The Banditos

Splash

Clancy feels a sudden rush of vertigo as he falls through the air before hitting the water with a loud splash. The cold water envelops him, shock and panic filling his senses. He struggles to swim to the surface, but the water is much deeper and colder than he had imagined.

He can feel the water pushing down on him, making it hard to swim upwards. He tries to kick and paddle, but his muscles feel weak and his clothes weigh him down. He can feel the water starting to push him downwards, threatening to pull him under.

His lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen, and he starts to panic. He tries to calm himself down, but the cold water and the feeling of helplessness only make him more desperate and scared. He tries to call out, but the water muffles his voice.

Andre turns to Nico, before speaking in a cold voice. "Should we help him?"

Nico shrugs, not showing any concern for Clancy's situation. "Let him suffer for a bit. It'll be good for him."

Andre looks doubtful, but doesn't contradict Nico. They both stand by as Clancy struggles in the water, their expressions cold and unbothered.

Clancy's vision starts to darken as his body starts to shut down from the lack of oxygen. He struggles harder, kicking and thrashing in the water, but it's no use. His body feels heavy and weak, and he's running out of energy.

Andre looks back at Nico. "I seriously think we should get him out. The district will punish us if we kill him."

Nico lets out a sigh, realizing that Andre might be right. "Alright, fine. You go get him."

Andre jumps into the water and starts swimming towards Clancy. He reaches him quickly, grabbing him under the arms and pulling him back towards the surface.

Clancy gasps and sputters as he breaks through the surface of the water, coughing and sucking in air as he tries to catch his breath. He's too weak to swim on his own, so Andre has to support him, keeping him afloat.

Andre brings him back to the edge of the pool. "You're fine. I gotcha."

Clancy nods weakly, still coughing up water. He's freezing and shaking, his clothes heavy and waterlogged. He tries to speak, but all that comes out is a hoarse croak.

Andre and Nico help him out of the water, setting him down on the floor. Clancy sits there, panting and shivering, his body weak and exhausted.

Nico looks obviously annoyed. He scowls at Clancy, clearly unimpressed by his performance in the test. He looks at Andre and mutters something under his breath, something that sounds like "weak".

Clancy can feel anger and shame rising up inside him. He wants to protest, to tell Nico that it wasn't his fault he had trouble swimming, but he's too exhausted to speak. He just sits there shivering, trying to ignore the Bishop's stares.