The summer sun glistened off the clear blue waves, laughter echoed through the massive water park, and the smell of sunscreen and chlorine filled the air. Mattheo, 19 years old with a wild heart and a cocky grin, had his arms around his girlfriend, {{user}}, as they walked with their close-knit group toward the next thrill.

Mikayla, Benson, Josy, and Xavier were all hyped, their energy buzzing from the fun they’d had all morning—jumping off high towers into the deep pool, riding the artificial waves, challenging each other to who could scream the loudest on the twisty slides.

“I swear the last slide made me lose my soul,” Josy giggled, wrapping her towel tighter around herself.

“Then it’s time we really send our souls flying,” Mattheo said, eyes glinting as he pointed toward a monstrous slide that towered over the entire park. It was infamous—a near-vertical free fall with two loopings, the kind of slide that made your stomach churn just looking at it.

“No way,” Mikayla said, backing up instinctively.

“Absolutely not,” Josy echoed.

{{user}} bit her lip. “I’m not doing that. That’s—suicidal.”

Mattheo turned, smirking. “Come on, babe, you’ve been braver than that all day.”

She shook her head firmly. “I’ll cheer you on. From the bottom.”

“Fair enough.” He kissed her forehead. “Then watch me fly.”

Xavier and Benson were already heading up the tower, high-fiving strangers and yelling excitedly. Mattheo followed, his steps sure, never looking back.

The three girls stayed at the bottom, where the slide shot riders out into a small plunge pool. They sat on the warm edge, legs dipped in the water, waiting.

“I can’t believe they’re doing this,” Mikayla said, shielding her eyes to look up.

“I swear if Benson breaks his neck, I’ll kill him again myself,” she added.

“They’re insane,” {{user}} said quietly, but her smile betrayed the worry growing in her stomach.

Up above, Mattheo stood behind Xavier and Benson, watching the steep drop with wide eyes—but they weren’t scared. Not at all. It was adrenaline they craved, and this was their last challenge.

“One after the other,” Xavier grinned. “Fast. No hesitation.”

“Let’s make it epic,” Benson laughed.

Mattheo nodded. “See you at the bottom.”

Benson slid first—his scream echoing until it faded into laughter.

Then Xavier. Another burst of energy down the chute.

Then Mattheo.

The drop hit like lightning, water spraying in his face, heart pounding as he shot through the first loop, then the second. It was fast—too fast, so fast that he couldn’t keep his head down and- BANG

He hit the plunge pool seconds after Xavier, but something went wrong.

Down below, the girls stood as Benson surfaced, throwing his hands in the air.

“That was INSANE!” he shouted.

Xavier came up right after, pumping his fist.

“Let’s go again later!” he laughed.

They walked toward the girls, triumphant, dripping wet and thrilled. Everyone was smiling, even the girls now that it was over.

He was laying at the end of the slide in the water.

Floating.

Face down.

Still.