Chained Memories

 [[ I have changed the name because if I get the published it goes with the cover]]

Charm

  "hey Mon where did you go last? You were gone for awhile." I sat on my bed wondering why now? Why does he have to ask this now? I let my irritation show; sighing I lazily leaned back against the wall and kept reading the book I had been working on all summer. It seem it was taking for ever to finish it. "Mon?" I turned another pager rolling my eyes. "Monica" He threw his hands up in defeat and I smiled.

  "Hey Donny." I brought my eyes from my book to him. "What's up?" I knew he could tell I was happy about winning that 'battle.' It was his turned to sigh as he sat on my bed. I stood feeling uncomfortable. I know I shouldn't, he's my father, but still I don't him. I leaned against the old rickety desk and listen to him repeat himself. "Just walking, sorry, I lost track of time."

  "I see, well, I came up to see if you wanted to go hunting with me."

  "Hunting, as int...kill an animal?" I felt color drain from my face as my stomach turned upside down. "I don't kill." I turned putting my book down bracing my self on the desk hoping it was strong enough to hole me up. "you should know this." I sighed shaking the images of a dead animal from my head.

  "Then I'll be be sure to bring back enough back."

  "As long as I don't see it." I faced him with a grin. "I have better idea! I'll leave." I knew he would disagree to me leaving while he was gone so I grabbed my book and rushed down stairs and out the door before he could say anything.

  "Mon!" I stopped behind some trees and watched him run out of the house looking around for me, but to his knowledge I was gone; thought I was hiding. Turning around I took the same path to the spot I officially met Damion. I could feel a slight sting of disappointment when he was not there, but on the other hand it would be quiet enough for me to read. I sat in the sun an opened my book up.

   She ran constantly looking over her shoulder to if he was following her. "How did I get my self into this?" The girl sighed ducking behind a tree. "I thought vampires were just made up!"

   She stayed to that spot waiting until the day to break. Foot steps coming her  way . Slow, crushing every ting and leaf beneath them, it was the sound of horror. A silky but deep voice filled the early morning fog. "There you are-"

  "Monica?" I jumped up with my book almost throwing it over the edge into the water. Turning on the balls on my feet I saw Damion standing under the shade of the tree laughing. "Is there something wrong?" He mocked.

  "No, No." I tried catching my breath. "It was the man in the book, the girl, you-" What was I saying? Was I that caught up in the book? "You scared me!" I finally settled with that, but when I realized what I said I was filled with anger, because it was true. I don't scar easily, and I don't like it when some one does scare me.

  "I am sorry." He laughed that laughed that I hated. It made me feel stupid.

  "What do you want?" I glared.

  "What so hostile?"

  "I finally find a quiet place to read and you show up!" I was a bit shocked at my self, I usually don't exploded on some one like that if they have done nothing wrong. Sure he scared me, but he didn't know I don't like being scared.

  "Feel better?" His laughing lips sank into a sincere smile.

  "Yes." I let out a breath I had been holding. "Sorry." He only continued to smile.

   "And you said this spot was yours? Do not forget, I live in these woods, you are only a visitor." He arched his brow peeking over his shoulder at me. I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious.

  "I guess." I turned back around facing the lake.

  "Ashes in the Night?" He picked up my book flipping it closely examining the front and back. "What it about? It looks to dark for you."

  "What are talking about, you don't even know me!" I hated it when people tried putting a label on me just because of the way I act, dress or look. I tried snatching the book but he was to fast.

  "I know you not usually so hostile," He put the book behind his back. "Did I do something to offend you?"

  "You don't know me so shut up!"

  "I know that you embarrass easily, but don't let it show." I went for the book again trying to ignore him, but damn it he was to fast! "I also know every move your gonna make before you make it." He was grinning trying not to laugh at my lose. If looks could kill he would have burst into flames. "But what I do not know is why you don not like me." He squatted on his feet and held out the book.

  "I never said I didn't like you." I snatched the book and dust the dirt off my jeans.

  "You do not have to." Arg, that smile again. I couldn't put my finger on it but I just didn't like it. I don't think I like any of his facial expressions at the moment.

  "You should learn to read books not people."

   Still he kept the grin. "Call it a....gift." He sat down on knee to his chest.

  "I don't like it." I don't know why that came out or from where, though it was true, it doesn't make a difference if I like it or not.

  "I have plenty of other gifts you wouldn't like, but no one asked you to like them."

