~ Chromatober 2024 ~

Day 10: Swim/Sink

I had fun making up the designs for these three XD

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Series: LOTB

AU: Modern!LOTB (Might name this one, "Streetlights")

Characters: Bally, Balance (Light), Equality (Indie), Unbalance (Unknown), Over Balance (Oliver)

Angst: Moderate :D

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"LIGHT!"

Her scream makes me turn my head quickly from my conversation with Indie to see Bally in the water. She was clutching onto a child while trying to swim and tread water. I couldn't tell what was wrong until it hit me.

The two were caught in a rip-tide.

I curse out loud and dart up, my bare feet hitting the sand rather hard. My best friend was trying her best to not panic, but between treading water and holding onto a child, I knew she wasn't going to keep up her facade very long. I rack my brain, trying to think on how I could help the two escape the rip-tide. Come on- COME ON. WHAT WAS IT- RIGHT!

 "BALLY! SWIM ALONG THE CURRENT! NOT AGAINST IT! OKAY?!" I yell out at her, making a cutting motion across my palm with my arm to indicate to her what direction. Yet my heart drops as she goes under the water from a wave. Throwing my own safety to the wind, I plunge into the waves until I myself am in the current. Water roared dully around me as I dip my head under the water and try to see where the two were.

Very quickly, I spotted two blurry figures sinking and thrashing. I force my way through the water until I am able to grab Bally's arm. I kick off of the sea floor and drag the child and my best friend up with me. My lungs scream at me moments before I break up to the air, gasping. I quickly get Bally and the child's heads above water before I start to swim parallel to the current.

"LIGHT!" Indie's call is muffled in my ears as I try my best to get out of the rip-tide. My arms cut through the water as the weight of the two drag on my movement. It seems like just hours I was swimming, trying to make my way to the shore on the distance, but after painstaking minutes, I feel my foot strike the sand.

My aching body finds relief as I drag the two towards the dry sand. Yet once I was out of the water, my legs give out under me. I tumble into the burning sand as Bally makes a noise of shock. "Light- Light! Oh gosh- Ok- The kid- SH-" Bally's frantic voice fills the air between us as I close my eyes and try to catch my breath. I just manage to flip over onto my back, my breathing a bit ragged from the struggle to get back to shore.

I barely register the sounds of CPR being done before I peek my eyes open. My best friend was frantically trying to get the water out of the kid's lungs, a soft whisper under her breath. "Staying alive, staying alive-"

Rapidly approaching footsteps comes to my attention and I turn to look the other way. Indie, Unknown, and Oliver were running over. Oliver had a kit while Unknown was hauling towels and Indie had blankets. "Guys!! You alright?!" Oliver shouts, only drawing Bally's attention for a moment. "Light's just tired! I need help with the kid, Oliver!"

Commotion ensues around us as Unknown sits me up and wraps me in a towel. Oliver instantly took over CPR for the kid and Indie wrapped up Bally.

"Light- Why do you keep on pulling heroic acts 24/7?" Unknown draws my attention, snapping his fingers in my face. "... Dunno. Maybe because I don't want to loose my best friend, Unknown." He rolls his eyes at my sarcastic comment. Bally snickers from beside me, then she rests her head on my shoulder. "Thanks, Bal. I don't think I wanna go out to drowning saving a kid."

"Can we just agree to ditch the beach for a couple months?" The warm sun bites though the chill that was trying to set in my body. My friend just nods gently, shivering. "Mhm. D-Definitely."

"T-Thank you, s-sir. M-Ma'am." The young voice draws my attention to where Indie had burrito wrapped a child up and Oliver was holding them. Blue eyes met mine and I feel a bit of a smile cross my face. "No problem, kid," I say as Bally nods again, pulling her towel closer around her.

Eventually, the kid's parents come over and pick him up, both of them profusely thanking Bally and I for saving him. I just give them, 'Not a problem's in response. Once they leave, Unknown and Indie both help Bally and I up. My body still ached, but I felt strong enough to stand finally.

"Light, Bally, back to Bally's or my place," Indie asks, his vitiligo face a bit red from the sun. Bally answers before I could. "Mine. My place is closer than yours, Indie." He just nods and Oliver finishes packing up his first aid kit.

Unknown lightly punches my shoulder with a bit of a glare and I roll my eyes. I knew my brother was concerned, but he and I could talk later. "I'll drive," Unknown mumbles before I could say anything about it. "I'll pack up our stuff," Oliver follows up, bee-lining back down the beach. Indie and my brother help Bally and I down the beach after Oliver. My best friend leans her head on me as we walk back, her hair wiry and wet.

I just... was glad we didn't drown.