Cipher

Chapter 15: Not Breathing

Joslyn couldn't believe it. She had been on her way to talk with the swim coach when she saw Cipher hit the water, his distinct markings catching her attention as she passed the tall windows that separated the pool from the common area. They were in stark contrast with his suddenly pale skin. Her bag was left forgotten in the hallway as she burst through the double doors that opened to the swimming area. There was no time for second thoughts as she ran shrugging off her hoodie. She didn't even acknowledge the boys standing at the edge of the water as her hands split the water before her.

Jeans and sneakers were not ideal for swimming. By the time she reached Cipher he had already gone still. Fighting her own panic she wrapped her arms around him and kicked toward the surface. Through the water she could see a blurry figure at the edge of the pool. Gasping as she broke the surface she kept one arm around Cipher, the other gripped the edge.

"Bring him closer!" Joss glanced up to see that it was Isaac waiting for them, looking as scared as she felt. She dragged Cipher right up to the edge where she helped Isaac heave him up out of the water.

"Go get help," she told him as soon as Cipher was on relatively dry ground. Isaac seemed to hesitate. "I'm soaked, you'll be faster!" With a nod he was gone.

Cipher wasn't breathing.

Her already adrenaline soaked bloodstream spiked with panic. She turned his head, water dribbled from his mouth. This was not good.

Lifeguard training had taught her many useful things, but she didn't know which would apply to an Aeolian and which were strictly human. All she knew was that he definitely needed to breathe. She could almost feel him fading.

Trying not to think about it too hard she pinched his nose and blew a lungful of air into his mouth. And another. Her hands shook as she gave him a third breath silently praying that he'd be okay.

He gasped, choking up water. She quickly helped him to his side as it came running from his mouth and nose. It only got worse as his coughing became more than coughing. His body seemed intent to rid itself not only of water, but everything else too. She grimaced, but didn't move as she held him.

Tears mixed with the water already glistening on her cheeks as Cipher's hand clung desperately to her arm as he heaved, pulling up memories of her brother. He had been so sick. And even though she had done her best to see him through the bad times, she knew that he had still tried to shield her from the worst of it. So she sat with Cipher, both shaking, until help arrived.

It couldn't have taken more than a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Isaac had called 911 and found the nearest teacher. Paramedics were on the scene now, but like Joslyn they weren't quite sure what to do.

Joss was still so hyper-focused that she didn't realize Isaac was beside her until he spoke.

"I'm guessing he didn't just fall in."

She shook her head, "I doubt it. I didn't actually see what happened, but I can guess."

He offered her the bag she hadn't even thought to retrieve from the hallway.

"Thanks," she mumbled, slinging it over her still soaked shoulder. "How did you know where to find us?"

Isaac sighed. "When Cipher didn't show up, I was headed back to see if one of his teachers had kept him after. Instead I found this," he lifted Cipher's backpack in his other hand. "With his stuff all over the floor."

"How did you get from there to here?" she asked.

"I had a bad feeling," he shrugged. "And I followed the noise. When I saw your bag on the ground right outside the pool doors I knew it was right." He paused, thinking. "If you didn't see what happened, how did you know he needed help?"

Joss blew out a long breath. "I saw him hit the water, but not what led up to it. I'm pretty sure Drake and company were here, but I was more worried about getting Cipher out." She took a breath, red rimmed eyes wandering as if the walls had answers. "He was just so weirded out by swimming today when we were talking during lunch. He was getting all scientific about stuff like he does when he's trying to keep calm. I was afraid he wasn't going to survive his first encounter with this much water."

"Thanks to you, it looks like he will."

"Yeah," she tried to force a smile, but it didn't meet her eyes.