As I paddle desperately down the river I can hear the men’s motar boat drawing closer. Holding the case between my knees I know I need to keep moving. My arms are becoming heavy and my lungs ignited in fire, knowing I can’t continue I jump into the water, the case close to my chest. As I do my little boat explodes into splinters as my pursuers ram it through with their own. Waiting underneath the waves I watch the men circle the scene. My lungs burning I began to swim to sore. I hear the roar of their engine become more distant as I drag myself onto the bank. While choking down air my only thought is for the case that lays next me.

Wet. Cold. Afraid. I hear them behind me, closing in—moments away. Waves slam into the boat, threatening to plunge me deep into the freezing abyss below. I paddle faster. My hands, littered with cuts, stain the brown wooden handle red. I continue forward. Heart pounding. A gunshot rings out. My arm, hit. Blood, everywhere. I scream, the pain is too much. I can feel my grip loosen, slowly letting go of my life force. I hold on. Another shot goes off. My shoulder this time. I can't handle it, I jump. The water welcomes me in. Calms me. Saves me.

The crew is once again back together. After everyone moved, Patrick's life hasn’t been so exciting. He was saddened but he understood his friend had their own life to live. Ray went to New York because he wanted to further his career in architecture.

Asher has always been a Gone with the Wind kind of guy, so he moved to Nashville with his girlfriend of 2 years.

Rousey, well I guess you could say, she just got tired of Texas. She wanted a fresh start, so she moved to California.

Patrick stepped out of the car and smelled the breeze of nature. He spots his friends and says, “I’m HERE LOSERS!” Said Patrick, taking his paddle board from the back of his truck. They walked over to Patrick, and they all greeted him. It felt like they never left. “You need help with your bags?” Ray asked.

“Yeah, get the one inside the truck, thanks.” Patrick gives Ray a gentle pat on his back. “So where we camping at, y’all picked a good spot?” Said Patrick as they were down the trail.

“I know we have been gone, but it’s the same spot.” Rousey smiles at Patrick, responding in a soft tone.

Ray and Asher notice and Asher tease them. “I’m guessing you two going to share a sleeping bag?” Ray laughed right along with him, while Rousey blushed, cheeks turning red.

They set everything up and chat about new things in their life. “Well we can all fall in love with each other later, let's hit the water.” Said Asher already switching into his gear.

“He’s right guys, let's get to it. Said Rousey, following along with Asher. “Today's winds are heavier than usual, I hope it doesn't pull us too strongly.” Said Rousey examining closely with worries.

“Don't worry about that, I'm sure it will be fine. Plus, I think I got you guys this year.” Patrick responded to Rousey. Patrick helped her pull through, and she agreed to continue.

They get into position while the water has a good flow to it. “1, 2, 3, GO!” Ray does the countdown, feeling confident as always. The clear enraged water of the river playfully sets them on a race of its own game.

Surprisingly Patrick is in second place padding down the river. A splash of cool water and small rocks hit the bottom of their board. Navigating past each other. “Patrick and Asher are head to head, trash-talking each other till one past the other. Patrick crossed Asher's causing him to slow down, from falling. “Sorry dude, I” ll see you later!” Patrick shouts. Leaving Asher to push himself for revenge.

Waves shifting from paddle to paddle. This might be an unpredictable win. A rocky ride for all, Ray yells out, “LOSERS I’M ABOUT TO ZOOM THROUGH!” Having an evil laugh right behind it.

Ray makes his way by Patrick, “Hey Patrick, you doing pretty well, but too bad you're not better than me.” Ray says, splashing water as he goes by him.

Patrick's face filled with annoyance from Ray, getting under his skin, and he can't let Ray win again. Looking back in the distance he sees Asher and Rousey. The flow of the water is helping him keep up with Ray.

“This not over Ray.” Tapping Ray's paddle, like he trying to shove him off. “That's CHEATING! Said Ray. “I get it though, you're tired of losing against me. You're not good enough.” He chuckles.

Noticing how the water lifted Ray up and down forcefully. Ray trying to stay balanced. He looks behind him one more time, and he tries to use a trick move on Ray. He taps on Ray's board again trying to slow him down. “Patrick, what are you doing? Chill before we both fall,” said Ray nervously.

“You still think you're better huh?” Patrick no longer playing.

Ray still attempting to balance, he said, “I can't help I'm better than you, but remember this is just a friendly competition.”

