Pulling as much as he could from just his hearing, Randal could tell the rumble grew louder. He smiled weakly, a small burst he couldn’t contain. He was hit with a fresh torrent of water.

Then he allowed himself to feel, pulling himself back up to the surface, forcing his mind to return to his body and the present, allowing some of his well practiced ninja skills to rest. The salt and bamboo and cold and wet were excruciating; he pushed away the desire to moan or even scream. But the Special also felt himself slightly jostling back and forth.