The car breezed up over the dunes and slipped back onto the gravel road sending a flock of seagulls to fly for safety. The sun was already drifting below the hazy purple clouds gathered out over the water. The car slipped into an ancient cracked spot and the lights flickered off. The door opened and a man stepped out his hands already feeling for the comfort of his lined pockets. The air was cold with the chill air of fall. The water was moving at such a glacial pace the fish had to swim with extra energy since the current wasnt helping them any. The man ran his fingers through his short black hair and let out a stifled yawn. Anxiously looking around he crossed the desserted lot and began to walk along the creaky boardwalk stretching miles over the marshy lands of Cape Cod.

The boardwalk was barely wide enough to fit two people side by side and there were no rails to hold onto. Stopping to gaze out over the icey blue water he sighed with the stress of his life. The sweat was beading up on his forehead and his heart began to race rapidly behind his rib cage. Moving quickly again he began to cross the bridge but something was wrong. There was a loud snap and barely any warning before the boards gave way beneath his weight sending him plumiting eight feet below into the water.  The splash was deafening and if anyone were around they surely would have heard. Of course nobody was around nor would be. He resurfaced in seconds flicking his head back to gasp for air, sending drops of water across the disturbed surface. His body was in shock as he breathed in the stinging air. Frantically he looked around trying to figure out a way back onto solid land. Everything around him was at least seven feet above him.

Kicking around he tried to touch the bottom, but nothing even hit the tip of his shooes. He shrugged his heavy twead jacket off as to keep himself afloat with less effort. The water was sending spasms up his shivering spine. His teeth were already chattering in his mouth, and his jaw began to ache from the rapid movement. Deciding it was impossible to climb up to the bridge he paddled over to a bank. His hands sunk deep into the brown mudd even with little pressure. He tried to grab some sort of hold but found nothing. Not giving up he tried to climb up the slippery mudd wall but to his dismay only slipped down from lack of support.

Knowing he had one choice left he started off following the winding water way that cut through the deep mudd revines. His feet kicked fretfully under the frosty water, and his face flinched with every splash that hit him. His heart was picking up more and more speed as he saw no end to the water. The revines flowed on and on into the night. Time had escaped him as his only focus was finding land. When the water finally got shallow he stood up with it still clinging to his chest. The pain in his muscles from all the swimming and shaking was catching up to him. Thoughts raced through his mind, and the blood thined out in his veins. He was going to die if he couldn't find land or even a way out.

***

It had to be hours since he hit the water as the sun was nowheres in sight, and he couldnt even see two inches in front of himself. When his feet hit sand instead of mudd, and the water was at his ankles he began to run. When the water was gone he sunk onto a rock and closed his eyes. The relief flooded through his body and his mind relaxed a little. The calm effect that had soothed him a bit was soon challenged when he opened his eyes again. He had to move on and find a way back to his car. Squinting to try and look around he only saw the large plains of green grass and the dark shimmer of the water he had climbed out of. The only way to go had to be up, since there was a wall of seaweed covered rocks filling in the gap between the high banks.

This was much easier to climb with the solid support for him to hold onto........

to be continued......