Patrick sees an opportunity and takes it. “Get over Patrick, they're a big rock up ahead, I'm going to fall.” Said Ray. Going back and forth with each other, Patrick waited till they got closer, and Ray flipped over, and hit his head. Banging it on the rock.

“RAY, OH MY GOD!” Patrick gets Ray, board, to help him stay steel. The Good news, Asher and Rousey are still behind.

“I’m sorry Ray, I didn't mean to.” Patrick's face turned white, and he panicked. Shocked, Ray starts gasping for air, trying to yell for help.

“Shhh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to.” Said Patrick trying to calm Ray down, but he was still bleeding out. Weak but Ray tries to get away from Patrick.

“I can’t let you do this, I’m sorry.” Said Patrick. He then holds Ray under the water, drowning him. His hands Trembling, he must find a way to hide the body. He can't leave him there, so he places a rock in Ray's pockets. Having the river pull him down the aggressive water fall.

“Shit, here they come.” Said, Patrick. Ray's blood on his hands. He asked himself, what has he done? Words echoed in Patrick's mind. secretly even though there were friends, Ray and Patrick has always tried to one-up each other. What he didn't know Patrick has always been envious of him. Even though Ray was a good friend, Patrick knew in the back of his mind, that he wasn't so sure, will he regret this? A part of him does, but his eyes say otherwise. So now he must think of a plan.

he can’t have the last two friends he has, view him as a monster. They will never forgive him. They call out for him as they see his body on the ground. Patrick is desperate, so he breaks his two fingers. causing him to scream from the pain. they both get there as fast as they can to Patrick, as Rousey cries out of panic.

“OMG, Patrick you ok!?” Said Rousey, while Asher bent down to help him.

“Where is Ray? He was up here with you!” Asher asked. Talking out of pain Patrick tells them, the wind was getting strong as they tried to slow down. Ray flipped off his board, and he landed on a big rock that caused his injury and broke his fingers.

“We tried to hold on to each other but I blacked out. Ray was screaming for help. We thought you two would hear us.” Oh, Patrick was really putting on a show, Sobbing with lies.

Asher calls in for help after finding out Ray might have gotten swallowed by the deep fall.

This story ends with only the tumultuous waters of the river that know the true story.

Splashing. Gasping. Heart pounding. Pain. My senses are heightened as I move the oar with all my might. I can’t stop to look back or he will be given the opportunity to catch up. I grew up on this river, calling it my home, but I can’t help but realize that this is now my nightmare. Normally when I’m here I’m taking in the sounds of golden eagles soaring overhead looking for prey. Now, I’m trying to not become the next meal of the crazed maniac hunting me down. Serial killer. Murderer. Man next door. I used to always believe that actions and events happen according to the greater plan, but what plan involves me fighting for my life on what was supposed to be an ordinary Tuesday?

This was the last challenge that I had to complete. Making it through the Illusion River to the finish line near the end of the quarry. I was paddling with every drop of strength I could muster up. This specific current I was in drained you of all your power, making us unable to use our shields and power to our advantage. I could tell this was a massive shock to the other challengers due to their frozen faces and curses to the water. Thankfully I was prepared for an event like this. Spending the last few months hiking up Mount Doom to gain strength and discipling my body without the aid of my magic. After exiting the current I could finally breathe, allowing my shields to disperse around me. Encapsulating myself into a spherical force field. I could feel the other challengers magic behind me, them likely doing the same. Master always told me to never look back so I didn’t but I could feel the warmth inching closer and closer to my back. I took a deep slow breathe, allowing it to reach to the pits of my stomach. When suddenly my canoe was hit with a massive wave, sending me rocking from side to side and water lining the bottom of my canoe. I could here Lavish behind me laughing. Lavish had control over the element of water so he felt comfortable in this challenge. This was home to him. There were no rules stating that we couldn’t use our powers to our advantage. My boat continued to be pushed and rocked by Lavish’s power, the water now to my ankles causing me extra strain with the excess weight now added. With Lavish only a few meters behind me I knew I had to do something. The quarry now in sight, less than a minute from now someone would be crowned challenger. I threw my paddle over my head in Lavish’s direction and laid my arms straight out besides me, forming a lower case t, and I rotated my palms up towards the sky. I then pulled my fingers in slowly, forming the shape of fists. “WHOOSH!” The sound ricocheted off of the boat. My hands opened up, turning my palms now down towards the water and my arms flying backwards behind me. I had used my power over the element of air and poured all of my power into this one movement. As Lavish was passing me, his purple hair flying in all directions, he was instantly flung backwards as my boat went shooting forward. My canoe flying forwards so fast it almost looked as if it were floating above the water, smoothly gliding across the currents with the aid of the wind. Sending me past the finish line at the end of the quarry.

