Far From Earth, Close To Home (Completed)

Chapter 19: The Ocean

I began to panic, Halo nowhere in sight, and I was about 30 feet underwater. My ears began to hurt, as I could feel the pressure. I started swimming up as fast as I could, holding the little breath I prepared myself. I was about 20 feet below sea level when I let go of all my oxygen, and swam and swam. I started to feel myself trying to breathe in the water, and the surface was only 5 feet away. I breathed in the salty water, swallowing to trick myself, and I finally made it to the surface, gasping for air.

I coughed out the water that went in, and looked around.

Ocean as far as the eye can see. Never ending, nothing.

I didn't know how to react.

I swam hopelessly across the gently waves, looking desperately for a sign of anything.

Only ocean was there, and nothing more. I was beginning to get tired. I thought about Halo, and how he is probably underwater now. I thought about how Gwen and Angel were missing. I thought about Molly. I thought about Ahmya and Nova. I thought about what would happen if I drowned.

I began to cry, calling for help. "Anyone! Please!" I yelled. "I don't want to die! I don't want to..."

I saw a giant wave behind me. And thus, I put myself in a position where I would be angled high.

After successfully becoming a human surfboard, I was very very high up. I looked, and saw a small, tiny little spec. I was ecstatic, and kept heading that way. But, the wave was beginning to collapse, so I braced myself for impact.

I crashed underwater, holding my nose but incapable of covering my ears. I swam up, and set off. Or is it swam off?

It was getting dark, and I was getting cold and I was getting very tired. I could clearly see land, and I was surprised I didn't trail off somehow. Things were looking hopeful, and I forgot my entire body ached of exhaustion.

I eventually got to shore, and the island was generally large. I couldn't see the other side, probably because of the jungle in front of me. I don't know how I didn't notice this before.

I forced myself to collect fire fuel and then I took it to shore. I could see night coming soon. I noticed how beautiful sundown looks. And then I plopped bark and things on the sand and just set it on fire with my new found power, and then just crashed in the sand. I didn't really care. But I forgot about The Mansion.