Submerge

THE LAKEHOUSE

Flashback

The day had started out beautifully, with the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze rustling through the trees. Mason and Emma had decided to spend the day at the lake, their favorite spot to escape the pressures of their lives. It was a place filled with happy memories of laughter and fun, a sanctuary where they could be themselves.

"Race you to the dock!" Emma shouted, already sprinting ahead, her laughter echoing across the water.

Mason grinned and ran after her, his competitive spirit kicking in. "You're on!" he called, catching up to her just as they reached the edge of the dock. They collapsed together, panting and laughing, the world reduced to just the two of them.

"You know, you never win," Mason teased, nudging her playfully.

Emma rolled her eyes, still catching her breath. "One day, I will. Just you wait."

Mason reached into his backpack and pulled out a small joint, lighting it with a flick of his lighter. "Yeah, yeah. Want a hit?" he offered, holding it out to her.

Emma hesitated but took it, taking a small puff before handing it back. "You know I don't like this stuff," she said, coughing slightly.

"Relax, Em. It's just weed," Mason replied, taking a deep drag and feeling the familiar buzz wash over him. He put out the joint and stuffed it back into his bag, the haze of the high settling over him.

"Let's swim," Emma suggested, standing up and stretching. "It's too nice a day to sit around."

"Alright," Mason agreed, pushing himself up and following her to the edge of the dock. They both dove into the water, their bodies slicing through the cool, refreshing lake.

They swam together, racing back and forth, their laughter filling the air. Mason felt a sense of peace, a rare moment where everything seemed right. But as they reached the buoy in the middle of the lake, something changed. Emma's face twisted in fear, and she started to struggle.

"Emma, stop! You're okay! Just calm down!" he shouted, but she was too far gone, her fear overwhelming her. She thrashed, pulling him under, the water filling his mouth and nose. He fought to stay above water, to keep her afloat, but the weed dulled his senses and strength.

"Help! Somebody help us!" Mason yelled, but they were too far from shore, too isolated.

Time became meaningless as Mason struggled, his vision blurring, his lungs burning. He couldn't hold on. Emma slipped from his grasp, her eyes wide with terror as she disappeared beneath the surface.

"Emma!" Mason screamed, diving after her, but the murky water swallowed her whole. He searched frantically, his hands grasping at nothing.

For hours, Mason searched the water, the minutes bleeding into an agonizing eternity. His body ached, every muscle screaming in protest, but he couldn't stop. He wouldn't stop. Not until he found her. The world faded away, replaced by the singular focus of saving her.

He didn't notice the sun setting, the darkness creeping in. He didn't hear the sirens, the shouts of the paramedics. He didn't feel the strong hands gripping his arms and lifting him onto the dock. He coughed and gasped for air, his lungs burning, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Stay with us, kid," a voice said, but it sounded distant, muffled. Mason tried to speak, to tell them about Emma, but the words wouldn't come.

He saw the paramedics rushing towards the water, their movements swift and practiced. "There's another one in there!" he tried to shout, but his voice was barely a whisper. His vision blurred again, and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.

When he came to, he was lying on the dock, wrapped in a blanket. The sun was lower in the sky now, casting long shadows over the water. Mason struggled to sit up, his mind still foggy. He looked around, searching for Emma.

And then he saw it.

The paramedic laid her gently on the dock, her face pale and still. Mason's world shattered. He crawled towards her, his vision blurred by tears. "No, no, no," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Emma, please. Wake up."

Cradling her in his arms on the shore, Mason's sobs were gut-wrenching, a mix of disbelief and anguish. "Emma, please," he cried, shaking her gently. But there was no response, only the cold, still silence of loss.

Mason's screams echoed across the lake, a raw, guttural sound of pure agony. The paramedics moved to him, but he pushed them away, his hands shaking as he reached for his sister. "This isn't funny anymore, hey wake up, you win."

The last thing he saw before everything went black was the paramedics lifting Emma's body, placing her in a black bag. The zipper closing was a final, heart-wrenching sound that echoed in his mind, a cruel punctuation to the worst day of his life.