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[brightlywound]

She sputters into the sand, water working its way out of her lungs. Slowly, she inches one leg forward, then the other, pushing her soaked body towards the treeline. Her skin is raw and red where it's been exposed, but that's certainly better than blue. The last thing she remembers is trying to rouse someone into swimming only to find that the back of their head was caved in.

It's like something out of one of her movies. Marnie pushes the hair from her face and untangles herself from her laptop case. Things like this don't simply happen. How can something so unlikely come about by chance? She glugs up more water as she finally gets to her feet. The heels are kicked off without a thought as she scans the shore. Debris dots the sand, a sign that this is real or that her imagination is much better than she ever thought. A briefcase, half-buried in sand, draws her attention.

"Annie!" she screams. Where's Annie? "Alex!"

All at once, reality hits her. She's alone in an unfamiliar place, possibly injured, possibly without food and drinkable water. Marnie grits her teeth, tears welling already. "Annie!"

Comments

[brightlywound]

When she finally spots Annie, she startles. It's such a shock to see her producer, alive but ragged. What must she look like? In a way, it's even more starling that Annie is the one calming her down. Marnie stares a moment at her, face blank, then she nods, holding back tears. She'd always told herself that she was strong, unflappable, courageous, but it was a lie. She's just a lost little girl, but at least she isn't alone.

Marnie leans in to hug Annie, half to steady herself and half because she needs to know that she's really here. A moment later, embarrassed by the childish gesture, she steps back, eyes wide with worry. "Alex? And your mum?"

[spickandspan]

Marnie doesn't look as beautifully composed as usual. But Annie cannot hold it against her. Were it not for her family's dire situation, she would have been the first to be panicking to the high heavens. Perhaps when she finally realizes they are stranded in a place without civilization, there will be bloodcurdling screams and grabby hands with sharply manicured nails.

But for now Annie is lost in the waves of suspended disbelief. When Marnie hugs her, she offers an awkward but sincere pat on the back. She doesn't realize how jittery her words are or how stilted her tone is when she speaks, "I left them in the shade. Mom's exhausted, and -" Annie cannot contain her wince. "- Alex isn't holding up well."

Admitting it out loud makes it more real, and suddenly her heart is racing faster. Painfully. Her inhaler - she needs her inhaler. Annie lays her hand on shorter woman's back, intent on leading Marnie to temporary shelter. "Let's get you out of the heat. Do you have anything with you?"

[brightlywound]

A pat on the back is good enough. Marnie nods slowly as she listens, soothed, though it takes a few moments for Annie's words to register. Alex and Krystal are alive... One thing to be thankful for in this unfamiliar place.

"Mm. My- my bag..." Marnie bows her head before she starts backing up. "I'll go and fetch it. You go ahead. I'll follow." She doesn't like the ashy color of Annie's skin and the beach seems to stretch for forever in either direction. Following from a distance shouldn't be hard. Forcing a smile, she turns to retrieve her laptop case. Maybe it will prove useful... They can use the bag for something at least.

[spickandspan]

Annie's first instinct is to tell Marnie off for even suggesting the actress go on her own. But the producer eyes their surroundings, she realizes there's really not much else for Marnie to go.

And Annie is really beginning to need that inhaler. Everything is getting realer and realer; reality sets in along with panic. Annie retracts her hand before she starts clawing into her charge's back.

"Don't go running off," she calls with what little breath she can manage before trotting back to their makeshift camp. Annie steps as heavily as possible - the footsteps, if nothing else, will lead Marnie to safety.

Or whatever safety they can manage in the middle of nowhere.

[brightlywound]

She's already off for the bag, but turns at Annie's command. Marnie smiles and nods her head obediently. "I'll be right behind you," she calls, her previously shaky voice now as clear as a bell. "Don't worry."

Once she's got the bag, Marnie will follow after Annie. But, if she gets drawn off-track by some other piece of luggage or supply pack, it's for the best, isn't it?