caught in the undertow {frankel}

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Summer. The greatest time of the year. The beach is filled with people, everyone seems to have a smile on their face and the atmosphere is at its peak. However it still has its negatives…I still have to work during the summer months. Gutting fish in high temperatures is not something I would wish on anyone…even my own enemy. Although today I was able to break free from work, my mother being in the unusual mood of happiness. I can’t complain about it. To fill my day off, I decided to go shopping, with Teagan. I still haven’t told my mother or brothers about him and well, they don’t need to find out, not yet anyway.

Ever since we both surfed the waves together during that one night, I have dreamt of having my own board and today is the day that I will get my hands on one…as well as other things. There isn’t a particular design that I have in mind but hopefully Teagan can help me decide. My eyes are set on a bright pink board with a picture of an unknown bird on it and I can’t seem to keep my eyes off it in this shop.

"What do you think of these shorts?" Taking my eyes off the board, I’d look to Teagan and then to the shorts. ”They look gre..” Moving my eyes to the window, the noise of screaming outside catches me off guard…what is going on?

The mood has changed in the District, the water is attacking the citizens…this isn’t right. A huge wave charges towards the building that we stand in and the one thing that is filling my mind is to run away. "Mina! Run!" There is nowhere to run, the water will swallow us whole…we have to hide from it somehow. ”Get to the roof!” I call to anyone that hears me as I retreat to staircase the leads to the hopeful safe place…

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Never have I seen such destruction before. Why is the ocean doing this to us? Have we wronged it? The ocean is meant to be peaceful, tranquil not something that bestows devastation onto everybody. The whereabouts of my brothers quickly enter my mind as I flee to safe ground. Were they on the ship today? No. I don’t know. But no matter where my brothers and father…and mother are, I hope they’re safe. Away from the destructive wave that is quickly making its way towards me. Stop thinking Mina, just run.

Scrambling to the stairs that lead up to the attic and onto the roof. I don’t know why I called everyone to go up there but some sort of instinct jumped into my mind and ordered. Maybe thinking does help sometimes. Followed by everyone that was in the shop, I’d help lead the way to hopeful safety. My eyes are unaware of what the wave is currently doing as my main goal is to the land in a safer position. Grabbing the hand of a young child, I’d lead them to the surface of the roof before looking out to the ocean. It’s so close, closer than it’s ever been.

Teagan!

There are five of us stood on the roof and Teagan’s face is not included. ”Teagan!” I yell as the wave descends onto the building. Standing at the entrance of the ladders that lead to the roof, I’d peer in, hoping to see Teagan climbing up. ”Teagan!”

It is so quick. Crashing against the walls of the building, the water marches right past it, dragging any loose bits with it. Crumbling, the weak concrete begin to flow with the waves, the structure become unstable by the second. Seeing Teagan at the bottom of the stairs, I’d scramble down them as the concrete falls down all around him. Missing my footing on the stairs, my foot falls beneath me, sending my back and head against the steps. Everything goes black.

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Darkness falls across my eyes, restraining me from doing anything. Why must weakness crawl over me right now? Recollection of the time we were in the ocean quickly sends a montage of the danger that I put me and Teagan in. Every time I am given responsibility, I always blow it, either in the most disastrous way or through stupidity. But can I blame myself for what is happening right now? Of course, I could have made sure that Teagan had gotten up to the roof first…I was selfish. Selfish are per usual. It will be my fault if he gets hurt, just like last time.

When my body finally wakes up and allows me to pull myself off the stairs, it is as if I’ve been out for an eternity as the scene around me has totally transpired. The whole ground floor is unrecognisable and it’s surprising how the roof is still erected and supporting the people. Submerged in the water, concrete blocks and debris fill the room. Vegetation has somehow found its way into the building but where is Teagan? ”Teagan” Calling his name, I’d crawl slowly down the concrete steps, the surface beneath me as fragile as my mind right now.

Suddenly events change, the water begins to change its course, retreating back so I remain on the edge of the stairs. Scanning the room, my eyes finally grant me some good news and my ears confirm it as my name reaches them. ”Teagan!” Calling out to him, I’d look at his surroundings, the ceiling above him looking on edge. ”Teagan, you have to move quick! Move, the roof!” Scrambling my words together, panic fills my speech as I plea for him to escape.

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