Lost Souls

Part 4

She was pushed away from the crevice by the current, but she turned fluidly and made another pass to make sure she wasn't dreaming. No, she wasn't dreaming. She had definitely seen it. Three feet below her in the crevice, and diver in a bright blue dive suit was floating almost motionless. She twisted her body and angled it downwards, kicking until she was at the mouth of the crevice. What was that person doing? She saw the long hair and knew it was a girl. She kicked harder and slid into the crevice, carefully avoiding the jagged sides as she descended. The girl was completely still. She reached out her hand and touched her shoulder. When there was no response, she grabbed the shoulder and shook it harder. The head lifted slightly.

Dread slid down her spine. She grabbed the girl under the arms and started kicking furiously upwards. The girl had barely move an inch when something forced Skye to stop. She tugged harder, the girl must be caught on something. But no matter how hard she pulled she couldn't move her. She dropped a little into the crevice, looking around closely to find the problem and then she saw it. The girl's air hose was snagged round a small outcrop. Looking at it closely, she realised it was wedged in so tightly it was cutting off the air supply to the girl's mask. There was no time, the bubbles had stopped and the girl was limp. She instantly felt a dark foreboding. Not this time, she thought, but she could almost hear his laugh. Let her make the trade, it said into her ear.

She shook her head, Not this time.

Skye lifted the oxygen tank off the girl and tore off the mask to see the girl's face had a faint bluish tint to it. Free from the heavy tank and the snagged air pipe, the girl floated more easily. Skye took a deep breath and pulled the regulator out of her own mouth and pushed into the girl's mouth, praying the whole time. Breathe, she thought desperately as she grabbed the girl's shoulders again and started kicking. A few feet and she stopped, treading water, took a breath from the regulator, and pushed it back between the girl's lips. She had no idea if the girl was breathing, but it was all she could think of doing. She kicked out again and rose, making sure to rise with the air bubbles. Any faster and they would end up with the bends or worse.

They were nearly at the surface, when she looked down at the girl to see her move her hand weakly. Thank god! Skye kept kicking, letting small amounts of air escape from her lungs which were now burning with the effort. Only a little more. Finally her head broke the surface and she took a massive gulp of air. It felt so good. She dragged the girl up and looked round for the boat. It was anchored a short distance away. She lifted a hand and started waving, hoping the captain would see them. Sure enough the boat started moving closer and she turned her attention back to the girl. Her eyes were open now, glazed but open.

'You ok?' Skye asked, 'The boat's coming, don't worry.'

It took only a few minutes to get hauled into the boat. The Captain and his two helpers stretched their arms over the side and lifted first the barely conscious girl and then Skye.

'What happened?' the Captain asked, turning the girl onto her stomach as she starte coughing up water.

Skye shook her head. 'I found her wedged in a crevice near the reef,' she said, taking the towel one of the other men offered her.

'The Devil's crack,' one of the men said with a nod, 'the current sweeps over it and can carry divers into it.'

Skye watched as the girl finally sat up and hung her head between her knees. 'You ok?'

The girl looked up, straight into Skye's eyes and nodded. 'Thank you,' she croaked, 'I could've died.'

Skye didn't answer. There were worse fates than dying and the girl would never know how close she had come. Instead she said, 'I'm Skye.'

'Abby,' the girlwhispered and dropped her head again.

If you like it, vote or leave a comment!!!