Is the use and failure of the pipe plausible Maybe it amounted to nothing-after hours of rotting in the daylight , night had fallen over his helpless frame, bathing him in solitude. Maybe it could only ever be nothing, and he was nowhere, as a thousand stars danced across his vision. Blood pulsed in his throat , chasing the burn of rope that encircled his wrists . It was useless to seek solace amongst the dazzling constellation, his pupils shone with the terror of his demise.
His spine , bound against the metallic surface of the black Mustang , refused to elevate as restraints held it captive . In a thrash of despair , his pelvis rose upwards , only to be scorned with the grind of further entrapment . Victor’s helpless screams punctured the air , sending a reverberation to his core. “Please-help me -please-“

With the roof of the car submerged under cruel water , the underpass flooding, his pulse was counting his moments away . Time pirouetted in tight circles, casting shadows that piqued over and over as he screamed. “Please-help me-“. Victor could almost taste the hollow voices that had taunted him , whispering his fate against his flesh.

He thrashed, despite the protest of his limbs , resisting the suffocation of his bindings. As the menace of frigid water encroached the edges of his mind , his demise was closing in.

And while the car’s wheels were against the ground, his captors had left him unable to escape as he lay infused with the car’s roof. Binds had been wound over his torso and hips, securing his fate atop the dormant shell of freedom and open roads . Victor had been fleeing his ill choice , until the day had taken a twist toward hell, with his beloved Mustang now on the floor of the highway’s underpass, and the ocean’s water set to flood the channel . Entering his peripheral vision , a now buoyant can of soda that had been embedded in the mud hours earlier sent a wave of nausea to the pit of his guts. Victor had resisted the implantation of the contraband , and as a consequence, he awaited the flowing seawater’s embrace. It had been a mistake to resist. To misinterpret an ultimatum for an option. Had he been too blind to see with the clarity his eyes did now , as they gazed in terror at the clear , taunting glow of the stars , his heartbeat striking against his shivers of revulsion . With his boots soaked in freezing saline and his clothing sodden with his autonomy; it was ending. His delusion of agency, of his earlier liberation as the steering wheel had laid under his hands, was running dry. It seemed the very essence of his humanity was seeping into the air as he closed his eyes. “Don’t worry Vic, someone will notice you’re gone , right?” , the voice had sneered against his neck. “Before we rope you to the roof of your vehicle, here , take the keys , so you can drive it on out of the middle of who knows where, you pathetic fool.” The flashback lingered on the edges of his psyche , as he flinched at the recollection. His eyes refocused on the sky, and he struggled to hold back another futile scream, his ears ringing from the sound of his own pleas. And as his tears bled into the void atmosphere, he convulsed in reactive horror, the sensation of his captor’s breath still travelling across his flesh, draining his insides. Twisting his head away from the rising soda can , another scream wrought itself from his chest, albeit his better instincts . “Help me-“ , his own voice echoed against the underpass , surrounding him. As he thrashed against his binds , throwing his head back against the roof of the drowning car, the frigid water bit at his flesh as it rushed over the gleaming surface of the Mustang’s roof.
The same one he had driven to the side of the highway earlier that day. Now with his hands placed on his chest, and clasped around its keys , his teeth clenched with the irony of control being buried in his own grip. “Those bastards -“ he muttered, his energy dying , the stars seeming closer yet further away as water lapped over the car’s bonnet. As his eyes slid closed , the silence mocked him. With its clinical , resounding illusion, rushing water creeping closer , he cursed. Poised to spit at how his existence was unheard in the lucidity, he heard the voices of drunken strangers . “Yeah Ryan, I don’t understand where this Hennessy came from but , damn I’ll take what I get.” Laughter followed , and the air was filled by the oncoming revelry. . “Nah , Liam, it was abandoned , which is why I’m thinking these roads aren’t so safe-who would leave a bottle of decent-“ Victor elicited another scream, his chest encompassed by the unyielding binds. “Please-Oh God-please-“

————- Ryan halted in his tracks, gripping Liam’s forearm and steering him toward the overpass , as the wrenching voice curdled through his eardrums. “Bloody hell, Li , I’m sobering up damn quick-“ he said, his voice skirting a whisper. Liam dropped the bottle , splinters of glass raining over the pavement , along with the remains of their alcohol .”Ah, shit. Well fun’s over Ry-but what the hell was that ?”. As Ryan surveyed the scene below, it was distressing in its familiarity. “He can’t be any older than us-and he’s bound to the roof of that car in …what, three places? Poor guy has gotta be freezing. Those bastards are getting even more intricate with their tactics….”his voice smoked into a whisper , as his face paled. As he dropped to the asphalt, Liam gathered up an assortment of rocks and debris , including a rusty , hollowed pipe. Upon inspecting it, he announced “it’s short, touch-and-go wide, but it’d do in a grave situation “ Ryan was already stripping his shirt , grabbing his share of gravel and sprinting for the bank of the underpass . Victor somehow managed another blood boiling scream, sending shocks of raw panic through the air. As Ryan’s dark shadow hit the water , and swam into his vision, Victor attempted eye contact in the consuming dark.

