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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

[spickandspan]

The reality of the matter really hasn't settled in yet.

They've reached safety, surely. But since neither Krystal nor Annie can swim, Alex had tugged them through the water, even as mother and daughter tightly held onto their carry-on bags. Krystal eventually could not hold on to hers (and for a second, Annie was relieved that her mother had finally managed to let go of her baggage, even if the metaphorical significance was sorely misplaced), but Annie had been determined enough to hold onto Alex's and her own.

The consequences, however, are looking dire. Alex has collapsed, breathing shallow and uneven. Krystal herself is barely managing, and while Annie has gotten them both to shade, she's not optimistic about their fates. All the first aid she knows, she's attempted. She isn't sure if it's enough, but it's all she can do. Annie hates that her power is so limited, that she can only do so much. But this is the reality of the matter.

This, she has to accept.

The sound of Marnie's voice shakes her out of her dismal thoughts. Annie realizes that, in the rush of caring for her family, she wasn't able to spare a thought for her charge. While the thought makes her feel guilty beyond measure, a part of her is somewhat pleased there is more to her life than just work, whatever Krystal might have to say about it.

Still, this part of her is quickly shoved down as Annie, barefooted and unsteady, rises to her feet. She doesn't like having to abandon the two debilitated bodies at her feet, even for a few paces and minutes. But Marnie is important, too.

"Marnie?" Annie calls, and her shrill voice easily carries over the hot-humid tropical air. She takes a few steps out into the open, scanning the line of the beach for Marnie's slight figure. "Can you hear me?"