The Island

Part 6 - 1

Part 6:

One:

Night passed and the sun rose over the island. Jeanette stirred just past dawn. The sun peeked in her window and greeted her. She got out of her empty bed and peeked out her window. Outside, all seemed fine; the same view of the fire-pit and shoreline was still there. Small trees hugged the shore to the left of the docks, barely in Jeanette's sight. She admired the shadows the trees cast on the lawn; it made her calm. The shadow of the tire-swing moved in the slight morning breeze. Today was going to be another clear day. The cloudless sky reminded her of the summer that was being stolen from her by a killer - a killer within. The summer was going to be gone; and with the events on the island, possibly her entire social life. She felt the urge to do something she wanted to do since the day she got on the island; go swimming. She turned away from the window and located her suitcase. She threw her own clothes off onto the floor and opened her suitcase. She had to dig for them, but she located her pink-polka dot bikini and bottoms. She slid them on effortlessly and pulled some flip-flops that she wore the first day she got to the island. With a convenient towel by the door, she grabbed it and headed out for her swim. She went down the hallway, passing Wyatt and Logan's room and Carmen and Emma's before going down the stairs. The sun casted a shadow of the window onto the "L" shaped turn on the stairs. She walked through it and onto the foyer floor. "Emma? Is that you?" A voice called from the kitchen. Carmen appeared out of the kitchen entrance. "Jeanette," She said, noticing her bikini. "what are you wearing?" "What do you think? It's my attire for a swim that I am taking. Right now." Carmen chuckled. "Okay." She nodded. Jeanette was shocked. "Really?" Jeanette asked. "Yes. I'll be out there in a bit. Just let me finish up what I'm making I'll be out there in a few." Carmen disappeared back into the kitchen. Jeanette nodded and walked out the front door. She felt almost no fear in leaving the cabin; she knew it must be too early for Adin's killer to reawaken. She walked across a stone path from the veranda steps and admired the lawn. The grass was becoming overgrown; she thought she might have someone mow it later. The morning summer air hit her hardest when she stepped onto the grey dock. The blue waves came from the lake with the breeze that felt more like wind as she walked closer to the end of the dock. Jeanette peered into the water and saw her choppy reflection. She stopped and took in her surroundings; the lake, both the island and mainland shorelines, and a rope attached to the dock sank down in the water. This was the perfect place to begin swimming. She threw her towel down and kicked off her flip-flops. Ready to dive in, she brought one hand to her nose. She took a breath breath and lept feet-first into the lake. The lake's cold temperature shocked Jeanette's skin as she descended instantly into the water. Her blonde hair was swept above her and was closest to the surface; where she had jumped in was too deep to touch the bottom, but she felt like the bottom was close. Jeanette left herself be underwater for a second. She enjoyed the cold of the lake; it was refreshing. She stroked her foot underwater. Jeanette found something metal touching her foot. Suddenly, something clamped to her ankle. It was like a pair of metal jaws had just took a bite of her foot - with no teeth. Jeanette tried to pull her foot out but could not. Her eyes were closed and she was already running short of breath. From the depth the jaws kept her, she could only stick a hand to the surface. Frantically, she started to splash the surface. Without thinking, she tried to scream. The only thing that sounded out of her mouth was a muffled yelp and many bubbles. Jeanette felt them run her face. By now, her air supply was low. Her hand gestures at the surface were more violent and bigger. During all of that, she tried every second to pull her right foot free; she used her left foot to kick and try to stand on the device to pull her foot out. Whatever held her foot was not moving whatsoever. Jeanette began to panic; no one except Carmen knew she was taking this swim. And Carmen said she'd be there "in a bit" - was that a minute? Five minutes? Ten minutes? Jeanette didn't have 10 minutes - she'd be dead by then. Jeanette went into a full panic and she realized she was drowning. Her flailing arm became tired; she switched hands from holding her own nose and waving on the surface. With her left arm she was weaker, but she tried as hard as she could. Her strength was weakening; her splashing became great efforts. She estimated she had been underwater for one minute or so. How long does it take to kill? A minute and a half? Three minutes? Either way, Jeanette felt she was about to find out first hand. Her weak left arm slowly stopped making motion and slipped down into the lake. Jeanette could not splash anymore; the stress became too much. Jeanette's limp arm began sinking into the blue with the rest of her. With great force and speed, another hand unexpectedly thrust into the water from the surface and grabbed Jeanette's left wrist. The hand pulled on Jeanette's; her foot was coming loose. The shock made Jeanette unplug her nose. She accidentally swallowed some lake water as the person began pulling Jeanette out of the water. Despite Jeanette's pain, the person grabbed her hair and tugged. With one more tug, Jeanette's blue face came to the surface. Jeanette took the biggest breath of her life. "Jeanette!" She began uncontrollably coughing and shaking. "Jeanette!" The savior screamed. They began to haul Jeanette by the shoulders up onto the dock. Jeanette still coughed and breathed hard as her shoulders, arms, and head all were rested onto the dock. The person grabbed just below Jeanette's breasts and tried to find Jeanette's hips. Her whole body came to the surface; the first thing the person reached for was her left leg. Still sore from excessive tugging and the lacerations on her ankle, her left leg was out onto the dock. And with that, most of her body was on the dock. Jeanette's left arm had fallen into the water, but Jeanette didn't think her savior cared. Not surprisingly, a tearful Carmen stood over her, looking at Jeanette with her hands to her hands to face. "Oh my God." She whispered. "Oh my God. Damn you." Jeanette coughed less and less as she regained control of her body and breathing. Carmen took her hands away from her face and revealed some mucus and her wet face. Her breathing seemed more erratic than Jeanette's; out of nowhere Carmen bent down to Jeanette and pulled her up into a hug. At her shoulders, Carmen held the fragile Jeanette. She was too weak to grip Carmen. Carmen set Jeanette down on the dock again and stared at her. "Why?" She said. "Why did I let you do that?" Carmen got on her feet and disappeared from Jeanette's sight.