Chapter 3

I thrashed desperately in the muddy waters while Eva and Jack looked on as if they were watching a spectacle.

The will to survive drove me to a frantic struggle. I paddled as hard as I could with my hands and feet. I clawed my way back to the eaves just right before the current could sweep me away.

When I popped my head out of the surface, gasping for air, I heard bawls of laughter coming from above.

"See. I told you Naomi could swim. She's just joking around."

Jack looked relaxed. "Alright, Naomi. I know you like joking about, but this isn't the time to do so. Eva and I will head up first."

Then, they continued climbing up.

As the rope ladder went further away from me, I yelled with all my might, "Wait up! There's still someone here!"

Eva turned to look at me, her eyes gleaming viciously.

She rocked the rope ladder as she moved up. Her foot struck a loose tile on the neighboring roof.

The tile, covered with mud, came hurling toward my face. I immediately jerked my head aside, but it still managed to graze my ear.

Blood streamed down my face.

In a flinch, I had let go, and the flood dragged me under again.

A throbbing pain spread from my ears as I choked on dirty, muddy waters. My lungs were burning.

Instinct to survive overruled anything else. My arms flailed wildly, finally grabbing onto the corner of the eaves poking above water.

My fingernails were cracked, flesh mashed and raw, but I could not care less.

I poked my head out of the water and gasped for breath once more. Blood streamed down my face, mixing into the muddy water.

Jack, on the rope ladder, saw my face. He stopped in his tracks and said, "Eva, I think something's wrong with Naomi."

"Jack, I-I'm feeling a little dizzy. My hands and legs are numb."

Eva's feeble voice immediately interrupted his thoughts. She slumped onto Jack, causing the rope ladder to sway.

Jack looked concerned. He instantly hugged her tightly, comforting her, "Eva, don't worry. Hold on tight to me. We'll be up soon."

Jack turned to look at me, a little worried.

Eva buried herself in Jack's arms and looked at me, smiling.

"Naomi, you've put on a good act, even using blood. You had me believe you for a split moment. Don't you think your joke has gone too far? You've scared Jack. You should be punished when we get back."

Jack's gaze at me instantly changed.

"We can just ignore her. She's doing just fine, and her acting is superb. She's still strong. If not, how could she so quickly hold on to the corner of the roof?

"Eva, I'll take you up. Naomi's doing alright. She won't die." He turned around and hugged Eva even tighter.

I was about to lose it as the waters were at my chin. They were soon rising above my nose.

I grabbed onto the eaves and begged them once more. "I'm begging you to take me with you. At least, take me to a shallower place. Get the helicopter to go slower. I'll just hold onto the ladder. Wouldn't that work?"

I tried to grab the rope when Eva screamed and buried herself in Jack's arms.

"Ah! Naomi, don't shake it! I'm really afraid!" Eva whimpered.

She added, "Naomi, don't be mistaken. I'm not hugging Jack on purpose. I'm just really afraid! The ladder is swaying so much!"

Jack held her tightly before turning to yell at me, "Naomi, are you nuts?! Are you trying to get Eva killed too? She's your best friend! Besides, if anything were to happen to her, Mr. Chapman will kill me!"