As Victor’s glazed grey stare was met by Ryan’s hazel concern, hailing himself onto the roof of the car, his knees knelt by Victor’s head . “Hey buddy, just try and slow the breathing down. Those binds around your ribs look tight-but Liam and I escaped similar circumstances earlier, we’re gonna get you outta here, alright.” Victor offered a dark chuckle, “In a body bag right? Because I’m gonna drown-“ Ryan reached over Victors chest and pried at the ropes around his wrists, assessing their proximity to his flesh. “Damnit, I can’t fit a finger underneath, he cursed. “What’s your name? I’m Ryan, call me Ry’. Busted my own binds and his-“ How about this continuation: Ryan’s brief gesture at Liam, had him grinning in the moonlight as he hauled himself onto the trunk of the car and crouched by Victor’s legs. “Yeah, it’s no small feat that we’re alive but, we’re gonna do what we can to get you untied-but yeah they’ve given ya no room to breathe “, Liam said, his blue gaze less visible. “It’s hopeless right? I’m Victor , dead man-not walking…” he went to lift a hand , and was reminded of his bindings . Ryan , cracking a smile, replied “Good thing I’ve done this before then , huh? It might not be as hopeless as it should be-“ . Angling a rock at a thread of rope , he began sawing at Victor’s wrists, the burn travelling through his fingers as an empty Dorito packet sailed past his thigh. “Well, the ropes seem to have some age in ‘em. Lazy bastards tied you down with something good ‘ol Ry ain’t immune to-“ he said, as he gained momentum on the fraying rope , as Liam managed to leverage a small rock under the rope that held Victors chest. “You really believe you’ll get through these before I meet my watery-“ Victor asked before Liam gave a measured response. “Well I can get through the thicker ones with some time, but not to alarm ya both but, he’s gonna be breathing through this if this tide keeps coming-“ . As Liam reached out and handed Ryan the hollow piping, he tucked it into his pocket in a discreet motion . As a flash of light from the piping caught in Victors eyes, he asked , disconcerted, “Breathing through what?”. As Ryan maintained his rhythm , hacking into the fibres of the binds which were finally giving way… “I’m almost through, keep the breathing steady for me so you don’t bruise those ribs , you’re gonna need em for drinking a round of booze when this is over-“ Victor managed a sallow smile, the terror in his dilated pupils growing. As a bind snapped , spraying water into Ryan’s face , he grasped Victors hands , removing the residual rope. “There we go” Ryan said, a rasp of relief dragging through his exhausted voice… Victor’s trembling hands flew to his face as he ran his palms over his eyes, and whispered “Thanks-I -“ . As the chill of water cascaded over Ryan’s thighs , he lifted Victor’s head into his lap, affording him an inch of height. The tide edged at Victors throat , as he steeled a hand in his damp hair. “It’s already too hi-high” , he said , through chatting teeth that stammered his panic into fragments . Liam , working tirelessly at the thick rope around Victors torso , mouthed a few silent words in the moonlight “I’m only halfway-“. His irises harbouring a slight edge of concern, Ryan plunged his hand across Victors submerged sternum, holding it stable as he spasmed . Almost on cue , as the water’s brittle temperature irritated his airway, Victor began to cough under Ryan’s palm . “Alright Victor , I need you to focus on the breathing. Nice and slow. Now, me and Liam operate fast, but I need you to breathe through this pipe when the water gets higher. Block off your nose , you can do this Victor, I’ve got you.” As Victors eyes radiated an alertness , he nodded as he said “oh God, this is-“ . Ryan held his grasp firm until the spasms stopped. “I’ll hold you still , you only have to concentrate on breathing alright? And if you can’t hold it in place , just squeeze my hand and I’ll get it out. You’ll have to hold your breath, and hold any water in your mouth, but this may buy us some time. I’ll have to remove it slowly, but I know you can do this.” . The threat of the cold water lapped at Victors jaw, licking his earlobe with tongues of freezing peril. Holding the pipe firmly in his grasp, the keys of the Mustang long forgotten in the tide, , Ryan braced a palm under Victors head , as his neck collapsed with exhaustion. The tide, without mercy , hedged at Victor’s temples , and he wrapped his tongue around the steel piping, his blue lips stretched around the girth of the metal. A far fetched attempt at air , he prepared for water to fill his lungs . His teeth settled painfully against his gums as he struggled to form a seal, ensuring not even a droplet would berate his airways, or his demise would be met. Instincts overrode him as he held the pipe in place, closing his eyes as the water claimed his eyelids and didn’t stop there. Ryan’s voice, seeming a mile away as the seawater engulfed his head, rang out clear . “Victor , I have my hand hovering right above the pipe, I can feel you buddy, nice deep breaths. You can do this. No water is gonna come down this end . Not a drop. I’m gonna rotate it every five breaths, it’ll be painful, but we don’t want you choking on your own carbon. “ As Ryan held Victors head , the pipe formed an eerie lifeline in his lap , his eyes not leaving it for a second as Victor groaned. “Liam , how far in are you?”, he asked, as he gave the pipe a slow turn, and Victor’s gums were torn with the motion. He fought the urge to scream into the rusted metal, instead staring at the isolating darkness of his eyelids, delivering another breath upward. ““This ain’t ideal Ry’ and I don’t mean to alarm ya but, the rope is thicker than-my fingertips are bleeding-“. Shaking the stiffness from his hands , Liam rested the heal of his palm over one of his bruised eyes , his earlier injuries shadowing his features. “I’m trying not to pass out, but I’m maybe half an inch from done“ . Ryan , interweaving his fingers through Victor’s hair as he held his head steady, whispered, “Liam’s got you, now this is gonna hurt as he gets closer to your chest but that means he’s almost there, so keep breathing for us. It’s just like a straw yeah, just blow those bubbles down into the milkshake. We’ll both be right here.” As he fought against his abraded airway, with every urge to cough careening him towards the edge of his control, he managed another breath. One single breath, his every fibre of his being concentrated into the very act. Ryan’s firm grasp was all that tied his fragile state to a tangible reality, each following breath a triumph in the encroaching adversity , only to be repeated again. As Liam’s blood intermingled with the saltwater , staining the rope under his finger, his vision glazed with tears. “Hold on Vic, last few damn fibres.” he muttered . Grazing the rock against Victor’s chest with a careful precision , watching him contain his flinches. The subsequent rising and falling of his torso promising hope as Victor held the pipe in place, Ryan turning it with a wince in his eyes . As Victor felt the pipe grind , it’s insidious twist of execution set his chest into a fatal spasm. “Oh shit- Victor , listen to me, if youve got water in your mouth squeeze my hand, Ryan said, staving off his own panic as he felt the jolt through his fingers. “It’s alright , hold your breath, we still got some minutes, you’re doing great, Vic.” Ryan lifted the pipe from the water , a sense of disconnection haunting him. The next moment, the rope broke, and Ryan propelled Victors head upward , as he gasped for fresh air. As fatigue laden tears fell from his bloodshot eyes, he smiled through bloodied teeth. His neck then collapsed into Ryan’s chest as Victor was rendered unable to speak . Ryan, breaking into a smile of relief, delivered a gentle thump to Victors head. “He’s up and kicking-almost… you took about twenty breaths. Damn amazing job, borrowed you some life” Tears fell from Victor’s eyes as adrenaline rushed through him “Thank you -I -thought I’d die.” Ryan pulled Victor’s weak frame against him , replying , “well you scared the hell out of me and I don’t scare easy”. Ryan scanned his trained eyes over Victor’s back, before noticing Victor’s shoulder had dislocated during his attempts to overcome his own imprisonment. As he realigned his shoulder blade , and guided in back into place, Victor groaned at the force. “What the hell was that?” . Ryan , dodging Victor’s outpouring of gratitude, responded coolly “You must have put your shoulder out thrashing around, and you’re too cold to feel it, but don’t worry , you will later.” Victor’s cheek , still nestled aside Ryan’s chest, vibrated with his low murmur. “Oh, shit, how did you-“ Ryan only laughed as he gazed at the exhausted Liam who had already travelled to Victors pelvis , strain in his eyes. “I’ve had some experience with medical -it doesn’t matter . Liam is on breaking point so I’m gonna take his position. Victor offered his hand to Ryan , his eyes gesturing at the rock “I can help you cut-“ Ryan stashed the rock out of reach as Liam slid himself behind Victor’s back, wrapping his arms around his chest to keep him upright. “Sounds like you’ve got a bit of hypoxia -what I mean is , your brain’s messed up, with that shoulder you and Liam are gonna share body heat while I finish this. “ With a laugh, Liam readjusted Victors head against his chest , allowing himself to shiver , his muscles radiating heat. “I gotta say, you did one hell of a job breathing for that pipe for a few minutes . It’s a good thing you didn’t have to resort to holding’ your breath .” They both chuckled, their relief intermingling with the surrealism of the moment. “I couldn’t have breathed through that, you’re really something, huh? “ Victor grinned , his humour still intact as oxygen crawled to his nerve endings . “I’m death warmed up, thanks to you-“. 