  "Please reframe from showing them to me. And also do not judge what I like and what I won't like I can find that out on my own" I started to read again hoping he would go away. "Forgive me." I said nothing to his apology, nothing to even signify I forgave him...if I did. "I did not mean to offend you. I only meant that you are human, you are afraid of...different." He laid back closing his eyes.

  I slammed my book hut with and irritated groan. "If I'm human what does that make you, a werewolf?"

  "Close." I was being sarcastic but he seemed to answer so seriously.

  "Yeah right." I really didn't get him but still he interested my. I think it was because I couldn't understand him and he was challenging.

  "You the one reading a book on vampires and I am weird?"

  "I never said that..."

  "You were thinking it."

  I hesitant for a moment looking down at him, his eyes closed, the shadows of the wind shaken trees fluttering across his face. "Bye." That was to much, how could some one know your moves know who you are and what you are thinking? That went beyond reading people, I was beginning to think he stalked me! taking my book I got up to leave.

  "Monica wait." He grabbed my arm and turned me around. "I am sorry." Laughed. "can we start over?"

  "You realize this is the second time we have had to start over." I pulled my arm away. His hand felt like they were on fire, but icy cold at the same time. Kind of like ice when you pull it out of the freezer.

  "So are you excepting my apology?"

  "You know for some one who can read people you not to good about communication."

  "It takes two to communicate." He had a point there, I hadn't been making it easy for him to talk to me, but he had been persistent.

  "I'm sorry, I haven't been in a cheerful mood lately."

  "Let me guess, you do not want to be here."

  "You are good." I felt my self for the first time this summer; smile. "Or have you just been watching me?" The grin on his lips and the raising of his thick brow gave me the answer. So I was right, but now that I know who it is it doesn't seem creepy any more. "So do you always watch people when they come out here, or is it just females?"

  "I am not that kind of man." He laughed. "I told you these woods are dangerous."

  "And I still have yet to see anything dangerous."

 "Just because you do not see it, that does not mean it is not there, or does not exist." 

  "Then are you the danger?"

  "Am I the danger? How could that be when I saved you from the lake?"

  "For all I know your a psycho killer." I laughed.

  "And you would risk your life?" I shrugged off his question sitting back down in the shade of a tree. "Then there's something we have in common. He laid back down next to me.

  "Sorry to brake it to you, but we are to different to have anything in common."

  "Our differences is what makes us the same." That was one example why I don't understand him. Where did he get that line, out of a random book of  'Words of Wisdom' written by some old man? I know he was unable to see the weird expression on my face but still,l did he know I was making it? The twisting smile on his face answer my thoughts.

  "I suppose." I rolled my eyes. We ended talking for hours and we did have things in common, but I would never tell him he was right. But I still did not understand what we had in common about throwing our lives away.

  "See you are easy to talk to once you are relaxed."

  "Yeah, I just had to get away from Donny for awhile." My breath caught in my throat when I said his name. "I forgot he went hunting this morning!"

  "Hunting?" Damion's eyes narrowed at em as if I did something wrong.

   "Well yeah, what else are we supposed to eat?"

  "You did not go with him?"

  "Well...no." I thought that would be easy; I was in front of him right? "The smell of blood makes me sick." I could feel the color on my face drain again.

  "You mean the sight of blood?" He tried correcting me.

  "Nope, the smell."

   "Humans can not smell blood."

  "Some human senses are stronger than others." I shrugged. " I remember, it was during a basketball game," I looked out to the lake picturing the story frame by frame just as it happened in front of me. "Two of the players had a bad collision. One busted her nose and the other cracked her head on the floor. I remember the smell of rusted iron and new coins filling my nose as the blood spread from her head onto the floor. The gym  began spinning  in circles and the crowd slowly melted together and then, I passed out."

  "I see." He gave me that look. "I don't know what made me feel weirder, his grin or the narrow of his eyes. His eyes, they were different, but still beautiful. They were a rich dark blue,  I found that odd because he had black hair. Most black haired people have brown eyes, and also the night we met it look at is his eyes were black, but that would be odd to. But I suppose that was another thing we had in common, my hair was black as well, that I got from Donny, but my eyes were my mothers; emerald green.

  "Well, I should be going, I don't want Donny to worry. Would you like to join us for lunch?" He shook his head.

  "I don't that is a good idea."

  "Later then."

A/N i KNOW THERE ARE SPELLING AND GRAMMER ISSUES BUT IMMA FIX IT LATER AND IM TIRED.

