CHAPTER 9

"HELP!!" Alex screamed loudly before begin to drown. But Alex still doesn't give up with his life and trying to swim. But sadly, he can't. Suddenly, he remember that his mom once told him to join some swimming classes during summer break but he refused to.

~FLASHBACK~

"Do you want to join some swimming classes? If you want, I can help you to register your name for some classes." Alex's mom asked Alex while she was preparing Anthony's stuffs for his swimming class this evening.

"Nah.. I don't think so. I didn't like water that much. Plus I have tuition this evening. And mom.. I will never ever try to swimming somewhere and ended up drowning myself for no logic reasons." Alex answer his mom politely. He would rather staying in his room, studying or watching some TV shows than going outside to do physical activities.

He then get up from where he was sitting and went to his bedroom to get ready for his tuition.

~FLASHBACK END~

But today, he is completely regretting the decision that he made in the past. "What if I listen to mom? What if I learn how to swim? Then, this will not happen to me, right?" Alex keep on blaming his decision in past. But past is past and Alex can't do anything about it now.

Alex try to push himself towards the lake surface to get some air. The bottom of lake is too cold, making Alex shiver coldly. Alex feel so scared by the darkness in the lake. Suddenly, Alex feel like there is something that wrap his legs. He take a look even though he is so scared now. Some of the tree roots are now wrapping his legs. As if to pull Alex to the bottom of the lake.

At the bottom of the lake which is filled with generous amount of mud, Alex see a black and very tall figure standing there and reaching out his thin hand towards Alex as if the figure wanted to pull Alex to the bottom of the lake... maybe to be his new friend.

Alex who is completely in shocked by the figure who is suddenly be there, quickly trying to swim towards the lake surface. But sadly he can't. He keep on trying to do everything to reach the surface including pushing himself to the lake's surface. He feel like he want to give up with his situation. But suddenly he question himself about his little brother.

"What will happen to him?" Alex know that he can't trust anyone to take care of his brother. He just trust himself to keep his brother safe. He feel like trusting Anthony's safety with Ms. Courtney or someone else isn't a good idea. So he feels motivated to make sure he is alive. So that he can keep on protecting his little brother.

He keep on trying to swim towards the lake's surface. Just before he can reach the surface, he suddenly can't move! "Oh no!" He thought knowing what had happened to him just now. He had muscle cramps due to the lack of physical activities that he should do more often in the past.

He is totally can't move and once again Alex give up. He just letting his body slowly sink to the bottom of the lake. He feel so hopeless and useless now. He can't even manage to keep himself safe. How will he make sure that Anthony is safe. "I'm sorry. I'm such a failure!" Alex mentally scolding himself while apologizing to his brother. He just waiting for his death since he is so sure that no one can help him now.

Suddenly, a miracle happen! Alex see a figure from the lake's surface swim towards him. He then see the figure quickly pull him towards the surface. As soon as both of Alex and the unknown man reached the nearest lake cliff, the man pulled Alex to the ground. Alex see the figure who save him a while ago. Just before he want to thank the figure for saving him, the world suddenly become dark. Alex passed out!

Alex feel a few drops of water fall on his face. "Hey! Are you ok?" Alex then hear a manly voice followed by some light slap at his cheeks. Signaling him that he has to wake up. Alex then slowly open his eyes but quickly shut his eyes back due to the strong headache he feel as soon as he opened his eyes. He then feel the urge to throw up.

Alex throw up beside the unknown man and after that Alex coughed a few time. "Are you ok?" Alex then realize that the man who save his life a while ago still sitting beside him. He look at the blonde haired man and try to answer him. ".....Ooo....Kkk.." That is all Alex can say. The headache is become worse by time.

Alex try to stand up. But unfortunately he fall back to the ground. "I think we should go back to your house. And I'm sure you can't walk. So here. I will piggyback you to your house." The unknown man say to Alex while he is standing up and make hands movement. Signaling Alex to hope on his back.

Alex who definitely doesn't have any choices slowly hop on the man's back. The man then walk to the villa. But something keep on bothering Alex. "Who is this man?"

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

As soon as both Alex and the blonde haired man enter the villa, Sara who coincidentally is at the living room quickly run towards both of them and attack them with so many questions until they don't know which question they should answer first.

After a while they were attacked by Sara's questions who look like there will be no end to all of those questions, luckily Ms. Courtney is there since she is looking for Sara. Sara seemed to stop all of those questions and retreat a bit when Ma. Courtney approached them.

Ms. Courtney's face went wrinkled when she watched both of Alex and the unknown man. "What had happened Dr. Ryan?" Ms. Courtney ask the man with confused look. She gently put Dianna on one of the sofa at the living room and walked towards them.

"Oh, I was on my way to entered this villa when suddenly I decided to take a walk around this villa since I came here earlier than usual. Just when I walked around the lake, I saw him drowning in the lake. So I swam towards his direction and save him. Madam, I think we have to quickly get him to change the clothes since he might get sick and need to get vaccinated. The water of the lake may be germinated." Dr. Ryan explain it detailly to Ms. Courtney.

Ms. Courtney only nod and look at Sara who is still worried about Alex' condition. "Sara, bring Dr. Ryan to Alex's room." Ms. Courtney say to Sara. "Ok madam," Sara just nod to Ms. Courtney while still looking at Alex with concerned eyes. After Ms. Courtney feel satisfied enough with Sara's answer, she then walk to Dianna and pick the doll up then both of them headed to Green Room.

"Follow me." Sara say to Dr. Ryan who is still piggyback Alex. They walk through the long corridor before they finally reach Alex's bedroom. Sara open the door and they get in the room. Dr. Ryan dropped Alex at the bathroom to let him get change. He then follow Sara to somewhere leaving Alex and Anthony in the room.

As soon as Alex finish changing into some warmer clothes, Anthony who look so confused about what had happened to Alex quickly help his brother to walk to his bed. He know that Alex wouldn't be able to walk to his bed by himself. Anthony then quickly ask his brother as soon as Alex lay comfortably on his bed.

"What happened?" Anthony ask Alex worriedly. "I'm drowning, Anthony." Alex answer him weakly since the headache is killing him. "You what?!" Anthony's eyes went wide when he heard the drowning word. Anthony then quickly hug his brother tightly.

*WILL BE CONTINUED*