Flash Flood!

Darkness. It surrounds Andy as she drifts slowly downward, covering her vision while her lungs ache to pull in sweet air. But the girl is stubborn, fighting the instinctive urge that will only bring in water. Even in the face of death, she clings to the desperate hope that someone will be able to reach her and pull her from the Grim Reaper’s embrace. Vision blurs as tears of fear and hopelessness fill her eyes, silently slipping free to join the rest of the flood waters.

Her brain no longer registers the cold of the water that surrounds her, rending her muscles unless and draining away what little energy she had. The world gradually begins to fade as she continues to refuse her body’s need, knowing that it will only draw more water into her lungs and spell her death. But fighting is becoming difficult and Andy’s eyelids gradually grow heavier as she drifts along in the underwater world.

Time stretches out, making each second feel like an eternity as she continues to wage her internal war. The lure of sleep dances at the edges of her mind, promising to take away the burning in her chest in favor a deep and endless slumber. Andy knows that the time is drawing close when her body will no longer obey her and, in a last-ditch effort to save her, will drag the dirty water deep into her lungs.

From somewhere above her, a flash of lightning illuminates the water and she drags her weary eyelids open to see a figure of red form glowing against the black backdrop. Part of her doesn’t believe what she seeing, thinking that in her moments before death, she has conjured the image of the boy she holds dearly in her heart into life. Eyes slip closed as the figure swims toward her and she allows her mind to drift away, senses now completely dulled by the cold and battle she fights.

Yet, something tells her not to give up, to hold on just a little bit longer, and the stubborn girl listens. She does not feel Aresenn put her on his back and swim to the surface and Andy does not realize that she is even breathing let alone, that she can hear someone else’s raspy breathes. It isn’t until he is shaking her, barking out desperately for to wake up, that she comprehends that she is still alive.

Where her respirations had been shallow and almost none existent moments before, the girl suddenly sucks in a deep, wobbly breath and her eyelids fly open. The coughs that follow are guttering and strangely wet as her eyes water and lungs try to forcefully leave her body through her mouth. Rain pounds her form and lightning flashes brightly above her, followed quickly by a deep, rumbling boom.

Yet, through her tears, pain, foggy head, and lack of oxygen, Andy realizes who had saved her. Pale blue eyes, now overflowing with tears from her forceful bouts of coughing, turn to find the boy’s golden gaze. In spite of everything, a smirk tugs at the corner of her lips as she tries to say, “Hot Shot… you’re… here.” Although her voice is raspy and weak, there is no mistaking the gratitude and relief in it.

Suddenly, everything comes rushing back to her and she remembers the pups she had been attempting to save before the flood had consumed her. Wild, fearful eyes stare up at him as she croaks out, “The pups… need to… save… them.” On wobbly limbs she attempts to stand, the desire to make sure her brother’s children are out of harm’s way forcing her to push her body beyond its limits. Coughs still fall from her lips but they are intermittent and not as strong as before as desperation gives her energy she no longer had.


"Andromeda Fatalis"