Chained Memories

Face to Face

  "Monica, Monica." My world was black, but I could here him calling out for me. A steady pattern of pressure weighed down on my chest, and lifted repeatedly, on, off, on , off. Air was being forced down me and the pattern of on, off, on , off would start again. I could feel the pressure trapped with in my chest being released as a cool liquid forced it's way out through my throat. "Monica, Monica! Don't die on me." Was I really dieing? "Mon?" That name. Turning my head the pressure I was finally able to let go of was water, and my world was lifted of the darkness.

  "Don't call me that." I choked. Looking up I saw Donny hovering over me. "What happened to me?" Sitting up I put my hand to my throbbing head.

  "I was going to ask you that. I turned around and you were gone."

  "Me too." I remembered being in the water and when I turned back there was nothing.

  "What?" I felt like I was missing something.

  "Nothing." I looked around, I was back at the docks. "How did I get back here?"

  "I can't be sure."

  "Mom," I stood running to the edge of the deck. "the hand, it saved me."

  "Monica, what are you talking about?"

  "The cave, I was pulled under then mom and the hand." I started to just say things that were flashing through my head. But I wasn't making any sense of them, or the words that were coming out of my mouth.

  "Why don't we just go home, I'm sure we have something to eat for tonight."

  "Right," Hesitant I took one last look out to the lake before we headed home.

  "Hey Donny, I'm going out!"

  "Where?"

  "To-" I couldn't really say where, we were in the middle of the woods. I just had to get out, I had been trapped inside since the lake accident.

  "First tell me what happened. You almost drowned, that's not like you. Your on the swim team." It was true, as much as I hate to say it he had a point. Swimming was one of my best sports, how could I explain almost drowning?

  "My foot," I remembered the feeling of some one grabbing me...or so I thought. "It got caught in a whirl pool." I couldn't tell if he believed me or not, but it was true..partly, my foot did get caught. I just didn't know by what.

  "Be careful."

  "You mean, you letting me go?" I couldn't believe this, I must have died at the lake. This is usually when he tries to play dad and ask me all these questions.

  "You wouldn't have almost drown it I didn't just spring this trip up on you. besides," he smiled. "Your a teenager, you have you own thing you like to do." I could tell it was taking a lot for him to say this and at the same time I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

  "Your learned, I can teach you something yet." I felt a smile on my face as I said that. Walking out I stepped of the porch  looking at the sky, but the trees were in the way of the moon. Following the moon like a star I walked through the woods praying nothing would jump out at me. Finally I came to a small clearing. It was kind of like a cliff. A little way down the slop a smaller area stuck out. I decided that it looked like a good place to sit. 

  "You really should not be out here alone." I heard a voice behind me. Slipping on the rock under my feet I luckily fell back instead of forward. But before I hit the ground the boy caught me. "Like this your bound to have another accident." He smiled. Pushing me back on balance.

  "Yeah, and your gonna be the one that will cause it!" I glared as he put his finger to his lips grinning. The light from the moon hit him just right to give him a scary but, beautiful look at the same time. All I could see was his face, it was chiseled and a bit square and his eyes, I'm guess were brown, because there in the night they looked black.

  "You should not be so loud in the woods, especially at night." He whispered. "And it is not proper to blame you clumsiness on some one you do not even know."

  "Yeah, well who the hell are you." I knew I was being rude, mother forgive me, but what man would sneak up on a girl in the woods, and night. If he was that kind of man I should be leaving, but something told me that he wasn't. And I don't think anyone would feel like being to kind after you almost died once today and then you almost fell over a cliff only a few hours later.

  "Forgive me, I am being rude, my name is Damion." I could hear a bit of accent so I began wondering if he was from another country. Looking at him I didn't know weather to say 'Nice to meet you' or introduce myself. It was really nice to meet him right now, and why would I give my name to some strange guy?  Luckily he spoke before I could. "And you should be in bed getting you rest after this afternoon."

  Of all things he could of said, he told me what I should be doing? I don't even let Donny do that! But how did he know about this afternoon? "How do you know about that?" I started to put things together. the feeling that some one had been following me, the hand that reached in  calling my name, and how I got back to the docks. "How did you know my name?" I wanted to see if I was right about everything, to see if he would tell me.

  "I do not recall saying your name." How could I be so stupid. I should have figured out away to trick him into saying it., instead I just made my self look dumb. But at the same time I knew he knew what I was talking about because he had a smug look on his face that made me want to smack it off. "I would like to know, your name though if you would not mid. I did tell you mine after all."

