Parallel Chaos

Rescue -An alternative ending

" To save from harm or danger."

Terry lay back in his chair. So far his day had been pretty quiet and he was taking a short break while his friend did lookout duty. His quiet break was suddenly interrupted by a desperate banging on the door of the beach hut. Getting up quickly, Terry pulled the door open to be confronted by a breathless and panicked girl.

'Please…My friends… fell off the cliff…they're still alive…you have to help them…' she managed to gasp before fainting clean away. Terry picked the girl up and deposited her on the old sofa before calling all the lifeguard units and an ambulance just in case. Then, running out the door, he and two others who had been near at the time when he put the call through pushed the lifeboat out into the waters and started towards the cliff. On the way, Terry filled his companions in on the details.

'If the girl was right, then they should be at the place where the guard rail is, if they fell from they're then I'd be surprised if they even survived the fall.' He said grimly. The others nodded agreement.

The boat continued on in silence. They were getting nearer to the cliff where they thought the two friends might be and Terry and the others were on the lookout for anything strange.

'Hey! Did you see that?' Cried out Terry suddenly. To the right, quite near the boat, there was a splash and they got a small glimpse of blue, before a boy emerged from the water. Quickly moving the boat next to him, they grabbed the blonde's arm and hauled him into the boat. He was unconscious.

Terry was already pulling off his buoyancy aid and he moved quickly to the side of the boat.

'I think there's another one, I'm going in.' he said before diving into the cold water. Strongly pulling his way through the murky water, Terry searched all about for some sign of another kid. All of a sudden there was a glint of light off to his right and Terry struck out towards it.

Soon the pale shape of a boy came into focus and Terry grabbed him before launching himself towards the surface.

Max awoke, coughing and spluttering, just as they pulled Kai and the lifeguard up into the boat.

'Kai' he croaked painfully, watching as the other lifeguards gathered around the pale boy, blocking him from view. For a few tense seconds he waited in fear for his friends life. Then he heard a spluttering and coughing and found himself letting out a breath he did not know he held.

'Kai' he whispered again, smiling thankfully.

Zephyr opened her eyes to the sterilised blank white of a hospital.

'I hear you helped save my life.' The familiar voice came from across the room. Sitting up, she looked across. It was Kai. He was propped up on a hospital bed identical to hers. He was smiling at her. Zephyr felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She smiled back. He was safe.