Beneath the Surface

No one knows really knows what happens beneath the surface.

Ricky sauntered down the stairs in his Los Angeles home and rubbed his emerald eyes as sunlight pierced the Earth with the rays of a new day. Too early for any eighteen-year-old. The scent of coffee led him toward his mother’s kitchen and soon he was there in his Aquaman pajamas and coral blue tank top.

“Buenos Dias, Mama,” Ricky said as he kissed her on the cheek. “Aren’t you and dad going to the Hot Air Balloon Festival today?”

“Si. So, I need you to keep an eye on your brother and make sure that he gets to school. He missed three days last week, and if he misses one more, he’ll get suspended.”

“But Mama—”

“Don’t but mama me, Ricardo. You know he’s your responsibility when we’re not here.”

“Okay.” Ricky surrendered and poured himself a cup of coffee.

“Gracias. Now, I have got to get going and meet your father before the festival. Wake Manny up soon. It’s almost time for school.” She said as she grabbed her keys and prepared to leave. “And don’t let him go near the lake. He’s only had one swimming lesson, and you know how badly he wants to swim there.”

Ricky smiled, “Don’t worry, Mama. He’ll be fine.”

“If I weren’t worried, I wouldn’t be a very good mother now, would I?” She smiled.

“No, guess not.”

“Adios. Love you!” She darted out and let the door slam behind her. That must’ve woken Manny up. Better check on him thought Ricky.

“Manny! Time to get ready for school, hermano. You up?” Ricky waited a few seconds. Nothing. “Manny?” Ricky grasped the cold, brass handle and opened it. He walked into his brother’s room. Toys lined the floor, and as he stepped in, he felt like a soldier avoiding landmines. The closet, dresser, neatly made bed, and desk were all there. The window was open. Ricky feared the worst as he headed toward the lake, knowing his eight-year-old brother too well. He tried to dismiss the thought, but it was as persistent as a needy salesman.

When Ricky arrived, he saw his brother’s crimson-red bike and heard a sharp cry from the lake, “Ayudame!” Manny yelled. “Help me!”

“Manny! I’m coming! Hold on!” He crossed the watery threshold and swam toward him at an impressive speed. Manny’s cries were suddenly silenced, and the great Lake swallowed him. Ricky got to where he had last seen his brother and dove underneath to pick him up. As he lifted him out of the water, Manny felt extra heavy and was unresponsive after a few shouts of his name. “Manny! Manny! Stay with me, little brother!” Ricky got him to shore and tried to pump his chest to remove excess water, but there was one problem — he didn’t know CPR. He had no reason to.

“Ric…ky,” was all Manny could say before going unconscious. Ricky called the paramedics. He told his parents what had happened. The only sounds on the car ride back from the festival were Mrs. Montero’s sobs, nose blows, and tear wipes. Ricky was back home and paced.

As if beating himself up wasn’t bad enough, his father told him something that would stab him like a knife. “How could you let this happen to him?”

“I’m so sorry, I thought he was in his room — ”

“You’re brother could’ve drowned!”

After a few days, Ricky sat on the balcony as Manny rolled up to him in his wheelchair after he returned home from the hospital.

He touched Ricky’s shoulder and smiled, “You did everything you could. I’m still alive because of you. Don't listen to dad, it’s not your fault.”

Ricky refused to believe that. He knew the only way to move on was to get into the deep end of his fear and dive in.

Later that week and after rigorous training, Ricky strolled to his sandy-colored lifeguard tower with his head held high and climbed up to overlook the pool. He felt overwhelmed and said, “If something happens to anyone here, it’s all on me.” As the realization hit, a breathtaking girl who looked to be in her early twenties walked in with a man. She kept her head down and walked as if she were his prisoner. Ricky looked at her and noticed a large purple bruise on her arm the size of a hand, unsuccessfully hidden by her white shawl. Her long sapphire black hair, tan skin, and red two-piece completed her look. The guy with her carried the bag and towels like a gentleman should. He was well built with a Great white shark tattoo, fair skin, and tall like a tree trunk. He placed the bags down, and the two got set up and headed into the water. Ricky saw the girl lean in and what looked like her whisper something in his ear. A new look overtook the man, and he did something Ricky had to do a double take to believe. The man submerged the girl’s head underwater as bubbles poured from her mouth. They slowed almost to a stop. A few people looked at the man with cocked heads but ignored him. No one knows what happens beneath the surface.

The man jerked the girl’s head up from the water, “Twenty seconds. Not bad, sweetheart.” Everyone thought she was testing how long she could hold her breath. He leaned in close and spoke deeply but quietly, “Don’t ever talk back to me again. Otherwise, you’ll be holding your breath for longer next time. Got it?” She gasped for air and nodded with tears in her eyes that were invisible. The pool water, a perfect cover, washed them away. “Good. Now, I got to take a leak. Don’t go anywhere.” With an open palm and the ring he wore, he smacked her butt hard as she winced and rubbed it. No one paid attention except Ricky, who sensed something suspicious and saw his opportunity to find out what. He approached her.

“Excuse me, miss,” he said.

She turned, looked up, and spoke as if talking to a police officer. “Hi, sir. What’s going on?”

“I saw you from my lifeguard tower and it looked like something happened over here. Everything all right?” She tried her best to look confused.

“Yeah…yeah, I’m alright. Just training to hold my breath. My boyfriend has been my biggest support,” she said as if she had rehearsed it.

“You sure? Cause it looked like you…never mind. If you need anything, I’m Ricky, the new lifeguard here.” He extended his hand.

“Elena. Nice to meet you. So, how do you like the job so far?” Her voice was as sweet as a mango. She sounded relieved as if it was her first time having a normal conversation.

