Cherri's Cautious Cave Dive (Written Story)

(Warning: Contains drowning (Non-Lethal), peril, struggles, and scuba. Do not read if you do not like these. Thank you.)

Characters of this story:

Cherri:

Akane:

Today was going to be a great day! Me and Akane are finally going to go diving together!... Well, sorta. We'll be started out together but then make our different ways apart. I wanted to go explore this amazing cave I saw a few days ago during free diving. Akane wanted to go and see some coral reef nearby.

We'll both be in scuba gear so, it won't be a problem at all. It was now early morning and I already hear Akane outside honking her horn almost as an alarm. "Hold on! I'm getting ready!" I'd shout from my bedroom window... still in pajamas.

I won't need a suit this time a around, my bikini should work just fine for this time. Gear... goggles... fins... perfect!

I'd then quickly walk outside and put my stuff in the back, barely fitting. Nothing has even happened yet, and I'm already excited!

"'Bout time you got up, you know I neve wake up this early, Cherri!" Akane said giggling with a smile as she drives us to the beach where our small boat is docked.

"Hope I didn't take too long for you, I'm just as excited! Say, the rest of the stuff should already be at the boat right? Our air tanks and all those goodies?" I'd ask the younger redhead.

"Mmmhm! At least they should be, not counting if someone robbed us or something. Probably something Nozomi would do." We'd both giggle, finally arriving at the beach within a few minutes afterwards.

[newpage]

"Alright! Ready to go? I'm already set up to go!" Akane already dressed up in her gear in front of me as I put my own fins on. "Seriously, how do you always get set up so quickly?!" I'd ask, always surprised how fast she can get ready. Must be the excitement.

I put on my goggles... fins are ready... bikini with gear all ready to go... let's do this!

"Oh! One more thing Cherri!" I look over at her before diving in. "This thing right here? SOS button, we both have one. Since we're going separate ways, just press it and it'll send me a signal you need help, okay! Just don't go butt dialing me." I nod my head, great idea since we'll both be alone for a little while.

"Thanks Akane, I won't forget about it!" It was a big red button just hanging from my gear so, not like I can easily miss it. "Alright, see you in a bit! We'll meet back here right? Back on the boat?" I ask the other redhead.

"That's right! Alrighty now, cya soon!" Akane says before she falls backwards into the sea, as I watch her shadow slowly move along under the surface.

I double-check everything again... yep got everything! Alright, exploration time! I put the reg into my mouth, taking a few breaths in before falling back into the ocean. It's always a weird feeling at first, being able to breathe under the surface but it never gets old. I see the cave already, like it's calling my name. I swim to it, a smile forming behind my reg and goggles, glad to be scuba diving again.

'Wow.. this place is amazing...' it's like the walls glowed with a light blue aura to them. It looked amazing to swim around. The cave just kept on going, i'd just keep my hand on the wall and sandy ground. The walls were surprisingly smooth, it was almost like a dream.

I've also heard about maybe some random coins, pearls, or just some random shiny rocks as well here. I'm guessing they're deeper in. I wouldn't mind carrying some at all, especially if they're pretty! I kept going into the cave which seemed to be now heading downwards, the sunlight can now barely reach this far so I take out my flashlight.

It was getting pretty dark but, the walls just glowed whenever I shined my light to it, surely was a gorgeous sight. "hiss... pshuu.." The sound of the reg always seemed to calm me down, love the sound of it whenever I dive...

'Is... this a dead end now? Mmnn... thought there was more to this place...' The flashlight would suddenly start to flicker, as if the battery was going out. I knew that'd be trouble if that happened, there's no way sunlight reaches this far down!

As expected, it suddenly turned pitch black. 'Nononono... cmon... I can't see a thing!" I tried to swim up... at least the way i think is up, until i got a face full of sand. 'Oh man... what am i gonna do..."

'It's okay... okay... breathe calm down..' I take deep breathes from the air tank, trying to calm myself down... I try to swim back the way I could and just as fast paced. I couldn't see a thing down here... 'Am I going deeper...?'

Panic starts to set in again... I'm actually lost. I look around quickly trying to find anything that'd signal up, anything. "Hiss... chuu... hiss- ss-..." 'Oh no... I'm out of air aren't I...?'

