The Way Out

Chapter 9 - The Ocean's Shadows

I sat in the sand, relishing the suns warmth. The sun sat high in the sky, it's rays beaming down on me, and reflecting on the ocean's waves. I crunched down on one of the two apples I had tucked away in my satchel. It's tart flavour engulfed my mouth, and I closed my eyes, wishing I had eaten this earlier. I had been starving for days now, but it seemed as if my stomach was too hungry to growl. I sat back, my apple almost entirely gone, and pulled out the map once more.
If the first missing piece was found at it's location on the map, then maybe that's the same for the others...
     I pulled out the small jagged circle with the volcano painted on it, and placed it into the top right hole in the map. My finger traced along its surface as I followed the path that I thought was the way I had gone after reaching the volcano. My finger stopped as it landed on the edge of another missing piece. I could barely see a faint trace of blue along it's ripped edge.
     I'm close...
     I took a long look at the ocean, knowing the second missing piece must be somewhere out there. I gathered all my things into my leather satchel, and counted everything I had left. I couldn't afford to forget something.
One apple left? Check. Two books? One, two... Check. Map? Check.
     I shifted uncomfortably, the soft sand becoming itchy. My satchel swung over my shoulder as I bounced toward the water, the sand hot from the sun.
     I had no idea where to start. At least I knew what I was looking for.
     But how could a small piece of paper survive in an ocean without being soaked, torn apart, and washed away?
     I splashed through the water until the surface reached the bottom of my dirty shorts. The ends were torn and fraying, and my t-shirt was missing a sleeve. My cuts and scrapes stung the deeper I went, and I clenched my fists against the pain. The water rose higher and higher the farther I paddled, and I held my satchel above the waves when the water went up to my chest. My clothes dragged with the ocean's pull, and felt heavier as they absorbed the chilly water. I shivered as I began swimming through the gentle waves, struggling to keep my head and the satchel above water. I did a sort of doggie-paddle through the waves, hoping I'd simply find the missing piece floating in front of me.
I have no idea what I'm doing...
The beach grew smaller as I paddled away from shore. Suddenly, I began to panic.
What if I'm in the wrong place? What if I drown? How much farther do I have to swim? What if I can't make it back? Doubt filled my mind, and I paused, gazing back at the beige-coloured sand. What if I die here?
I shook with anxiety, the satchel seeming to grow heavier. My wet clothes and hair felt like waits now, full of water and pulling me down. My legs kicked back and forth through the water, struggling to keep moving. My heart sank, and my heart beat faster.
I'm sinking...
I gasped for air as my head was dragged below the surface. It felt as though I weighed a million pounds and there was no possible way to keep me afloat. My hands clutched the satchel, keeping it close to my body as I sank deeper into the dark water. My eyes were shut tightly, and I opened them slowly, holding there might be something I could do to lose weight.
I could drop the satchel... No. There's no point in surviving if I lose the satchel. I could take my clothes off... No. They don't way that much. It won't make a difference. I could cut my hair... My long hair, dark from being wet, was adding more weight then I needed. Cut it with what?
I sighed, giving up on myself. Water pierced my eyes as they opened. My vision was blurry. I could see the slightest bit of sunlight poking through the waves, it's rays slicing through the darkness. I could see the satchel held close to my chest, everything inside soaked. I looked down, noticing the shape of my legs, and feet. I squinted, seeing a dark purple figure around my ankles. My eyes grew wide as I realized that it wasn't a part of my feet. I yanked my feet upwards, and grasped the purple-blue creature. It was slimy to the touch, and had a tight hold on my right ankle. It was wrapped around gently, but tightened when I went to unravel its tentacle looking arm.
The sunlight was no more than a little splotch above me, as the seaweed-looking creature dragged me to the darkest part of the ocean floor. I choked out for air, water flooding my lungs. Panic erupted from inside me, and I began frantically trying to shake the slimy arm away.
It's no use...
     It was wrapped around my ankle too tightly. I began making a mental list of things that I could possibly do, but it was a very short list.
What do I have to work with?
     I rummaged through the satchel, throwing away the apple frustratedly. I felt the touch of a book's thin pages, and found myself pulling out a cover reading, "The Ocean's Shadows." I flipped through the pages as fast as I could without getting a paper-cut on its soggy pages. The words became blurry and the corners of my vision darkened.
  I'm running out of oxygen...
     I stopped flipping pages as I came across a curious sketch of what looked like a blurry human head and some swirly symbol. I blinked, trying to make out the words written underneath.
It's hard enough reading cursive without drowning!
     My eyelids grew heavy, and the darkness seemed to be closing in. I mumbled the few words I could make out, which only let in more water. I choked out one last time in a desperate attempt for water to magically be turned into air. Darkness engulfed my vision. My eyes closed.
Is this the end?