SWIM Book 1 (Complete three-hundred pages)

Day 40 Thursday, December 28, 2017

I raced with them across from the bridge, a thin cardboard slab that shucked and jived as we kicked our way across. Cats that lined the bridge quickly ran back the other way and when we all made it to the other side we couldn't believe that any of the boys of our party made it drunkenly across without falling to their deaths. 

Quickly we ran through the rising smoke, holding our breaths, tearing in our eyes. In clear spots i shouted Craig's name then did the others. While i searched, jack and George raided the kitchen looking for food— but found all the cupboards and the refrigerator to be empty, as though someone had already taken all the food and ran! Then travis Brett and i searched each room for Craig but could not find him. The building groaned and the fire was beginning to build a heat that thinned the walls as its layers fell and then went up in blazing sparks. When travis said it was time we hurry out before the building collapses, i screamed out and in defiance and ran for the stairs. The boys ran after me to stop me from causing my own death. But i came to the first floor that was swamped in murky water. I trudged not to far from from the stairs to find the closest door— an open door that led to the garage.All the boys arrived behind me and in our astonishment and shining field of silver light came in through the open garage door. . . And where there used to be a boat, as we could tell by a van with a boat hitching tail behind it floating in the water, was merely the realization that there was no longer a boat to save us. . . 

Where was the boat and where was Craig, were both mysteries now. . . But one in the same.We retreated from the burning building before it collapsed completely, no food, no boat and no Craig to make feeling alone in this endless sea any better. We hoped with all our hearts that somebody saw the smoke stack coming from the building before the building collapsed and our SOS was gone.