Artemis Parks sat in the front of the car. Her best friend Will Jenkins sat behind her. She pulled down the passenger mirror so she could see him easily and made a dumb face. Will laughed out loud and made one back.
" What are you two doing?" Artemis's mother, Rachel Parks, asked.
" Nothing mum," Artemis said super sweetly.
Rachel rolled her brown eyes and continued driving. Will and Artemis grinned like fools.
" It's really cool of you to let us surf today Mrs. Parks," Will piped up from the back.
" I'm not happy about it but my husband was adamant that you were old enough to be responsible," Rachel answered sourly.
" Come off it mum, you agreed," Artemis laughed.
Rachel sighed but didn't manage to mask a small snort of laughter as she turned up the radio.

The water was perfect, glimmering like a thousand sapphires in the Australian sun. The white sand crunched under their feet as they walked. This particular beach was so hidden by brush that almost no one used its shores, mostly just young surfers, all the more perfect for them. No crowds for the great waves. A few surfers were out but many were local and only came in the early morning. Artemis and Will raced for the water and paddled out. Will splashed water in Artemis's face and she laughed happily as she returned the splash. The waves were amazing, all the surfers got amazing sets that morning. Artemis felt as though the water was part of her, everything blended together.
" Thank you God for all you've created here," Artemis thanked quietly.

For hours the two friends surfed and finally decided to take a rest for a moment. Will paddled over to her and they sat on their boards, dangling their feet in the water. Will smiled as he squinted through the bright sunlight.
" Your mum will be here in two hours, the surf should keep up till then," Will noted.
" Enough time to catch many more good waves," Artemis agreed happily.
" Hang on a moment, look, over there, looks like one of the groms has gotten in to a spot of trouble," Will said as he pointed out a way further to the east.
" Let's go over and give them a hand," Artemis agreed.
They paddled over, only to see it was a young girl, about the age of ten. She was struggling to get back on her board, her movements were frenzied and she was obviously terrified.
" Hang in there," Will called as she went under the water.
He and Artemis put their hands in the water and grabbed her arms, hoisting her up  towards her board. She gasped and spluttered, pointing at the water frantically.
" Shark!" She screamed.
Artemis and Will pulled harder and managed to get her on to her board but Artemis pulled to hard and fell with a shriek of terror, in to the water. A humongous dark shape darted towards her and she screamed another scream as she was pulled under. She saw dark shapes of the boards above her and heard the dim screams of Will, calling her name.
She looked down and saw the small dark eyes of the shark, it stared back at her calmly. Her legs up to her knees were completely submerged in its mouth. The water was a vivid shade of scarlet around her and yet strangely she felt the pain dimming.
" Dear God, I don't want to die! But if that's your plan than it shall be so," she said in her mind.
The shark thrashed its head and she uttered a silent scream. Finally, as she thought she'd be dead the shark shook its head one last time and swam off, satisfied with what it'd taken. She managed to get herself to the surface and then her vision turned blurry.

Will grabbed his friend's arm and hoisted her on to her board, he pulled her board beside his, along with the young girl.
" I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she was wailing.
" Stop that! It isn't helping Artemis!" He yelled.
The girl stopped instantly and helped him paddle. Other surfers glided towards them hurriedly.
" Hang in there buddy, hang in there!" Will yelled.
He managed to get her on a wave that carried them both to shore and she lay there unmoving. A guy ran over from the beach where he had been about to run in to the water.
" Call 000!" The girl yelled.
The man while south is phone and spoke hurriedly.
" What happened?" He asked them as the voice on the other line asked the situation.
" Shark attack!" Will answered tersely.
Will waited until sirens made him sigh with relief and the ambulance rushed to them, shouldering him aside in their haste. He fell back in the sand, tears streaming down his face, would his friend die?