Ryan finally snapped the binding from Victor’s left hip, groaning as he hauled himself to the other side of the car , the water holding its rapid infiltration of time. “And this is the easy part-bloody hell, the alcohol is catching back up to me -“ . Liam’s heartbeat slowed as his eyelids sank lower and he replied “Keep at it Ry’ , the tide is reaching my armpits here, and he must weigh as much as I do-” . Victor’s gruff reply, filled with the thickness of his throat , hung in the air as the keys to the Mustang hit Liam in the forearm. He retrieved them, flipping them around his knuckles , and handing them to Victor. “This was your car-man I’m sorry-”, he lamented a somber tone lacing his voice. “Well it’s not as if I planned to drive her again after this-” Silence fell over Victor in a blanket of emancipation from his former identity. “I just want to block the whole incident out-” he said, and turned his attention to the rising water. Finally, Ryan sawed through Victor’s right hip, pulling the rope away , his expression betraying his strength. “Thank goodness for that. Now Victor, wanna be a dead man swimming?” He asked, his smile illuminating in the dark. With his arm slung around Victors injured shoulder , Liam heaved him into a one armed embraced and swung his legs from the roof of the car. “Lean on me, and let’s get you to shore huh? Me and Ryan don’t know where the hell we are but it seems like right place at the right time cuts it…” Victor nodded, as Ryan swam to shore , and sprawled across the bank , chest heaving .Liam and Victor’s conjoined shadow swam across the rushing water, as Liam eased Victor onto his back . Joining him , the sky held its silver edge of despondency, quiet and somehow offering meaning . It could maybe be more than nothing, and nowhere , even it that’s precisely what it was. ———-