I vigorously paddled across the river, my small kayak turning side to side. My pursuers, Randall, Jon, and Juan were quickly catching up to me. With a repeated motion, I quickly turned the paddle in the water before pulling it out. The water splashed and infiltrated my ship, but I didn’t let that stop me. Clouds moved across the sky above, and the overcast had me worried. I could smell the stench of fresh pine. I could feel the cold water soaking in between my toes. I looked ahead at the rapids. I took a deep breath and continued onward. I desperately paddled, picking up the pace in an attempt to outpaddle my friends. Randall laughed like a maniac as he passed Jon before he splashed water in his face. Jon drifted toward the side before hitting a rock and getting stuck. Juan quickly sped up toward me, starting to gain speed over me. Juan then passed Randall, still focused on passing me. I prepared for the worst before the kayak dropped down into the rapids. I quickly paddled on as the rapids shook and turned the ship. My body swayed side to side and from the drop, I was covered in water. Luckily, I had my raincoat on, and I was able to avoid getting too drenched. I tried to regain control of the ship, water almost blinding my view. Then with a jolt, my kayak turned over as it went over a rock. I was under the water now. I shivered before I quickly tried to flip the kayak over. Then I saw Juan. He quickly passed me. “So long Marcus!” He teased. I got back onto the kayak as Randall neared me. I immediately began paddling again through the rapids. Juan was already way ahead of me. Randall steered the kayak toward me and my kayak swayed to the side as he poked his paddle into my kayak. In retaliation, I quickly did the same, which resulted in Randall’s kayak to flip over. Now Jon was behind me. I paddled harder. Juan had already made it to the second round of rapids, while I was still in the middle of them. I grunted under my breath before paddling faster. I slammed the paddle into the water and quickly pulled it out before repeating the process. Randall was still getting back onto his kayak. Now, it was Jon I had to worry about. Jon lightly tapped his paddle into the back of my kayak. In response, I paddled harder. I stroked my smooth black hair just as I was beginning to feel a drop of water. I looked behind me to see if Jon was splashing anything on me. No, it was raining. The rain pelted onto my raincoat and quickly filling up the kayak. I knew I should’ve checked the forecast. Juan was slowing down from exhaustion now. With excitement and competitiveness, I steered my ship into Jon’s, knocking him off his kayak. Then I proceeded to stare into Juan’s eyes as he looked back to see what was happening. I could almost forget all about the rain as my mind was set on outpaddling Juan. The rain came down harder, and it started seeping through my raincoat. My face was dripping with rain and my hands were almost numb from the constant thud of rain hitting them. Even then, I was too determined to be stopped by some rain. I had to secure myself as the best paddler, and establish that I was the most athletic. At this point, I didn’t even worry about Jon and Randall, they were far behind now. All I had to focus on was paddling. That’s when I saw a flash of light, followed by a thunder boom that shook the entire ground. My heart dropped. I wasn’t going to let a thunderstorm stop me at this point. Pushing onward, I conquered the second round of rapids. I was rapidly approaching Juan now, and we were probability more than halfway through the river. The weather didn’t look very promising though, the sky was darkening and wind pushed my kayak to the side. I found myself paddling harder only for my effort to be futile in the essence of the fierce storm. No matter how much harder I tried, the storms winds prevented me from reaching my full potential. “Tired already?” Randall asked me, pushing his kayak into mine. “Not yet,” I exclaimed. Then I bumped my kayak into Randall’s with such force that the kayak fell into a rock and got stuck. Fog was starting to form, which made it harder to see Juan. I stormed toward Juan, picking up the pace. I had to get to him fast, before the storm started to limit me even more. Another loud boom of thunder shook my kayak. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I saw an eagle flying overhead. Then I continued to press onward, almost catching up with Juan before a sudddn gust of wind blew me backward. Then, I paddled harder. It looked that I was going to pass Juan.

