"He-help!" Phoebe screamed once more, her voice cracking beneath the rising panic. Her hand continued flailing desperately above the surface, but each movement became weaker as the cramp seized her body. The water that had moments ago felt playful and refreshing now seemed terrifyingly endless beneath her. Her frame began sinking lower, her shoulders disappearing beneath the surface as she struggled to keep herself afloat.
Raymond's entire world appeared to freeze for a fraction of a second.
Then instinct completely overpowered thought.
Without wasting even a single second, Raymond launched himself into the freezing pool. His powerful body cut violently through the water, sending a massive splash across the otherwise tranquil surface. The biting temperature registered nowhere within his mind. His only focus remained Phoebe, whose body was already descending beneath the surface.
"Phoebe!"
