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The sun peeked out from behind the voluminous clouds above. Kai's skin warmed to its touch. He ignored his thoughts and continued down a winding road. A pleasant sound of swiftly flowing water could be heard ahead of him, muttering into the quiet. During the lengthy journey from Boston, his father had assured him that he would adore the river. When I was a child, your grandfather and I used to set up camp there. It's quite the sight. Kai just gave a yawn. Yes, Dad, I will. a river. Fantastic. Now the sound became throatier and louder as Kai followed it. At last it brought him to a verdant, sun-drenched glade. There was a mud shelf that descended to the stream. As they sped by, white light flashed in the clear waters. Kai grinned. "All right, Dad," he told himself. "Perhaps you were correct." It was an impressive sight. Kai was hot and sweaty from the walk, and the chill had left the air. The water was too alluring to pass up. However, swimming is not permitted there, his father had said. "The current is too powerful." pulls you under into the surf. You could never get out,' he'd said. Kai stopped and listened to the water's roar. He felt more confident now that the river had ventured to break the stillness of the forest. He refused to swim. However, he could give swimming a go. In the shallows, it wouldn't be as horrible. After that, he would return to the cabin and inform Dad of the enchantment the ancient river had bestowed upon him and Gramps. Mom would stop worrying about the fights, and Dad would be content. He undressed, took off his Nikes, and descended the bank. Perhaps later he would take Mike down to the river. Up close, the water was dark. Kai took a sharp breath and quickly splashed into the river, eager to get the cold shock over with. He squatted down and let out a whoop as the water engulfed his shoulders when he reached his middle. He shivered and smiled. Then he closed his eyes, put his nose to the surface, and lowered his head below the glittering surface. Kai felt that Mike's absence was unfortunate. There was a twinge of guilt. Kai hadn't had much time for him lately, and Mike was right. Every time they went to the pool, he and Mike would play this game. Like stones, they sank into the water. delighting in the peculiar way sound reverberated over the water. Sensing the weight of their minds. observing the duration of their breath hold. Kai heard something abruptly. Something like a subdued roar, carried to him by the murky river currents. He initially believed it to be just the giddy rush of blood pounding in his temples and the pressure of his lungs demanding air. However, the noise grew louder, becoming more threatening and even angry. Around him, the transparent water began to churn rhythmically. Something was about to happen. Kai suddenly exploded from the top of the river, choking. Wiping his dark hair back from his eyes, he blinked rapidly, trying to regain his sense of direction. Once more, the roar was deep and low. Shaken, Kai frantically reached for the riverbank and tumbled through the water. The river was getting deeper, not smaller, which meant that something was off. His eyes finally cleared. His gaze was fixed on the center of the river. He pivoted his body so that the bank was facing him. Big mistake. Standing tall on its hind legs, the massive body of a mature grizzly bear blocked his path back to safety. It had wet, sleek dark fur. Black, beady eyes were knitted beneath heavy brows. It roared in rage, its jaws hanging open. Enormous arms extended towards him. Claws shaped like daggers scythed the air. Kai looked around wildly, trying to find a way out. None was present. Once more, the bear let out a roar and pushed its hefty body through the water towards him. Kai became alarmed and withdrew. The thing that was preparing its den for the winter must have been startled by him. That kind of thing, wasn't that what bears did? The water was now up to his chin as he attempted to concentrate and clear his racing thoughts. I could only think of one bear fact. They consume everything. The creature sprang forward, slamming its massive body into him. At the same time, the riverbank gave way beneath Kai, causing him to fall backward. With a startled backstroke, he threw his feet up at the bear and let out a cry in an attempt to frighten it away. The creature glared and watched, but it made no attempt to pursue Kai into the water. Kai's body trembled as relief shot through him. Then, feeling the current coil around his arms and legs and draw him away, he froze in the middle of the stroke. Dad had warned him that the current was too strong. "You wouldn't ever go." Kai swore to himself. It was because it knew these seas better than he did that the bear had let him go. With his arms crossed, Kai started moving quickly toward the opposite bank. It was only about fifty meters. Kai's arms twisted until they became tight, but he noticed that the bank was getting farther away instead of closer. Something was pulling him downstream. pulls you beneath the waves. Kai witnessed the enormous bear's shape diminish to a black dot, and the meadow vanishes completely from sight. Then, as the river accelerated, his head went under. He kicked his legs frantically in an attempt to stay afloat, but at this point, standing was not an option. Branches of trees hung enticingly above. Arms outstretched, he bobbed up and desperately reached for one. The wooden needles touched his fingers and then fell out of his hand. While the water swirled and foamed, repeatedly drawing him under, the sky above him whirled wildly. Kai's head would gulp for air each time it rose above the water. Then the current carried him into a massive rock, slamming all the breath out of his body. Kai, gasping for air, realized the waves were only beginning. He tumbling past one last massive rock, worn round and smooth. He made an awkward reach for it, but he was moving too fast to hang on. He collided his head with another while he was still reaching for the rock. As blood flooded into his eyes, everything turned scarlet. The force of the current was astonishing; he felt helpless, like a rag doll, inside a vortex. Head bashing, too helpless to resist, Kai felt himself collapsing for what he was certain would be the final time.
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