  "I didn't ask for it." He was trying to take me off topic but is wasn't working. "You were there, it's you that's been following us around, you were there today at the lat, you put her hand in the water!" My voice became lower and lower and my words slower when I realized what I was saying. "And you saved my life." He still stood there with a grin on his face while mine was red.

  "I knew you would figure it out. Thought I have to say I though you would have thought about it before now. I was begging to doubt you." I made myself look stupid for what, the third time, and in more ways than I thought.

  "I'm Monica." I turned around looking at the moon. Why did I say that, he already knew my name. "I just thought it would be better if I introduced my self face to face." Come to think of it, he did ask me name earlier.

  "Well it is not really face to face is it if your turned away?" Arg I could feel him looking at me as he stood by my side grinning. The same one that made me want to smack him.

  Taking in a breath I pivoted looking at him. "I'm Monica" I held out my hand. He looked hesitant for a moment looking at my hand. "Okay." Pulling my hand back I turned back around around  feeling stupid..again.

  "Please, don not take it personally I ju-"

  "It's alright, you don't have to explain it to me, you don't even know me." I don't think I would even want to know. "Well, thank you."

 "It was nothing." He didn't seem like a man of many words, but still I wanted to get him to talk.

  "So why are you out here? Surly you don't live here."

  "And why would I not?"

  I looked around trying not to laugh. "Because, it's the woods. Who would live out here but creepy old widowed men."

  "People, that enjoy peace and quiet." He raised his brow at me.

  "I enjoy peace and quiet to but this? This is to much, I couldn't live here, it's fine for a trip though." I smiled looking out at the very lake I almost drown in, the very lake Damion saved me from. "Maybe I'm to much of a city girl." I smiled. Laying down on the cool grass I looked up at the stars. "But there's one thing I still like to see that you can't see in he city."

  "And that is?"

  "The night sky. you would never be able to see this many stars  where I come from. Most of my friends will go through life thinking there's only four or five stars in the sky." I laughed.

  "Then they do not know what they are missing." he sat next to me look at the same moon. "It will be full here in a few days." I looked at the moon seeing he was right. It  was so white, like a crystal just handing in the sky.

  "So what are you doing out here?" I almost forgot he never answered my question.

  "Just trying to refresh old memories." I think I hit a touchy subject when he dropped his head  and looked to the side so I decided to change the subject.

  "Monica!" Donny's voice cut through the silence.

  "Donny." I sighed standing brushing the dirt from my jeans. "Well it was nice meeting you." Turning my back to the woods I headed home, but he stopped me.

  "Monica," He looked past me, as if he were looked at something in the woods. "You might want to tell you dad that it is not such a good idea to make so much noise in these woods. Mainly at night, it get's dangerous."

  "Like I said, we're city folks." I laughed, but he held a look of sternness. "By the way he's not my dad, just my father." I could see I left a confused look on his face. "Maybe I'll explain to you one day." I said through a yawn and went back the way I came for 'home.' 

Chained Memories

I always said I would never forget my emotions. he told on me 'Once you change, everything you know slowly fades, until it's nothing to you.' But I didn't believe him and look where I am now. Chained here like an animal, no family, and memories slowly fade. Now I find myself second guessing, 'Was I human? Or did this beast lay dormant inside me, just waiting for the right moment, until he would release it.

Another Wasted Summer

100 years earlier

     "I still don't see why I have go." I put bags in the bed of the truck. "I cook, I clean, I can stay home by myself."

    "I know, you've been taking care of me since your mom died." Dad laughed. "But I thought this would be a good bonding experience." I followed him sliding into the truck.

    "Bonding? You call going out to the woods and staying in a wooden shack for two months bonding?" I rolled my eyes. "Honestly, I would hate to know what your's and mom's first date was like."

    This was the way it starts, it's been the same for the past three summers. Dad and I get stuck in a car together for I don't know how many hours driving some where I don't even know existed. I know he means well but he always say bonding, and the only thing ever said in the car is when we're fighting over the radio. Then when we got to where we where going I go lock myself in my room.

     The only reason I agree to go on theses trips with him is because I can hear mom's voice saying 'Now Monica you should give your father a chance.' So I try but but it always seemed like another summer was wasted away.

     For the most part the ride was enjoyable. I spent most of my time staring out the window, the last thing I remember seeing was an open field of lush green grass full of grazing horses. That must of been when I fell asleep. "Hey kid, we're here." I felt him hit me on the shoulder.