His gaze wandered from his shaking hands and out onto horizon, trailing the stars with bloodshot eyes. The whites that surrounded his irises held broken vessels from his head injuries, and lingering evidence of his trauma . thrashing against concrete had a way of leaving behind stark physical reminders , and the sand was salvaging and cool against his temples. The clear skies , however, taunted an unreached clarity with striking distance from any hope of seeing in the dark. Liam traced Victor’s outline as he stumbled across the shoreline, gathering driftwood. “Least I can do is get a bonfire started , despite the horrible pain in my right shoulder “. As he shifted in the sand , his calves elevated on a sand dune, Liam kept his head low. “Don’t strain yourself Vic, we have all night and with me being indisposed and Ryan being …well”. His eyes , refocusing on Ryan’s unconscious face under the moonlight, stung as he laughed. “Yeah, Ryan is dead to the world , after sawin’ through your binds it seems he’s spent.” Victor yelled out from the breakers that lapsed around his bare ankles . “He’s a hell of a lot more together than me-“, Victor said, heaving wood into his arms, his right shoulder pulsing with his heart. “Well it’s not like there’s a hospital out here in the middle of nowhere so good thing ‘ol Ry could slam your scapula back into place “ Liam replied , still watching Ryan sleeping , his expression at peace for the moment. “Yeah, thank goodness he’s got medical training, popping dislocated shoulders back in seems like a hobby to him…”. Victor grinned as he dumped down a pile of wood beside the recovering Liam , and collapsed by his side. “How are we gonna light this ?” Victor asked, the dampness of the air seeping through his words. Liam was quick to toss a lighter at Victor , his pulsating headache fading to the background as the waves’ crashing beckoned the pain away. As Victor ignited a piece of wood, a the flame spread through the pyre , the warmth flickered over their skin. “Ah , this is the life huh”, Liam said, his voice full of exhausted humor. Victor, flexing his interlocking palms at the fire , nodded. “Yeah, beats being tied up on a car, waiting for the tide to-“ His eyes darkened as he stared at the dancing flames, his voice lost in the crackling embers. “I need to make clear how grateful I am to you both“ Victor said, his gaze in the material of his fatigues as he spoke. “I’d have drowned , tide was creeping up so fast-“ As he replied from his makeshift bed of a rolled shirt and a dune of sand , Liam chose a space between the stars. “It was nothing , I mean Ryan is out cold and I’m worse off for shredding my fingers but, still -“. As another wave crashed in rhythm with Liam’s pulse , he said, eyes not leaving his focal point. “Ok, it was the hell we went through because we needed to , there was no other choice.” Victor stoked the flames , lost in thought, as Ryan lifted his head from its cradle of sand, shaking particles from his hair. “How long was I out. I’m so stiff-“ Victor answered as he stood up and hauled another chunk of debris toward the fire , “Maybe three days? Nah , a few hours, welcome back to the living.” Ryan groaned , feigning disgust “you look like hell Liam, I’m guessin’ neither of you have slept, just watched me huh?” . Eying Ryan’s profile Liam shot back “Yeah, me and Vic were just discussing how you should be the one to go catch us a boar and gut it , seeing as you’re the medic round here” And a laugh followed as Ryan sat up, life returning to his expression. “Ain’t no wildlife round here…but your lazy ass would starve before it found out any different”.