Chapter 9~Tidal Wave

It was a beautiful, sunny day on the beach. Children ran, barefoot, through the warm sand. It smelled strongly of cooking hot dogs and suntan lotion. The waves of the crystal blue ocean beat incessantly on the shore. The sun shined brightly today, freely giving its light and warmth to all of those willing to take it. Some people preferred to sleep and tan in the warm rays of the sun, but Max was a different story. He was more of the athletic type, always had to be going somewhere and doing something. Presently he sat on the warm beach, chatting contentedly with Chad, one of his best friends. They were talking about God knows what, watching the surfers try to catch some serious tube time. A broad smile would briefly grace Max's face when he saw a surfer slip off of his board and disappear underneath the waves. They always came back up, a little more wet, but no worse off for the ride. Max decided that it was his turn to catch some of the beautiful waves created today.
He got up, helped Chad up, and strode over to his board. It was blue with advertisements all over the bottom. He was not a professional surfer, but he was damn good. Chad also grabbed his board, a green long board, also decorated with ads.
Max walked out into the waves, and then put his stomach down onto his board. Using his arms to propel himself farther into the ocean, he admired the smell of the ocean. He stood up onto his board, loving the feeling of the wind in his hair. He could spend all day surfing, and most likely would. He cut through waves, showing off, trying new tricks. Sure, he would occasionally bomb one and fall down, but for the most part he was able to stay up.
Chad was also a skilled surfer, both boys growing up together, living most of their summers in the cool water. The two would occasionally shout to each other, wanting the other to check out a new move, or for that matter, a new surfer. Of course, both guys were always checking out the chicks. That was the best part, right? Girls, half-naked, sleeping on the shore? Sure it was.
As the day wore on, Max started to feel the effects of all of this exercise. He shouted to Chad that he was about to turn in, but he decided to himself that he was going to try out one more trick before the day was over. Chad headed for the shore.
Max was a competitive person by nature, so he was always looking to outdo his latest trick with another. Today, he felt like trying a new combination of moves together; unfortunately, his body couldn't take anymore. The first few tricks went smoothly, but by the fourth trick, his body had already given up. He slipped off of his board, which he was used to doing. Underwater, he started moving towards the surface, but something held him back.
When he looked for the culprit, he discovered that his board had somehow been wedged underneath a rather large rock on the bottom. This was near impossible, Max thought, but he swam down to see if he could either unhinge his board from the rock or unhook the small cord that connected his ankle with the board.
After trying everything he could think of, Max tried, instead, to free his ankle from the board. Some how the cord was knotted and twisted around his leg, and he struggled desperately to free himself. He was losing lung capacity, and he was going to lose himself soon if he didn't do something, and fast. His mind was racing, the lack of oxygen driving his thoughts even faster. His lungs were screaming, his brain telling him to breathe. His eyes were bulging, searching frantically for a way to save himself. He kicked and struggled against the cord, but soon lost his consciousness. His body stopped struggling, his mind stopped thinking. Muscles relaxed, his weight sinking even further into the dark grave that was the ocean. Before his mind shut down completely, it sent him one last fleeting thought, and for some reason, it was Chrissy. ~~
Max woke up on the shore, people crowding over him, their eyes wide. He coughed up a few mouthfuls of water. His lungs immediately took in much- needed oxygen, and he felt relieved. Chad still stood, wide-eyed, over him. When he had gotten enough energy to speak, he asked Chad what was on his mind.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Chad explained to Max what he had seen. Apparently, right after Max had passed out from lack of oxygen to the brain, he had risen out of the water, limp and unconscious. A huge wave supported Max's weight, and started moving slowly towards the shore. It carried him all the way from where he was to Chad, standing wide-eyed and incredulous by himself. After the water had given Max a safe passage to land, it had receded back from whence it came, sinking back into the huge body of liquid.
Max shook his head. The crowd murmured in agreement.
"No way." Max interrupted.
Somehow, he knew that Chad wouldn't lie about something as serious as this.