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Third
Person
Perspective
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The sun rose once more as it declared the world as it's own. The wind gave a soft hum as it danced through the leaves. The waves continuing to roar with life until they crash into the shore and the birds called out as they got ready to feed.

(Y/n) had slept in today from staying up so late, but it was alright. She had no one to impress and no where to go. In fact, she felt great today and ready to take on the world. 'Though... The world might be a stretch...'

Popping up and jumping out of bed, (Y/n) went to her kitchen and made some coffee to help her wake up. While she was down there she fed Anchor, who was quite happy to see her.

His owner was happy. It was radiating off of her this morning. So he was very happy as well. His tail was wagging, and as he was chowing down, he made sure his owner was still happy. For Anchor has a mind of his own and worry was an emotion he felt quite often being her service animal.

(Y/n), on the other hand, didn't know why she was feeling so happy. Maybe it was a thrill to seek out adventure and see what is truly going on. That's ridiculous though. She didn't have any proof things were wrong. More than ever though was she interested in the facility.

In fact, she did some research before she went to bed. "Shells Facility: For the Life Below" was the name and slogan. There wasn't much outside information, no inside news reports and such. Though some reports of trying to get in. Government facilities always turn the prying eyes away though.

The only information was on their website that (Y/n) had already heard many times before. From her parents, her brother, her fellow biologists, and Agent Fowler. "Shells Facility is an open ocean facility made for on coming creatures to seek help. We recognize the intelligence of these animals and wish to study them in their element and help them when needed."

(Y/n) never believed these things though. Every time she's gone to a facility, they're so called "expert ideas" and "good help" was a bunch of lies. She remembered going to one that secretly bred and killed rare species to sell as food, illegally. (Y/n) didn't want to think about that right now though.

(Y/n) wanted to think about what she wanted to do today. There were some nice waves and clear skies. From her window she saw no trash, plus she had just cleaned up yesterday. Maybe she'd go surfing. It had been quite a while and a part of her missed the sport.

Her only problem is, she'd be leaving Anchor once more. She knew he understood, despite being a dog. She'd have to go now before it's too late.

(Y/n) decided to eat and collect the necessary things. A sandwich satisfied her hunger and she looked through her closet to find her board. (Y/n) had a couple but there was one she kept coming back to. It was (f/c) with a (f/design or animal) on it.

Walking out, (Y/n) found Anchor patiently waiting by the door. She smiled and opened the sliding door, Anchor stepping out after she did. They both went to the shore where Anchor began to pout.

"I'll be right back! I promise!" (Y/n) laughed to her furry companion.

Anchor whined and yapped, laying down and brushing his paw down his snout, crawling closer and licking her ankle. Now wanting (Y/n) to leave.

"I'll catch a few waves and I'll be right back and we can go swimming together! I promise." She said. Anchor got up and barked. (Y/n) then rolled her eyes. "Alright."

Anchor spun around three times then (Y/n) did the same.

"Now do you believe me?" Anchor then yapped and sneezed. He laid down with his tail wagging. (Y/n) couldn't help but laugh.

"Ok. I'll be back soon. Just going to catch a few waves before it's too late!" She exclaimed before hopping on her board and swimming out. It took her a few minutes, but she arrived to the waves and was quick to start surfing.

(Y/n) loved the thrill. A dance between clashing natures, both only following the path made for them, never truly making a new. The ocean breeze caressing her features and tangling her hair. The salty sweet smell the ocean gifted her.

Though, (Y/n) also kept in mind, that this wasn't her territory. She knew to keep her eyes open in search of a fin and dark body. But she also took this time to search for the unfortunate sea life who get caught in traps.

It didn't take long for the waves to finally die down, but the sky was beginning to darken. (Y/n) could only assume it was about to rain.

"Damn..." She silently muttered. A frown grew on her lips as she looked to her island. It was a far swim. Might take her a good 15 minutes to swim back. (Y/n) knew she'd just have to bite her lip and do it though.

She made long strokes through the water, wondering is any winds would pick up and put her under. Maybe it was irresponsible of her to go into the water without checking the weather forecast. She could be pushed under water after all.

A part of her wondered how far away it was actually raining, and how long it would take for it to reach her. Another part of her wondered if today might be her last. That part of her wondered if she was really ok with leaving now as it is.

Well... she has a good relationship with her family, a career she loves, saved wildlife by making certain areas illegal to fish in, saved wildlife from traps and nets, pulled hooks out of sharks mouths, and has enjoyed her life to its fullest. On the other hand, she hasn't lived her life entirely, she hasn't found love like she's secretly always dreamed of, she hasn't been able to sought out all the answers to her questions, she hasn't gone out of her way to share her love and passion with the world, and she'd be leaving her family and Anchor distraught.

Her mind went blank. Anchor... Her mother... Her father... Her brother... And her niece. What if she did die today? How would it affect them. They'd be destroyed. At her funeral they'd say she died happy and doing the thing she loved, but a part of her wonders if she truly has been satisfied.

(Y/n) shook her head. She's not going to die today. It's just rain.

...right?

A loud boom shook the ocean and a harsh wind cuts (Y/n) like a knife. She shivered and tried to speed up, wanting to get back home and hold her dog. Now's no good time for a panic attack. She fought back tears as she fought against the waves that slowly got harsher and more violent.

(Y/n) was slipping off her board, so she struggled higher, only to receive a hard slap to her back by the very waves she's cherished her entire life. Her teeth sunk into the soft, warm flesh of her lip as she made quicker and longer strides.

The ocean fought back against her movements however. With every stroke was a sudden bumpy wave that almost made her slip off her board. She knew the waves were helping her move forward, but they could also make her fall off at any second.

