The sting of the frigid river contracted every muscle in their bodies forcing them into the fetal position. The river was deep enough so they did not hit ground or rock. Paddling upwards, or what direction they hoped was up, they all eventually bobbed back up to the surface as the current swept them downstream. Kel came to the surface first, followed by Damien, then Graham. The chill running through Kel’s body faded, being replaced with fear as she looked for Ailey. “Ailey! Ailey where are you?!” Graham and Damien looked around them, but did not see her. “AILEY!!” Kel was in full panic, to the point where she could hardly keep her head above water. “I don’t even know if she can swim! Oh, please God, where is she?!” The three of them frantically looked around them, but it was almost impossible to see anything down there. Small shafts of light could be seen from the sky above, reflecting off the water’s surface, but it was only enough to see a few feet at a time.
