TRIGGER WARNING:   SAD.  SAD.  SAD...

Lan Zhan understood one thing immediately. He was in trouble. He had not thought to remove his shoes nor his jacket. They added weight. He fought panic. Calm was paramount right now. 

Looking around at first, he saw nothing, then far below him, he spotted a glimpse of crimson cloth... Wei Ying's jacket... Narrowing his golden eyes, he made out the form of his Wei Ying, whose arms were flailing, eyes bright silver beacons of fear and hope as they stared upward at him. His little cheeks were distended in a desperate attempt to save his breath.  

Lan Zhan began to swim downward, his mind trying to focus on the one lesson he had learned, instinct doing the rest. He knew he was slow in the descent, the water felt like lead as it pulled him down and he forced his way further and further. It seemed like hours as he struggled until his finger touched, then entwined with Wei Ying's. The tiny digits grasped his tightly. They were riveted on one another and Lan Zhan nodded slowly, exuding confidence which, deeply within, he did not feel.  He poked the cheeks and hen Wei Ying opened his mouth, Lan Zhan forced half the air in his lungs into his small friend's airway. He wrapped Wei Ying's arms around his waist and the child gripped him desperately. Lan Zhan saw his own face mirrored in the silver ones and he nodded again, and he awkwardly began a one- armed stroke upward.

He noticed a disturbance above him as two strong bodies entered the water. Help was coming.  The swimmers from the academy were in now and were streaking toward the children, strong arms and legs striving to reach them before it was too late. 

Thank you, thank you, prayed Lan Zhan. He was already beyond his limits. The water was determined to win, weighing him down, allowing him little progress. 

Leave us alone! Let me get him safely home! He's too little to die. Too little! He did not know who he was praying to, he simply begged a mercy for the young one clinging to him, so dependant on him, who was now feeling safe again, nestled against his straining chest. He could not let this child down. 

Lan Zhan was aware of a deep and implacable exhaustion. His reserves were leaving quickly. He was finding himself close to despair. He was only ten years old himself and fear washed over him. He struggled not to lose himself, feet kicking manfully one arm gripping Wei Ying, the other reaching out to the two swimmers.

They arrived and he peeled Wei Yings arms from his waist. The younger one began to shake his head, and Lan Zhan gave him a thumbs up and smiled reassuringly into the terrified eyes. Then as one of the swimmers reached for him as well, he shook his head and signaled that the two bring the child to the surface and he slowly followed them. 

The cramp came from nowhere, sudden and vicious, doubling Lan Zhan into a ball. 

The agony was sharp and intense, and he tried to will it away. One of the divers above had turned around as they surfaced, handed Wei Ying completely into his partner's protection and pivoted around to go back.

 Lan Zhan saw him coming, just as a second, more agonizing cramp hit. He could not help it. He screamed in pain and all remaining air rushed from his body, and the burning lungs were suddenly filled with water. He immediately began to sink downward. 

Mother.

Father.

Brother.

Wei Ying.

His final conscious thoughts as he hit the soft bottom of Monet's pond, were of the ones he loved the most. Peace rushed over him.

At least he will live a full life. Be happy, Little Ying 

And the golden-eyed child slipped away from it all.

********************

Wei Ying was screaming. He struggled like a little lion, trying to get back into the water, to get back to his Lan Zhan. He stared back toward the pond, expecting him to appear at any second... That's what heroes did isn't it?... Explode out of the water and making everyone cheer in happiness and relief? Lan Zhan would do that. Any minute now.

Lan Zhan! Come on! Lan Zhan! 

Where are you, Lan Zhan?

LAN ZHAN!!!!!

Several girls were trying to calm him, but Wei Ying could hear no cheering, only tense talking, more people entering the water, sirens growing louder.

He fought as the EMTs began to remove him to the ambulance and tte last thing he saw was the swimmers emerging, pulling the motionless body of Lan Zhan from the water.

No.

No.

No.

He struggled desperately, fighting the adults trying to assess his condition. 

Lan Zhan will get up. 

Lan Zhan will run to me and hug me. 

Lan Zhan is made of steel. 

But as the doors closed and they began to pull away, he knew in his soul that he would never see his Lan Zhan again and wished that he was lying beside his friend. His tiny heart broke in a thousand shards. and he lost all of the fight left in him. He allowed the medics to tend to him and while they were glad that the child had suddenly calmed, they began to treat him for shock ad hyperthermia. He lay there and allowed it as he stared into a world that he no longer wanted to be a part of again.

All he could see were golden eyes, looking into his, full of love and confidence. And he knew that they were gone from him forever.

He did not want this life, now that he was alone.

To be continued...