     Lifting my head off the door I rubbed my eyes'. "What do you mean we're hear, it's a dead end." I was stating the obvious since a sign in front of us read 'Dead end'

    "I know, we're hiking the rest of the way."

     "Great." There was some excitement in my voice. I liked hiking and the outdoors, but I didn't know if I was ready. I did just wake up after all.

    "Ready kid?" Picking his bag back up off the ground  Dad threw it over his shoulder.

    "Dad, I have a name you know."

    "I know, I picked it out." He gave me that smug grin he knows I hate.

    "A real name, could you use it?" I hated it when he called me kid. It was like I was Just another person. It's not like was wanted special treatment, just use my name, and maybe put the toilet seat down, but he's a man, what can you do?

    "Isn't it beautiful?" He looked up at the sky taking in a breath.

    Climbing up on a fallen tree I looked around. "Sure if you like heat." I felt sweat trickle down the back of my neck. But unlike most girls I didn't mind. Ever since seventh grade I've played all kinds of sports.

    "So can you make it the rest of the way?"

    "Your the old one.." Some time dad tried to hard to be my friend, and be funny, and it comes across stupid. But if I laugh I'd be lying, but if I don't it will be rude. So I did the only thing I can and say something back. So then I didn't have to laugh...or be rude.

    "So are you ready to go?" He stretched his arms and legs.

   "You the one that wanted to stop and rest." Jumping off the fallen tree I started walking ahead.

   "Mon." I hated that name to. 'Mon' was not my name either, it was probably the best I could get out of him, but still.

   "It's Monica." I knew there was attitude in my voice, but I didn't try to hide it either.

    "Would you just listen to me?" I just wanted to get this hike over with , was that to much to ask. "Can't you at least give me a chance?"

    "I'm here right?" My father and I never had a good relationship. He only got into the whole father daughter time when mom died.

    "That's not what I mean." He gave me a 'daddies sorry' look, but what ever he said after that went through one ear out the other when something caught my attention.

    The bushes to my right shook a bit. Common sense would tell you it was an animal, but when you've had a feeling some one had been watching you and following you this whole time, it get's hard to shake off, "Mon, are you even listening?" How could that not catch my attention. Mon, I don't know what was worse, Mon or Kid

    "Like I said, I'm here right?" Adjusting my back [pack on my shoulders I turned  following the trail. "And don't call me Mon, Donny." I knew that was a low blow. But it's important to him that I call him dad; so he say, and my name is important to me.

    We walked form early afternoon until early evening, and I was happy when it was finally over, mosquitos were starting to bite. "Damn bugs." They were going to eat me before I got chance to eat dinner.

    "Mon!"

    "What Don!" He was really bugging me now.

    "Watch you language."

    "What ever." I sweated at a bug. The tone in his voice was making me feel  bad now. Some time I hated having a concessions, but it kept me out of trouble.

    "Isn't it beautiful?"

    "Yeah sure, if you like green." I wasn't really sure what he was talking about, I was still swatting at bugs.

    "Not the trees, the house." By the sound of his voice I was hoping it was really pretty, boy did I get a shock.

    "Sure, if you like wood." When I said a wooden shack, I was over exaggerating...or so I thought.

    In front of me was a house made of wood. But if you look at it from a certain angel, it was amazing....it was still standing. "So what do you think?" He looked at me with hopeful eyes. Now was a time to lie.

    "Well." I took in a breath. "It has a porch." Well, I tried, but that was the only thing coming out.

    "You don't like it." He sighed.

    "No, it's fine really-"

    "Why do you lie to me." This made me stop what I was saying. "Mon if you don't like it just tell me, I'll never get to know you that way."

    "Damn it quit calling me that! My name is Monica, not Kid not Mon Monica!  A good way to try to get to know me is to call me by my name for one. And two, talk to me don't just spring these trips up on me! This is the third summer I've wasted with you!" I couldn't believe I just said that. Did I want to, no. Do I regret it, no. I may not get along with Donny, but I wouldn't want to hurt him.

    "If that's how you feel, why didn't you just tell me?" He was so calm about it, but I knew those words hurt him.

    "Let's just go inside, we're both tired." I walked toward what would be called our house for the next wasted summer.

Darkness Beyond

    Why must I wake up to him banging on my door? "What Donny!"

    "Wake up we have things to do!"

    "We," I emphasized  "do not have anything to do, and I'm awake!" Throwing the covers over my head I turned my back to the window where the sun was shining through. "This place really needs curtains."

    "Then get up and get ready, and wear something light."

