Page 30 of Totally Wrecked
Not giving myself time to think, I throw the floats into the waves, then throw myself over the railings to join them.
???
I’m not outdoorsy. I have spent my life trying to exfoliate off all the hikes and the wilderness training my father gave us. But I can swim really well.
I see Leander. He is face down and not moving. The current is tugging his body further from the boat every second. Keyara is closer. I grab both rings and push them ahead of me, managing to catch up with the girl in seconds. I put a ring over her head.
“Can you swim?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
I don’t want to leave her but I have to. “I’m going to get Leander. Just stay in the ring, and don’t let go. I’ll be back in a minute, I promise.” Her cheeks are flushed and she’s shaking, but she nods.
Leander is still face down. I move my body like I never have before, and pray I can get to him in time. As soon as he is within reach, I thread my arm through the life ring ropes so that I don't lose it. I then flip the still, heavy body of Leander onto his back. Or at least, that's what I try to do, but it’s almost impossible.
Keep going, don’t give up.
I can angle his head out of the water. I start there, twisting his head around, and then a wave washes under him and helps me turn him in a quick maneuver.
Is he breathing?
I can’t tell. And I certainly can’t do CPR when we are both adrift. What can I do?
Think quickly, Daisy.
Mouth-to-mouth.
“Keep close, Keyara,” I say, “and yell for help if you can.”
put my arm under Leander’s head and another around his chest, then push air into his mouth with all my might.
Should I be holding his nose too?
I can’t do it, so I just keep breathing.
Breath for him, breath for me, breath for him, breath for me.
My arms are cramping and I’m exhausted, I just hope they get to us soon. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.
Leander chooses that moment to start coughing and spluttering.
REX
I’m in the wheelhouse, about to contact the film crew again, when a huge explosion shakes the boat. Instantly I drop the radio mic and run.
Keyara. She was at the front of the boat with Leander and Brooke. That’s the furthest point from the engine room. She'll be OK, but Gray?
Goddammit! Gray isinthe engine room.
And now the engine room has smoke billowing out from the doorway. Once again, I am the crew boss who leads teams to their deaths. I fight off the unhelpful moment of utter despair and head through the door.
In the smoke-filled room, a non-moving figure is lying on the floor. Gray—he’s unconscious.
I sense someone behind me; the Irish guy. “What do you need?”
“Help me with Gray.” There is no way I can move that fucker on my own.
Flames from the back of the small room are now traveling forward at an incredible speed. Gray is about to be engulfed. We both dive inside the bulkhead, and I choke on the thick smoke. It makes my eyes stream. Fire crackles and popping sounds rattle around the engine.Fucking fire.
