"Stop talking and breathe!" Randy urged, his heart racing. He couldn't leave Melia behind. If he hadn't wanted to save her, he would have just turned away. There was no way he would have found himself in this predicament otherwise.
After a brief moment to collect themselves, they resumed swimming.
With Melia in tow, Randy's pace slowed considerably. Halfway through, he felt her body growing heavier, and panic surged through him as the adrenaline kicked in. 'I can't let Melia die just like this!'
Randy tightened his grip on Melia and swam with all his might.
At last, he broke the surface and spotted the light above. He pushed upward, pulling Melia along with him.
But as he emerged, he saw her face was pale, her eyes shut tightly as if she had already slipped away from life.
There was