    "Go away!" I wasn't much of a morning her person and I know it showed. "I don't have anything to do out in the woods. I should be at basketball camp right now!" That was another thing. I've missed basketball for three summers too.

    "You do if you want to eat tonight."

    "I'll starve."

    "It's fish." We're going fishing." He knew I loved fish, that was one of my favorite foods, and I never minded spending the day by water. "You can even go swimming if you want. You won't be ready for sports when you go back to school if you sit in your room all summer." I hated to admit it but he was right. Every time I go on these trips with him and sit in my room I have a heard time when volleyball tryouts come around.

   "Fine." Throwing the covers back I stood stretching my stiff muscle. Twisting my body I felt my back bone pop at least five different time in different places. Walking to my bags I pulled out my swim suit and short and went to the bathroom.

    It was a bit hot out today so there was not doubt that I would get in the water. Hopefully even get a tan, it was about time. Like mom I was naturally tan, but when winter came we got really light and we hated it. So when summer cam again we would always go to the pool together and tan. I always seem to smile at that memory. "Come on don't take for ever!" I heard Donny call from downstairs.

    "Shut up!" Walking down that hall I saw him come around that corner from the kitchen looking up at me.

    "It's not like there any boys down there." He grinned.

    "Maybe that's the problem." This time I couldn't help but smile. We had out moments when we got along, but those were when he wasn't trying to be a dad.

    "What would your mother say if she heard you talking like that?"

    "If you only knew." I knew exactly what she would say. Something along the lines of. 'Good luck'  or 'Go get 'em' or she would have a big smile on her face. "Are we going?"

    "Your in a happier mood today." Donny smiled.

    "A good nights rest will do you good." I could feel it, I had more bounce in my step, and a smile on my face like I was in school with my friends. The sun was out and the warm feeling it put in my face gave me a tingling feeling inside. I knew it would only get better when I was by the lake side.

    The loud rumble of dad's truck must have startled the birds as the flew from the trees. "Do you really need such a loud truck?"

    "Leave Betty alone, she's getting old." What was it with men and naming their truck? If he was going to name it, at least be original. And if you could use the trucks name, can't use your daughter's name?

   "Ah finally." Running out to the dock I stretched out my body feeling the warm breeze flowing in from that water. Letting out a sigh I sat down my feet hanging over the edge. Today really was a beautiful day, the sun was out, the cloud looked like cotton candy, the birds were singing, and I was by water. It was wonderful. But still, that lingering feeling that some one was watching me, it wouldn't go away.

    "You alright Mon?"

    "Call me that again and your going for a swim." I don't care how long it takes, he will call me by my name, no nicknames.

    "Why do you hate nick names so much?" That was a stupid question, he's a father shouldn't he already now this?

    "Because it's not my name."

    "But your friends have all types of different names for you. You don't seem to mind them." 

   "Because," I felt rage surge through my body. "my friends we're there for me since elementary."

    "I see."

    "I'm going for a swim." Sliding off my shorts I dove into the lake. Why now of all times, I did just fine with out him before, I could live on my own if I wanted.

    The further I swam the deeper it became, this was something that you would expect but it still creeped me out. Maybe it was because of that feeling that some one was watching. Breaking through to the surface I took in a breath, how long was I under? Looking around there was nothing but water, no Donny.

    Turning back around there was a rocky shore with an entrance, but beyond that, only darkness. "Donny!" I called over again, but I got no answer. I could feel the coming pain of my muscles cramping. "I didn't stretched before I swam." I was so caught up in what Donny was saying that I forgot. "I'll rest here for a bit." I figure if I rest here, get my strength back, go back the way I came and I'd be alright.

    Starting toward that shore I felt something grab my foot  taking my under. I called out for Donny, but still no answer. I could see the surface of the water, the sun glistening just beyond it. I tried to reach for it but was taken further away. Soon it wasn't even visible at all.

    The murky waters around me held no life, no sound, it was still. And this pressure in my chest, if this what it's like to drown? "Monica." I could hear some one calling my name. "Monica." It was a women. "Remember." Mother? The darkness of the water around me clouded my vision. "Never forget." It was mother I could never, I would never forget my mother's voice. Then she was in front of me, there in the water? "Now wake up." I tried calling our for her but my lungs became full of water. The pressure in my chest was growing. 'This hurts'

    That was the last thing I remember thinking before I saw a hand reach in. "Monica." His voice was calm, and silky. "Take my hand." With the last ounce of my strength I reached up taking his hand. That is when my world went black.