The Final Stretch

A half-hour into our drive, we eventually landed on the road opposite the lake. Misako guided Hiroshi thoroughly, trying to remember somewhat the location of where it happened. Thankfully, Yuta was asleep in the front passenger seat. We made sure not to wake him up. Then, we came to a long bend in the road, and Misako tapped Hiroshi’s shoulder from behind:

“I-I think, it’s here. No…I’m sure of it.” She told him with a whisper.

Hiroshi carefully parked his car off the road, enabling us to climb out safely. I unpacked Misako’s wheelchair and seated her as we looked along the lake. A huge drop was below us as we inspected the ridge, the depth of the lake looked to have to bottom. It was dangerous, extremely dangerous.

“Please be careful, guys.” Misako stated as Hiroshi and I peered over the edge.

“How the hell…did she survive?” Hiroshi asked me.

“It’s a miracle. An honest to God miracle.” I spoke.

We scanned the lake, looking for any shining objects in our view. But it was uncertain to what we could identify as it was too far down. This was my last resort, I thought that if we wouldn’t find it in the lake, we would never find Hitomi’s watch. Misako backed herself away, breathing heavily. I looked at her, she was in the starting stages of having a panic-attack.

“Misako? Misako?” I waked, walking to her.

“It-It’s just…” She stumbled over her words.

I quickly rushed to her, I placed a hand on her forehead.

“Breathe, Breathe.” I repeated over and over.

She attempted to control her breathing.

“It’s too much, being here…It’s too-”

“Let’s go, let’s leave. Screw the pocket watch, Misako.” I stated.

“But-B-But…”

“It’s my fault for bringing us here, what was I thinking? We won’t ever find it.” I apologised.

“D-David…” She trailed off.

Hiroshi walked closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Hitomi wouldn’t like to see you go through all this pain. Let’s cut our losses and head back before it gets too dark.” Hiroshi added.

Misako’s tears formed around her eyes, but she held them in. She nodded.

“I’m sorry, Hitomi. We couldn’t find it.” Misako spoke aloud.

My chest hurt, it hurt so terribly.

Hiroshi helped me carry Misako back into the car, putting her wheelchair back into the boot. As we stepped inside the car, Misako spoke:

“I’m sorry, you guys…” She repented.

“It’s not your fault. It’s not.”

Then, we heard a massive ‘SPLASH!’ from outside our car.

“Wh-What was that?” I asked.

“Hiroshi? What’s wrong with you?” Misako asked him.

Hiroshi said not a word.

Hiroshi turned to us in the backseat. I could never forget the expression he had on his face, the expression of terror…. Absolute terror in his eyes.

“Hiroshi? What?” I asked, scared.

“Yuta.” Hiroshi mouthed.

Our hearts sank.

“What do you mean! Isn’t he sitting next to-”

I cut myself off as I looked in the front passenger seat.

He was gone.

His car door-side was open.

“YUTA?” I yelled.

I leapt out of the car, scanning the immediate area.

He was nowhere to be found.

“YUTAI?! WHERE ARE YOU?” Misako screamed.

Hiroshi and I sprinted, I was in full-dread. We sprinted towards the edge of the cliff. Misako opened her car door, falling to the floor. She crawled by her hands, following us.

‘Please God, don’t let this be true.’

Hiroshi and I looked over the edge;

And at the bottom, was Yuta.

In the lake.

His body was not moving.

“YUTA!”

“YUTA!”

I did not think. I just dove right off into the lake below.

I straitened my frame as I dove into the lake. With a ‘CRASH’ I broke into the water. It felt like I dove into a brick wall, but I kept my consciousness. I used all my strength to swim frantically to Yuta, who was face-down in the water. I could feel my left arm not functioning as it should, I had to use my other arm to drag myself to him.

“YUTA!” I could hear from above me.

Yuta’s body went underwater. I dove down to catch up. The water was murky blue, could not see where I was going; but I kept swimming.

‘Please, PLEASE.’

I made it to his body, I grabbed him with my functioning arm. With my strength waning, I used my legs to propel the both of us up and out of the water depth to the surface. I paddled with all my strength to a small water-bank beside the lake. Using my teeth and arm, I tossed Yuta onto the land. From the right side, I saw Hiroshi sprint to me as he carried Misako in arms.

“YUTA! DAVID!” They screamed.

I propelled myself onto the bank beside Yuta, immediately inspecting his body. He had no signs of damage, no cuts or bruises or blood. I inspected his breathing, and there wasn’t any. I immediately placed my usable hand on Yuta’s chest. Performing CPR on the boy. A few pushes, and then mouth-breathing.

Misako screamed as I performed the CPR. Hiroshi stood like a ghost, unable to do anything. Misako pried herself from Hiroshi’s hold, and she fell to the floor with a thud. She scrambled her body to Yuta’s side as I continued on:

A few pushes, and then mouth-breathing.

“I should’ve locked the doors…” Hiroshi said.

“YUTA! YUTA!” Misako yelled.

“Please, God.” I pleaded.

A few pushes, and then mouth-breathing.

“I should’ve locked the doors…” Hiroshi said.

“YUTA! YUTA!” Misako yelled.

“Please, God.” I pleaded.

A few pushes, and then –

Yuta body convulsed, the boy moved to his side and vomited on the floor, expelling the water from within him. He coughed and coughed.

Misako grabbed the boy.

“YUTA! YUTA!” She said, crying.

Hiroshi fell to his knees as he approached Yuta, he hugged the boy as well.

“Yuta…I’m sorry…” Hiroshi said, crying.

I could not move, I just sat on my knees.

“Thank you, God.” I said aloud.

And I cried as well.

Yuta looked at us with wide eyes.

“I’m sorry.” He said with guilt building inside of him.

“No! It’s my fault, baby-Yuta.” Misako cried.

“It’s mine, I should’ve locked the doors.” Hiroshi cried.

“It’s mine, I should have never suggested coming here to look for that stupid watch!” I cried.

Yuta chuckled.

“Why are you laughing, Yuta? You nearly died!” Misako yelled.

“Well…look...” He spoke.

He opened his palm.

I could not believe my eyes.

There it stood, in his hands.

The pocket watch… Hitomi’s pocket watch.