Falling With The Fallen

Chapter One ~ The Drowning

(Scarlett Winters)

Plunging myself into the depths of the stagnant pool, I let my lungs relax and force out the remaining oxygen–Slowly sinking to the cool tiles. My chest burns as I draw the water in, welcoming the searing pain as I force myself to choke on the chemical-infused water. As I sink to the bottom, adrenaline rips through me, attempting to save me from nothing but the lie of my death. Stopping my body from flailing about with eyes wide open, I stare at the pattern of the cyan-coloured tiles spanning the distance of the pool, distracting myself from the pain of drowning. How does my brain still think I'm in danger?

A sense of serenity greets me at the bottom, a silence I find nowhere else.

Waiting for the purest form of silence, I briefly feel the floor's firm support beneath me. I gaze at the dancing light above, observing its gentle, almost hypnotic movements. Following the path of the light, my eyes eventually land on the blinding ceiling lights. I fixate on their brightness, daring them to blind me. If only they could.

"She's dead because of you!" a dreaded voice echoes in my head.

I can still see her face when I close my eyes. My Mom's loving gaze flickered to her lifeless, darkened hazel eyes. If only I could do over that one day. The day everything came apart, even just to look at her one last time– Just to tell her I loved her. All I can feel is this ache, it never fully goes away, lingering painfully. Sometimes I see her in a reflection or a person passing by, but it never is, and the ache grows.

As the voices fade, death draws closer, its darkness taking hold of me. Closing my weary eyes I succumb to the feeling, silently begging for it to take me forever. Gently, the darkness cradles me as everything fades away, I lean into its cold embrace and pray it's for the good.

I still felt conscious, though my body disconnected. Nothing but black to be seen.

"Back again?" the familiar voice asked, its alluring voice filling up the dark void.

"If you'd let me stay, you'd be saving yourself so much time." I bargained, hoping they would let me stay this time.

"I have all the time in the world... and so do you," they stated. I let out of groan, my patience falling short.

"I'm done, I've had enough time!" I cried, "Just let me die... Let the pain stop..." I panted.

"Young Scarlett, you don't seem to understand the intention of your immortality. Most mortals would only dream of such a gift, and you're already begging to be rid of it."

"No, you don't seem to understand! I wake up and feel nothing but pain, unbearable pain, the one thing that this curse can't heal." I hissed.

"I see... If time heals anything, It's wounds..." they countered before their voice began fading back into the sound of the gushing water returning in my ears.

Jolting back to life, I regain feeling in my body. Begrudgingly, I swim back towards the bright surface. As my head peaks out the surface, I spit out the water, my throat burning. My thoughts resumed, the ache in my stomach resurfacing, making me feel sick. Reaching the water's edge, I rush to exit the pool before violently vomiting into the bucket I keep nearby. The ache quietens.

A chill runs down my spine as I register the cool night air circulating through the small indoor pool. I run a hand through my soaking hair, pushing some of the water out. Water droplets run down my body, urging me to cover myself. Lifting myself off the short bin, I eye the deep blue towel that rested on the weathered white-painted bench. After hastily drying myself off, I wrap the towel around myself and sling my backpack over my shoulder–Heading towards the glass double doors. Locking the door on my way out, so nobody else breaks in. Doing a double-take as I walk outside, I cautiously walk off the property.