Then I realized that we had already made it to the finish line, and I had come in second place…

His biceps raged with a burn he hadn’t felt before, sweat seeping from the seam of his sports cap, his rep speed unlike anything he’d ever displayed. Could this be it? could he finally prove them all wrong? ‘Why not me? 3 years of hard training, its my time!’ These thoughts raced through his mind repeatedly, timed with the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat.

Deyton Jill was a small, sliver of a man, barely a man as he had just turned 18 that summer. His parents were the athletic type, Dad played football, golf, squash and enjoyed a bit of swimming, his step mum ran, park runs, 10ks, even taking part in marathons if she felt like it. The family held memberships at the local gym, sports club and the nearby sailing club at the lake. As a child Deyton hated competition, taking solace in the tranquility of the sailing clubs fishing trips, but ‘fishing isn’t a real sport’ his parents would claim, so, at 15, Deyton decided to take up rowing, at least he was still in a boat.

As he repeated his chant to himself the sound of adrenaline pumping through his body threatend to disrupt his rhythmic flow. Deyton thought about the last 3 years, how he would train late into the night because he ‘couldn’t compete without building mass’, how the posh arseholes with lucky genes, who seemed to effortlessly beat him in every competition, would taunt him and his slight appearance daily. ‘Why. Not. Me? Its. My. Time!’ The finish line seemed so close, and yet a million, nautical, miles away. There wasn’t anyone in front of him, at a glance there wasn’t anyone either side of him. He darent look behind him, he can’t break focus now. Deyton chants his mantra a few more times, it’s within grabbing distance, they won’t catch him now surely.

Damn! They’re gaining on me. I try to paddle faster. The oar breaks. Rotting wood. I slam my foot down in frustration and it goes through the canoe and it sinks. Fuck! I jump out of the boat and swim as fast as I can without looking back. Lucky fir me I was a competitive swimmer in high school. The water is freezing and my pursuers get closer, but I’m faster. Suddenly I come up to a waterfall. I look behind me and grab onto a rock. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t look down. The forest looms over me and I hear a wolf howl in the distant. My heartbeat grows increasingly faster. I dive over the water praying the water isn’t shallow. Lucky for me it’s not. I hop out of the water soaked and freezing. Next to me a man who looked to be in his late 50s sits outside of his tent by a fire.

“Need a towel?” He said.

“Yes.”

“Warm up by the fire while I get you one.”

The heat feels nice on my ice cold body. I reach into my pocket to feel for the locket. I sigh in relief when I pull it out. I open the gold heart locket and look at the picture of the little girl in it.

My precious Rose. I will find you.

The man comes back with withered towel.

“It may not look the nicest but I promise you it ain’t dirty.”

I take the towel from him, graciously.

“You hungry?”

He hands me a sausage on a skewer. I let it roast over the campfire.

“Tell me, what’re you jumpin’ over that waterfall there?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I got nottin but time.”

“Okay, then. It started back when my wife died when my daughter and I moved to West Virginia.”

Hold on I’m paddling as fast as I can! Keep swimming toward the bank. You are going to be alright, I’m on my way to you. Just keep listening to the sound of my voice.

(Panicked splashing)

Ok! I ve got you just stay calm. I’m going to try to pull you back into the canoe. Nope, it’s fine I’m not going to let you go, I have you. One big pull, uuurrrghh! Woo hoo! There, thank God. I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost you. Darcy you almost went over the waterfall! What made you jump out of the boat, are you crazy!?

(One big shake, fervent tail wags and sloppy kisses)

Was it a squirrel? That’s my good girl, yes, you’re fine. Now, let’s go make camp and get out of this rain. You gave me a heart attack you silly dog.

The watered rippled with each dunk of the oar .One,two ,one,two .i kept this rhythm going over and over in my head .On ome the oar would dip into the black abyss that surrounded me pushing the boat forward and me toward saftey .On two the oar soared into the air sending droplets across the lake .If I could just keep this rythmm going ,just keep my breath from going shallow I could make it .Every muscle in my body screamed at me to stop .Yet I kept going how I don’t know many would give up .Accept the fait that surely lay before them .Me however I was determined.When I could see the land in sight goosebumps ran down my back .The goosebumps that are only present when you can feel a pair of eyes on you .Then I heard it .The gentle splash and swish of anouther boat .Their boat .I willed my arms to work faster .Now waves rocked the boat up and down and the force of the oar pushed the water .Then a force so strong I couldn’t resist pulled my shoulders back sending the boat sliding out from under me .I was encased in a cold blanket of water .drowning ,drowning .