Anatomy • Eddie's daughter

How to Stay Alive

23

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"Yes, it's you I welcome death with
As the world, as the world caves in"
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Before Buck can think, he grabs Chris from his hands, leaving the teddy bear and his crutches behind, and takes off running. Hundreds of other people are running around him, screaming and crying in fear.  Chris bounces off his shoulder on every step he takes and he knows with his leg he won't make it much longer so he makes the quick decision to throw both of their bodies in a small hut that once held prizes and toys but will now hold pain and suffering.

He tucks Chris away as best as he can before taking one last look

Loud crashing can be heard across the whole pier as the wave hits the building and stands. Buck takes it in for a second before jumping in with Chris, grabbing him and holding him tight to his chest.

The next thing he knows is he's underwater, with water filling his body and lungs. His body is screaming to him in pain but all he cares about is Chris.

He can't find the surface

Why can't he find the surface?

'Why can't I find the surface and why are my arms empty.'

Chris?

When his head finally bobs out of the water in despair, air fills his lungs again. He reaches up and grabs a string of lights that is hung across the water-filled road.

'Christoper'

"Christopher! Christopher!" Buck yells as his head and body bounce up and down in the water making it hard to stay afloat. He calls Chris's name multiple times before a horrid yell enters his ears.

"Buck! Buck!" Chris's voice is harsh and scared as he dangles onto a thick post as hard as he can.

Once Buck finds him, slight ease sets in but it's not enough to calm him down. "Chris! Chris! Just stay right there. Hold on!" Buck moves his body with the line of lights but eventually has to let go and let himself float through the fast-paced water.

"Just hang on." He yells out, trying to get closer to the scared young boy.

Once Buck is close enough he reaches out and attempts to grab Chris from the pole. "Grab my hand! Christopher, reach out. Grab my hand!"

The fingers of Chris and Buck brush for a light second before the water overpowers Buck making him miss Chris altogether and be sucked under.

When he comes back up, he's able to push himself over to a large work truck. Right when he gets there he watches as Chris lets go of the pole and starts getting pushed forward and dragged under.

Buck has one shot at this.

He uses his legs to push off the truck and into the stream of water, swooping Chris up in the process. Buck pushes both of them up to the surface and then pushes Chris closer to his chest.

"I got you, it's okay, I got you."

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When Jo wakes up her head is being pulled underwater while the rest of the body is being tugged somewhere else. In pure panic she reaches around, trying to find something to grab.

After about 10 seconds of searching, she grabs hold of a metal bar. She quickly grabs in and pulls herself up, screaming in pain as she uses her bad wrist. When her head is fully out of the water, she takes a couple of huge breaths before she looks around.