109. Untitled Chapter: Drowning

Anne stares at her gelato, served to her by the Neapolitans.

She takes a scoop and eats the creamy goodness of the gelato.

Anne is then given a glass of water.

"Bottomless?" asked the man.

*gurgle gurgle*

"*GASP*..."

Anne frantically stands up.

"Ma'am? Ma'am?" asked the waiter as Anne breathed heavily and grabbed her chest.

Sounds of the ocean echoed in her head.

"HELP!!! HELP!!!"

Running water. Running water echoed in her head.

"*GASP!!!*"

She ran into the cafe's bathroom and went to the dryer.

She can't breathe. She just can't. She tries to take her pills out of her purse

She tried to breathe through the drier.

She begins sobbing.

"Oh, God... Oh my God..." she sobbed.

Water... running.

Thunder... crackling...

Water bubbling... She's trapped in the water... She can't move... It's... bottomless... No... she felt the bottom...

Rocks...

Blood. She's bleeding.

"*GASP!!!*"

It hurts.

"It hurts."

"Is the kite okay?"

"I'm going to die here..."

"Just... stop breathing... and... you're free..."

"*GASP!!!*"

Anne laid on the bathroom floor, trying to breathe.

"*GASP!!!*"

Water... water everywhere... Running water...

"Can't breathe... Can't..."

"Anne?"

"Anne?"

"ANNE!!!" Miguel grabbed Anne as she regained consciousness. "Chew the pill. Chew it."

"*Gasp...* Thank you..." she sobbed. "You saved me again."

"God... What will happen if I was dead, Anne?" asked Miguel.

"Mom?" asked Raphael in sign language, concerned.

"Why was mommy drowning?" asked Gabrielle. "There was no water."

Anne grabbed her head in fear and breathed heavily once more.

"Shush... It's okay... There's no water..." said Miguel. "I'll tell you when you're older," said Miguel to his daughter. "Raph... Get Gabrielle back to the car."

Later...

Anne takes a bowl and puts water in it.

Anne is shown sitting on the table dipping her finger in the bowl.

"Mom?" asked Raphael in sign language.

"I'm sorry for the scene, Raphy... sweetie... I didn't mean to get you scared," she replied in sign language.

"You told me the story about the kite thing... Where Dad saved you from falling off the tree?" he asked in sign language.

Anne stands up and walks away, going upstairs.

"You're a smart kid," said Miguel. "You figured it out."

"What happened, father?" he asked in sign language.

"Your mother was trying to get that kite... she was on the river... and... I don't know... Her father threatened to punish her if she wouldn't take it and get it back. Really... expensive kite," said Miguel. "I... I didn't save her...I couldn't... Like... I couldn't save a lot of people... I wasn't fast enough... She drowned..."

Anne listened behind the wall and sobbed.

"But... You said-..." he said in sign language.

"I know... It was a cover-up so she wouldn't freak out..." said Miguel. "That's why she had trouble with trusting me the most. Star Platinum took her body fresh from death... I was so scared that she had died... I checked her pulse... Nothing. So... I used Star Platinum to grab her heart and beat it. I managed to revive her."

"Is that why you have the ability to stop time?" asked Raphael. "So you could have more time to save the people you love?"

"Yes."

Miguel drinks some tea.

"Your mother... she's triggered by large bodies of water."

"Well... I'm here now... to protect her as well," smiled Raphael.

"She doesn't need protection... She just needs help. Your mother's strong, Raph. Without her, I would've died a long time ago."

Anne stopped sobbing and smiled at Miguel's words.

"Do you ever feel like drowning?" asked Raphael.

Miguel remembers something...

"NGAHAHAHAHAHA!!!ROCK BOTTOM!!!"

*GASP*

Miguel floats in space alone... and defeated... mangled... broken...

Now...

"All the time," smiled Miguel. "But I've got Anne to keep me safe. Also you and Gabe."

"I love you, father," smiled Raph.

Miguel nods and smiles.