The waves continued to slap her and push her down. Her sore muscles continuing to strive and fight back though as she pushed forward. Her brain was numb, despite the determination to get to shore.

The world had different plans for (Y/n) though.

With another load boom, a wave crashed completely over her and she finally slipped. It happened quickly and abruptly. Suddenly she felt warm and yet cold. She felt her eyes softly burning in the salt water. Though she was used to the pain, her mind found it hard to focus on much.

(Y/n) only felt cold for a moment more as her head rose back above the water, a sharp gasp slicing through the noises all around her before she crashed back under. She didn't want to believe this was happening. But she knew all too well it was.

(Y/n) wasn't going to allow this to be the end. The surfboard had an anklet after all. It wasn't far from her, maybe she could grab it. Then she'd get back on it and struggle with the waves once more.

No matter how hard she tried though, her fingers barely brushed against the board. Her fear was becoming evident in her eyes. The board kept slipping away from her and making her body shoot back underwater.

Soon there was nothing else to grab for. Once more when she tried to grab the board, when she went flying back underwater, she hit her head on a rock. (Y/n)'s world went blank.

There was nothing more than rough seas and rain now. Her body floated helplessly, catching small breaths of air when her body went up. She was still drowning though, just... slowly. (Y/n) didn't feel anything however, nor could she think anything.

Animals avoided her floating corpse, no sharks were interested and even dolphins didn't approach.

However, something did nudge her. It kept her head risen, so she could breathe, and poked and prodded at her body. When the creature investigated upward, quickly found her head was bleeding.

The creature was at a loss of what to do. They swam over to some rocks, placed the board between some and laid (Y/n) against one of the rocks. Happy with the arrangement, the creature swam away.

The waves continued to crash, only nudging her body and making it shift ever so slightly back and forth. The sky roared in a mighty rage that could only be seen through sharp white cracks that appeared suddenly in the sky. The wind sped up even faster. The rain poured even harder.

Eventually, the winds died down with everything else. The sky no longer roared or struck light and power at the world, the waves only rippled, and the rain was no longer like icicles: breaking and stabbing down from the roof of a cave.

(Y/n) felt cold when she woke. It was still raining, but the winds had calmed. It was a sun shower. That didn't matter to (Y/n) though. Her head felt heavy and her eyes were begging to be closed again. She couldn't just stay out here though and succumb to unconsciousness.

Her first move was to get unstuck. Whatever had caused her to move there trapped her and her board good. She kicked her leg and tugged at the board until it had finally gotten loose. Then she examined where she was. She could see her island in the distance. But could she even make it back there?

There's only one way to find out now.

She kicked her legs and tried her best. (Y/n) felt sore and tired, her body begging to give up and succumb once more into sleep, but she feared not waking up. The waves started to act up once more and (Y/n) continued pushing through.

Every stretch of muscle was a sharp pain that made her tremble. Every sharp breath hurt in the warm, yet cooling, air around her; a result from the once stormy sea. Every stroke sent a small splash back of water in her eyes; her vision was getting blurry.

(Y/n) could see black dots as she whimpered and continued to strive. She could feel her blood dripping down her face. It was discomforting, but that's what has happened.

It's metallic taste stung her tongue after swiping over her bottom lip. Her features grimaced at the sudden taste and she shook her head, releasing another tremble. (Y/n) wondered if this is what dying felt like.

Is dying pain? Is it an idea? Is it something you really feel? Will there ever be bliss?

She didn't know.

Would she ever truly know?

And if she did die today?

Who would she tell what dying feels like to?

Her past self?

Maybe tell herself in her youngest, darkest, most depressed times of life, it was never worth the attempt to die.

Or maybe that it was.

No...

It wasn't.

'I've learned so much...' (Y/n) thinks as she lies in the water. She felt like a paper boat, slowly cockling from injury and swelling of muscles she's overused. 'It doesn't matter how death feels... because that would come to me either way.'

She intakes a sharp and harsh breath, her throat aching from the lack of hydration. (Y/n) didn't know how long she had even been out there. A few hours at least.

'Life is something you get once. The last few years of my life I've truly lived.'

'That's what matters...'

A medium sized ripple gently nudged the subconscious body, floating in the water. (Y/n) heard a shout, but couldn't quite make out any of the words. She could feel tension in the air however.

A part of her didn't care though. She found more hope. (Y/n) swam to her best ability toward the boat that floated blurry in her vision.

"H...El.p..." (Y/n) called weakly. A string ladder was thrown down. She grasped it gently in her hand and as she tried to pull herself up.

Unconsciousness hit her. With a small splash, her body plummeted, then floated back up.

A new warmth came to her unconscious body though. A creature, yet to be seen, lifted her onto the boat. The creature received a nod before it descended back down and swam away.

(Y/n)'s unconscious body was quick to be aided to. The boat quickly started heading to shore where the passengers planned to then rush her to the hospital.

The creature felt slightly guilty. It didn't know what to do when it found a, seemingly famous, human unconscious in the open ocean. It took an hour and a half to explain and another thirty minutes to set up and start to go over there.

A part of the creature felt responsible for the woman's sudden collapsing. They received comfort and told they did the right thing by even telling Fowler of the human. The creatures just hoped the human was okay.

They hoped she'd make it back alive. The ocean breeze only knows how disappointed the children might be when they learn one of their idols is dead. As well knowing that, maybe, they could've stopped her from dying.

Fear filled the tank, as they waited in a torturous silence. They awaited an answer, hoping for the best, and yet, assuming the worst.

They didn't control fate. They didn't know this woman the children and even Fowler admired. They wish they did, for they might lose her, and that sparkle in the young human beings eyes might die—

Just like a part of themselves did in their war many years ago.