“Good. Nothing too crazy yet.”

Yet.

She lowered her voice,“ Ricky? Something bad was happening earlier. You weren’t going crazy. Bronson, my boyfriend…does things to me. Terrible things. If he ever found out I told anyone, he’d —

Splash!

“Ricky!” Ricky flopped into the pool and panicked.

“My bad, man! It’s a little slippery here,” Bronson said. “You guys should take better care of that, or someone could sue.” Somehow, Ricky felt his entrance into the water was no accident. Ricky spat out water and swam towards the ladder. Get out of my pool was all Ricky wanted to say to him. Look him dead in the eyes and banish him for good.

“No worries. Accidents happen,” Ricky said through his teeth. “I better go dry off. Never heard of a wet lifeguard on duty.” Elena laughed. Bronson turned sour. “You two enjoy the rest of your swim.”

Ricky left, and as soon as he was out of sight, Bronson hopped into the water and turned toward Elena. He lifted his hand, moved it like a solar eclipse, and slowly placed it on Elena’s innocent head.

“P — Please, Bronson. Don’t,” she pleaded. He ignored her and thrust her head beneath the surface.

A scream is hard to hear underwater, but Elena let one out and hoped someone could hear. For a split second, when the sliver of his conscience kicked it, he pulled her head up. She coughed the water out.

“What did I say about talking to other guys?”

“S — sorry, Bronson…I — I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I was just…” She caught her breath. “It’ll never happen again.”

“Better not. You might not be so lucky next time,” he said. Ricky returned with a towel and saw Elena struggle to breathe. He ran over to her.

“Elena, you good?”

“She’s fine,” Bronson responded. “Aren’t you, babe?” Elena started to shake her head no but realized her mistake and did the opposite. “We’ve had enough fun at the pool for one day. Let’s go.” Bronson held out his hand, and she took it like there was no other choice. Before she was out of sight, she looked at Ricky with eyes that screamed that familiar cry — Ayudame. Help me.

The next day at the pool, Ricky saw Elena and Bronson come back, only this time, Elena had an unnatural pink mark on her right cheek. She touched it periodically as they walked, and Bronson smacked her hand away.

“I’m sorry, Elena, but you know I had to. It was the only way you’d understand. It’ll heal soon.” They started to walk past Ricky, and Bronson clapped him on the back, “Hey, pool boy, make yourself useful and get us some towels.”

“His name is Ricky,” Elena said. As soon as she did, she put a hand over her mouth.

“We’re going swimming. Leave the towels by our stuff, Ricky, ”Bronson said, pointing to where he wanted them.

“Of course,” he said. He got them some towels and grabbed something else they didn’t ask for, but he had to. In the pool, Bronson grabbed a handful of her hair and held it up like she was a puppet on a string. Elena shut her eyes tight at the thought of what would follow. He released her hair. No more? Has it finally ended? He must’ve come to his senses, thought Elena.

Bronson gestured, “Go ahead. We came here to swim, didn’t we?” Elena couldn’t help but smile and splash in the water. She sent some towards Bronson, and they returned it back and forth. Elena swam some laps while Bronson just looked at her detached. Ricky watched the situation and was about to abandon his master plan.

She swam back towards Bronson and wrapped her arms and legs around him, “You did say we’re going swimming, and you haven’t made good on your end of that promise yet.”

“I guess I haven’t. I’ll be right behind you.” Elena turned to swim in the other direction, free as a dolphin until she could no longer move her legs. Her breathing increased, and she flailed her arms as she had no idea what was going on but needed to keep her head above the water. Behind her, Bronson had a death grip on her ankles, and she started to let out a distressed squeal while she swallowed pool water. Some of the other people became suspicious and turned towards Bronson. He noted that.

“Come on, babe! Gotta strengthen those arms if you want to be a better swimmer!” Almost everyone bought into that, as they couldn’t see what was happening beneath the surface. Bronson dug his nails into her skin and caused a tiny red streak to flow. He became like the shark tattoo he had, seeing blood in the water and wanting more. People cheered for Elena as it looked like she put all her effort into this “exercise.”

All at once, the encouragement from the crowd ceased as Ricky came out with a megaphone and yelled, “Bronson!” He let Elena go and turned to face Ricky who stood at the foot of the pool. She swam away and cried the no longer invisible tears she was all but used to.

“What do you want, pool boy?”

“Get out. Now.”

“No, thanks. I’m good.” He turned towards Elena’s direction and called after her, “Elena! Get back here! We’re not done yet!”

A new voice, older and with more authority, spoke this time. “The hell you aren’t. Get out of the pool now! This is your first and only warning!” Bronson turned while he rolled his eyes. The reality of the situation seeped in. He froze. Three L.A.P.D. officers surrounded the pool. Ricky had sent the cops the live stream video he streamed to his phone from the underwater camera he had placed earlier. Bronson was promptly handcuffed and arrested on the spot for abusive behavior. He looked at Elena with puppy-dog eyes, and for a minute, she felt bad for him. Elena never meant for this to get so out of hand. Then she thought, Screw you, Bronson. I’m free.

Ricky brought Elena a fresh towel, hydrogen peroxide, and bandages, “Thought you might need these.”

“Ricky, how did you know he was gonna do that again?”

“He’s a predictable man. After the second incident, I sensed this wasn’t a one-time thing and wanted to stop it then and there.”

“Either way, this might be cliche, but you’re my hero!

“Please, Elena, call me what I am”

“What’s that?”

Ricky Montero paused and started into the tranquil pool water while studying his reflection. The figure in the water smiled and nodded his head slowly.

“I’m a lifeguard.”