Phycopath

Deep Breathing

I woke up to my phone ringing from across the room and I sprung up to pick it up, hoping it was T.

" Hello?! " I pretty much screamed through the phone.

" Sydney, it's mom. How are you? " I sighed. I thought it was T.

" I'm fine, mom. I just want to go back to sleep. So please don't call me again! "
" Okay, sweetie. Chores list is on the fridge. "

" Yeah, yeah bye. " I said, hanging up the phone and huffed my way back to bed but before I could close my eyes, my phone went off again. It's my mom again. God fucking damn. I picked it up and answered.

" Listen, Mom!! " I shouted.

" Last time I checked, I didn't give birth to you or have any female parts. " the voice said. It was T.

" oh I'm so sorry. My mom called me a little bit ago..."

" it's okay. Moms are annoying. "

" So are you ready for your next test? " he asked me.

" yes. "

" The next test is for trust towards me. "

" Okay? "

" There's a lake near here, right ? "

" Yes, Lake Giloent. "

" That's the one. Well in middle of it, there's a buoy with orange and black strips. Most people believe it's for shallow water but it's actually a deep drop off like dark and dangerous. "

" Deep, dark, dangerous? Sounds like my type of adventure. "

" Well at the bottom of the buoy which is halfway to almost up to 12 feet is a small box, the key is on the buoy, taped with black duct tape. "

" 12 feet? You trying to kill me. "

" No. It's not that bad if I can do it than you can. "

He had a point but I didn't feel comfortable about dying today.

" But if you don't trust me then I guess it's off. " He said with a sad voice.

" No. I'll do it, Mr. T. "

He laughed.

" You got my rose last night. "

" yeah I'm more curious on how you got into my room. " I said, looking for my swimsuit.

" Oh Sydney, you should learn to lock your doors more often. " He said, giggling at me.

" I'll be there, watching you Sydney. There's clues to who I am and the next test in the box underneath the water. Hold your breath, honey. "

He hung up. I quickly put on my swimsuit and gathered my things, excitingly.

****

It was chilly but warm outside. I decided to wear my plastic leather black two piece swimsuit with my black converses. I brought a towel extra socks. I ignored the " Trespassing " and " Do Not Enter " signs and just walked straight into the rocky sand. Grey clouds covered the sky and the wind blew through my hair. Not a soul in sight. I found the buoy with the long strip of black duct tape.

I took a breath as I set everything down and took off my shoes. The water was cold, very cold. Goosebumps came all over my body then I shivered. I realized my scars from self harm were showing on my thighs and arms. I scrabbled through water quickly because I knew T was watching and I didn't want him to see them. I was hip high in the water and I was super close to the buoy. I could see the key on a chain taped to it.

I reached my arm to grab it but I got a face full of cold water. I kicked all over but I couldn't find the ground. The Drop Off. I found the drop off. I quickly swung my arms around in the water and gasped for air. My hair felt like snow from the cold air. I gripped onto the buoy to catch my breath.

I felt a small rope tickle my big toe. That must be the box. I gasped a huge breath of air and plunged into the cold water. I opened my eyes to see yellow and blue but clear as day. I swam down deep into the lake, managing my breath support while following the rope. I felt my ears bubble up from the air pressure and it hurt a little bit. I finally banged my hand on a small black box tied on the handle. When I yanked on it, it was tied good. Triple knotted tightly.

I scrabbled to untie it quick. I could feel my lungs losing oxygen slowly and my head bang hard. I pulled the string.

One.

I aciddently breathed out through my nose, now I felt uncomfortable and could feel my lungs trying to escape my rib cage in a throbbing pain.

Two.

Just one more, I thought as the air in my brain drains. Why didn't I just yank the rope and take the case, oh yeah. He bolted it to the buoy. Smart move, T. My body started to sink deeper, my lungs were in pain, my head was going to explode and I felt my eyes tense up.

Three.

I grabbed the handle and swam as fast as I could to the surface with less than0.2% oxygen in my body. I was nearly out of breath and was feeling the erge to pass out right there in the water. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to let the last of the oxygen leave my body.

I heard a splash through the water and I deeply breathed in the nice, cold air. I hooked onto the buoy and coughed multiple times with the box still tightly gripped in my hand. My lungs an head were normal again and I finally caught my breath. I ripped the key off and swan back to shore where my towel was. I got out of the water into the cold air and collapsed on my towel, letting the box and key tumble on the sand.

A near death experience? I smiled at that thought.