria making in a hard breathe. Taking in a deep breath, he wished it would last him a lifetime or at least long enough for him to find Aria, gathering all of his courage, he jumped off the cliff and into the crashing waves below. Moving swiftly through the waters, his heart sank with each second that ticked by without seeing Aria. He had to save his Dew or he would die trying. Something caught his eye, a small glimmer in the darkness. A gun. More specifically Aria's gun. Swimming deeper into the water with superhuman-like strength, Aria's white t-shirt caught his sight. A tiny bit of relief filled his heart. Pulling her by the arm, he swam towards the shore.

Making his way out is the water, he gently laid Aria on the sand. Placing his head over her chest he listened for a sound, for any indication of life at all. She wasn't breathing. Panic and fear coursed through his veins.

Clasping his hands together, he pressed down on her chest, attempting to pump out the water from her lungs. He blew strongly into her mouth, trying to get air past any water that was clogging her breathing passageways and lungs.
After four strong breaths, he put his ear near her mouth and watched chest for any breathing movement. Still nothing. He continued his pressing and breathing method.

"Come on Dew," he screamed as his tears mixed with the salty water dripping from his soaking hair.

He heard cracking sounds as he pressed down on her chest. He was very sure he had did some damage to her ribs but broken ribs were far better than letting Aria die. He kept pushing hard and fast on the center of her chest until he heard a gurgling sound. Sitting Aria up, he knocked on her back hard as she spat out a huge load of water. Relief washed over Ransom as she took in a huge breath. Rubbing her back as she coughed, rage now replaced his relief.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Ransom all but screamed at Aria.

Her eyes widened in shock. Never had Ransom screamed at her before.