Submerged

Getting There

"Have you seen my pink bathing suit top?" I yelled down the stairs to my mother, who was also frantically trying to pack half the house for our long since planned camping trip. I heard a thud and a muffled, "Dammit," then she poked her head around the corner of the staircase, "No hunny, but have you seen your brother? He is also amongst the missing. I want to make sure he is ready to go to your dad's for the week." She didn't wait for me to answer before she turned and walked back into the kitchen. I shook my head and went back to ripping my room apart. If I went to the campsite with a miss-matched bathing suit, I would look like a fool. What if there is a cute guy there? I looked in the mirror.

"Wow Sophia, you really sounded like a teenager just now," I said out loud to myself. "You're eighteen and a high school graduate now, act like it." I stuffed some shorts and tank tops into my bag, with a few bras and flip-flops, then zipped it up tight. For a week long trip, I had two large gym bags of clothes and things to do. We were, after all, going to be in the middle of the woods with no electricity or plumbing. I needed batteries and  shampoo.

As I was about to turn and walk out the door with my arms full, my brother popped out from around the corner.

"RAAAHHH!!!," he screamed in my face. I dropped my bags and stumbled back into my room.

"Jesus Nathanial, what the hell is your problem? You know mom is looking for you right?" I bent down to grab my bags and he flicked me on the head. "Yeah I know," he said matter-of-factually, "that doesn't mean I need to run to her like a puppy." He smiled at me when I stood back up. I pushed past him, and he shoved himself dramatically into the wall.

"Damn Soph! You don't have to be so rough, I was just trying to help!" he yelled, then I heard him snicker under his breath. I glared and walked down the steps.

"Oh! There you are Nate. I was looking for you." Mom handed him an envelope. "Here, this is some money for you while you are at your dad's, I don't want you to feel deprived of things while your stuck in the suburbs." He took the white sleeve and immediately opened it and started counting.

"Shoot, thanks mom," he kissed her on the head, "I'll spend it wisely." He laughed and jogged out of the house. Mom looked at me and smiled, "You are so beautiful, Sophia. I think we are going to have a great time this week. You, me, and-" her phone rang. She stopped short and looked down at it, smiling like an idiot.

"Let me guess, mister knight in shining armor asking you if you slept well last night?" I asked, maybe a little too sarcastically. The smile disappeared and she glared at me. "He is on his way, get your stuff together and I'll meet you in the car." I rolled my eyes when she wasn't looking and headed out to the front lawn, my arms getting tingly from holding my stuffed gym bags. This was going to be interesting. My graduation camping trip, and my moms new boyfriend is tagging along. Someone kill me.

~~~~~~~

I hadn't eaten in almost two days. I could feel my stomach tremble, even under the weight of the water. I listened hard for any movement, anything at all that I could eat, but it was dead calm. I made my way to the surface and poked my eyes, ears and nose out of the water. I moved my arms and legs effortlessly to stay just out of the water enough to see my surroundings. Everything always looked so beautiful under the moon's light, glistening off the water and beaming back at me. The trees soaked in a blue glow that reflected into the water, still like glass. This is my home. My wonderful, peaceful home. Off to the right, I saw a flicker in the bushes along the banking. I just found my dinner.