One-Shot Stories

The Rescuer*

It was the best sort of day for a beach trip: the sky was clear, the temperature not too hot, and best of all, few people around. You'd been lucky to have your friend let you borrow their beachfront place for your vacation. You were looking forward to a nice couple of weeks of sun, sand, and sea.

You spend a bit of time sitting on the beach, before getting antsy and running out into the waves. You giggle as you wade out into the cool water; this is what beach life was all about. You paddle out a bit until your feet come off the bottom, and you float for a few minutes, staring up into the sky.

Suddenly, you're yanked under and tumble beneath the water for a moment. You break the surface and look around. You see the beach getting further and further away, and you realize that you'd drifted into a rip current. You'd heard about them in the past, but never thought you'd encounter one. As the shore slips away, you try furiously to swim back. The more you try to escape, the further it seems to push you. You feel yourself beginning to grow tired, your arms and legs getting heavy. Panic rises in your chest and you try to call out for help, but there's nobody around to hear. You sink lower in the water, waves breaking over your head.

Before long, a large wave pushes you under. You try to reach the surface again, but you can't seem to make it. You look up and realize that you're facing the wrong direction; the current has turned you around and upside down. Your lungs burn as you fight to right yourself, but the edges of your vision begin to darken, and you feel yourself weakening more and more. Just before your vision fails, a stream of bubbles escapes your lips and a dark shadow passes over you.

Brightness. Sound. Something soft was touching your lips. Your eyes fly open as you choke, and you splutter as water sprays from your lips. You feel someone turn you onto your side, and sand crunches beneath you.

You were alive, you thought as you coughed up more water, and your were on land. Even as you continued coughing up water, a thought crossed your mind: No more swimming for you. Ever. You feel a large hand pressed into your back, and notice that its temperature seems...off. As you finally draw a normal breath without coughing, you look up to see your rescuer.

A huge, brawny frame is silhouetted by the sun, and in your still somewhat oxygen deprived state, you seem to notice something strange about the shape of them. Your eyes were having a hard time staying open, and you felt sleepy. The shadowy figure gently lifts your head, cupping your cheek in a large, strong palm.

"Are you all right?" A smooth, soft voice asks, and you realize that the figure is a man. But his hand still felt strange, almost like it wasn't human. You write this off as silly, and nod up at the figure, who sighs in relief.

"I'm so glad; I was worried that I hadn't gotten you out of the water in time," he says softly, and you feel his thumb brush across your cheek. It felt nice, and you closed your eyes.

"I'm... really tired," you say slowly, your words slurred. You look up the beach and see your vacation house just a bit down the way. "Can you help me... home? I live in the..." you struggle to remember the detail, "...blue-green-ish one over there," you feel foolish having trouble with such a simple detail, but to your surprise and utter relief, the man agrees.

He carefully picks you up from the sand, his arms strong around you, and you lean heavily against him, your eyes mostly closed. He felt odd; hard and strong, but his skin was cool, almost cold. As he carried you toward your house, the gentle rocking motion lulled you further and further into the sleepy feeling.

"We're almost there," he says from miles away. You feel so safe, so comfortable; it was so strange. You feel his arms tighten around you slightly, and as you drift further and further from consciousness, you hear him quietly chuckle.