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water, reaching out just in time to catch his hand before it disappeared into the darkness completely.
    She came above the water with a gasp, holding an unconscious Remy against her heaving chest.  She kicked wildly to stay above water, struggling against the weight of the large man she held.  The waves slapped at her face as she fought, almost taunting her, and she began to pant. He was at least three times her size.
    She caught sight of the bright yellow buoy he’d mentioned, in the distance, screaming out at her against the starry night sky.  It looked to be about fifteen feet away, but she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to make it there while dragging Remy with her.
    Thankfully, he came to, seconds later.  His breathing was horse, uneven and ragged.  He immediately began coughing violently, swallowing and spitting what seemed like gallons and gallons of water as the unforgiving ocean continued to try and claim them.
    Violet wrapped her arms around his waist when she saw the waves choking him, overpowering him.  He’d gotten his head above water, but he clearly wouldn’t have the strength to keep it there for long.
    She supported him against her chest as she began an upside down, backwards paddle towards the buoy.  It was slow going, and the wicked waters never relented in its bid to conquer them both as they treaded sluggishly along.
    As they moved, Remy swiped the yellow box he’d thrown out of the plane from the water as they passed it.  His breathing was still alarmingly ragged.  Violet was reminded of the horrible asthma attacks her older sister used to have when they were kids.  He sounded on the verge of death.
    With a heavy heart, she realized he probably was.
    “Are you okay?”  She gasped, between kicks.  Her legs were quickly growing weak, like pudding, but she didn’t stop kicking.
    Remy didn’t respond, but the relief in his eyes was poignant when they finally reached the buoy.  It looked like a ray of sunshine calling out to them in the darkness, bobbing up and down against the rhythmic sway of the waves.
    As soon as they both had a secure hold on the bright marker, they struggled to catch their breath.
    As if their brains were working in unison, they both looked up into the sky at the same time.  The helicopter was still moving onward, slicing through the stars.  Every once in a while, it would veer off to the left, or to the right, but it didn’t fall from the sky.  Violet felt a cosmic connection to that plane.  It seemed to be putting up just as much of a fight as she and Remy just had.
    “How is it still flying?” she asked.
    “Auto pilot,” was all Remy could choke.
    Violet’s wide eyes watched as the helicopter finally disappeared into the foggy night sky.
    “It’ll crash soon,” Remy added, pressing his forehead against the buoy when he couldn’t seem to catch his breath.  A violent cough escaped his lungs.
    “Don’t talk,” Violet admonished.  She noticed that his previously olive skin had gone ghost white, and his eyes were taking on a subtle grey tint, a stark contrast from their usual kind blue.  They had to get out of this water as soon as possible.
    As if her silent prayers had been answered, Violet threw her head over her shoulder in shock when the buoy was suddenly illuminated with light.  The faint sound of an engine roaring stole her breath as her eyes searched the area frantically.  Two headlights were closing in on them in the distance.
    Then, there it was.  A speedboat.  Coming right for them.
    Violet’s mouth fell.  The police had finally arrived.
    Help had finally arrived.
    She looked to Remy, her brown eyes locked with his blue, and she was shocked to realize that she didn’t even want it anymore.
     
    ***
     
    But it wasn’t the police.
    “You folks doin’ alright?”  The middle-aged man with a full beard trained his large flashlight on Remy and Violet, his kind brown eyes jumping back and forth between them