"His-! Mgngl! ss-. Mmgbl!!" 'I-I can't breathe! No no no please! I forgot to check before I left!' Full panic mode sets in already, I couldn't find a thing that'd help me an any shape or form. "Mglbgl..." My chest is already starting to feel tight. I just swim in any direction as fast as I could and hope to get lucky, I swam and swam and swam and still found nothing, only more walls and sand...

"Blgbl... Mn." I feel my own heart racing, asking for a breath of fresh air. I could be going deeper for all I know, and it seems like I am...

A small whimper escapes my lips in desperation, wanting any kind of help, still feeling my heart pump almost through my chest. "Mmglbg... Mgbgl!" The tightness in my chest is getting very hard to ignore. I know I can't last for more than a few minutes now. I've gotten close to drowning before but... I had someone pull me out on time before breathing in... how will it feel? I-I don't know...

I won't have to imagine it soon if this keeps up, I feel my belly cave in along with my chest trying to cough out my stale air. I couldn't move my legs or arms anymore... I'm exhausted... I'm not going to last much longer, I've almost accepted my fate now, how will it feel? I suppose.. I'll find ou-

"Bbbglbglgbl... mmbgl... bl... GUBKL! MMPKK! GULK! GLP! HULGK!" I feel my body finally give up, unable to hold any longer, I've gone long past my initial limit. With one last big heave I feel my mouth open and gulp down on it's own. My body's survival instincts kicking in again as my arms and legs flail trying to find something that'd help. A few initial coughs happened trying to force out the water, only to breathe in more and the cycle continued before my lungs couldn't do so anymore...

I've never experienced drowning like this... it burns a lot, I'm breathing on my own when I don't want to. I can feel the water making my chest heavier. I got used to it surprisingly quickly, Even my breathing has gone inconsonant, it's a weird feeling but... not as bad as I thought it would be.

"Hrggg.. hh... gbl... h-hik! glp... mmgluk...". my quick gasps have turned into long, dragged out inhales, feeling the cold waters involuntarily go down my throat. Every breath followed by a small shiver and twitch. It was an... unusual feeling, something I've never felt like anything before.

"G-Guhbl... hck... h-hah..." Maybe... this isn't so bad... I feel more and more relaxed, almost like gently falling asleep. I still give weak little kicks but, that's about it. It's dark, I still ca- "Glk...!" can't see a thing. How deep am I? Did I go the ri- "hgguk..!" right way? I still still feel the water travel down my mouth, hearing the gulps inside of me. It's like the ocean wants me, to claim me. I fall onto my side, trying to enjoy the fe- "G-Gublp..." feeling of water inside my chest.

i almost forgot... the button... I feel around my gear trying to find it, thinking I found it, i push it with the last strength I have a few times before dropping it. At least I th- "Glp... hic... hhak.." think I was pressing it...

My mind is starting to go fuzzy and wonky, seeing darkness starting to close in around my vision. My body begins to simply slow, just like my breaths. The only movements being some sm- "Glp.." small twitching i can't control. My body still trying to fight a losing battle.

I still try to breathe but only get more cold water... it was... surprisingly comfy. I'm out of energy, I feel my eyes clo- "hhnnk..." closing slowly after my eyes roll back. A small smile forms on my lips... feeling like I can be down here forever... I'm the oceans now and... I'm okay with that.

My eyes fully shut and I stop moving, a small grin on my face before slipping consciousness.

...

...

...

...

".ch..err.i.."

"Che..rri!"

"Cherri!"

"GAHHH!" I'm suddenly awake, gagging out sea water onto the boat, feeling lighter already. Coughing and gasping almost endlessly.

"My goodness, Cherri. You were out for a while..." A familiar voice says, it was Akane. "You were so deep into that cave, I'm surprised I was able to find you in time. I barely made it back myself." the redhead says.

My breathing finally begins to catch up to itself as I crawl onto my knees, still breathing through my mouth, "I... I..." I try to speak, my voice all raspy."No, no. It's okay, I came as soon as I got the signal. Did you get lost or something?"

I could barely hear any of it, I was focused how I'm even breathing. I finally look up at Akane, still in her swimsuit but gear to the side. "T-Thank you, Akane..."

"Don't even sweat it, Cherri." I never knew hearing her voice again would be so reassuring, "Just catch your breath and... we'll talk later, okay?" I'd nod before she kneels down and gives a nice wet hug, a smile on my face greatly.

"Next time... I'll be taking you will me." Akane says, teasing a little bit towards me. I know she might even drown me while we're down there but... I'll be okay with it.