Slosh, slosh, slosh...
You're going to keep pushing through the creek until you reach the marsh. The last time you saw it, there was plenty of tall grass to hide beneath and a wider waterway to dive into. The Headmistress could spend all night sweeping the area for you and find nothing- not unless she's literally magic. This is what you keep thinking to yourself as you wade through cold, chest-deep water. The current is pushing against you the whole way, straining your tired child body to its limit. The riverbank looks far easier to wade through, but the soft leaf litter is leaving deep footprints with every step you take through it. At least this pale blue one-piece girl's swimsuit is the right outfit for the occasion.
Slosh, slosh, slosh...
After what feels like an hour of marching through water, the rough stones of the creek bottom are replaced with firmly packed riverbank. Your steps get easier by the second as the water gets shallower, barely knee-high. Wait, that can't be right... unless the last few rainless days really did dry up the marsh this badly. You take a moment to catch your breath, letting the high noon sun dry off your swimsuit. The distant hum of insect wings and the rustle of marsh grass make the situation feel almost peaceful, even if the sunlight is making your rubbery swimming cap very, very hot.
Drip... drip...
The bass rumble of a passing car brings you back to attention. Oh no, you're probably still visible from the road! You dive back down into the shallow stream and struggle to do a breast stroke while your belly scrapes along the muddy bottom. It's slow, and you're totally exhausted by the time you're behind cover, but you evade any potential pursuers... for now.
Splash!
You rise up to your knees and spit out a mouthful of marsh water and grit. Whatever beautiful wildlife is in this place, it seems like you're crashing right through it. Shivering and sore all over, you contemplate your next move. You could march right through the grass, but it is rough and likely to tear up your exposed skin. You can't exactly afford to get covered in bloody wounds, not when you're fleeing the nearest source of first aid and already covered in small scratches. Looks like you're still following the stream...
Splat, splat, splat.
Except the stream is all dried up past here. Nothing but a flat plane of mud to walk across, and still miles from civilization. At least it looks easy from here on out.
Pit, pat, pit, pat.
Huh... you're not falling through the mud. In fact, you're walking on the mud's surface as it wiggles and jiggles! It's like a soft carpet under your feet, which is a relief after hours of marching.
Pit, pat, pit, pat.
You've mostly dried off in the sun, leaving only a thin layer of dust on your swimsuit. Quietly, you thank your goggles for keeping the dirt out of your eyes. A feeling of relative calm washes over you as you walk into a wide clearing, almost enjoying this trip for the first time today.
Pit, pat...
Sbplpbt.
What? Your left foot falls through the cool mud up to your ankle. By instinct you lean back and try to pull it out!
Shlk, shlllk, ssshlllpt!
The riverbed resists that desperate tugging until you pop loose like a champagne cork. You take a step back onto what you assumed was solid ground- what you walked on like solid ground only a moment ago- only to fall in ankle-deep again. Shifting your weight causes you to realize your right foot also sank in while you weren't looking. With a groan, you struggle to lift your legs and get out of this muddy spot.
Sshlpt, splat, sshlpt, splat.
You make it a few more steps before your exhausted body gives out. Every single movement in this mud pit is a titanic effort. You fall backwards again and land on your butt, leaving the muddy surface wobbling while you take deep breaths. When you think you're ready you stand up again, now stuck up to your shins. Pulling your legs only budges them slightly before the mud yanks them right back into its chilly embrace, pushing them down past the kneecaps. Flexing your toes to find some hard surface to push off of causes you to realize they're locked in a rock-hard shell of packed earth.
Gloop, schloop, gloop.
Wait a minute. This is quicksand!
Gloop, gloop, gloop!
"Rrrrgh! Rrrrf!" Your struggling and squirming increases as panic grips your heart. You know the smartest thing to do would be standing still, but you're five years old and you're scared. As you sink down to your thighs and the bottom of your swimsuit starts to get muddy, you decide you'd rather be caught than drown. "HELP!"
Glorp, schlop, sink...
"HELP! I'M STUCK!" Your descent slows slightly after you sink past your hips, if only because it's getting harder for you to move. The pressure on your legs is intense, yet somehow soft and chill while the sun still beats down on you. If your life wasn't in danger, this might actually feel nice. You toss from side to side, hoping to create even a sliver of wiggle room.
Glorrrrp, schloooop, siiiink...
"ANYONE! I'M STUCK AND I'M SINKING! R-rrrgh! Nnnngh!" You find yourself gasping for breath as the quicksand presses down on your chest. "Nnh-NNNH!"
Glorrrrp... schloooop... siiiink...
Nobody's seeing your wildly waving arms. While the mud creeps up over your shoulders, you desperately paddle at the surface in an attempt to push your body forward... or backward... or any direction but down. It doesn't take more than two or three strokes for your arms to be hopelessly pinned to your sides. The muddy surface begins to brush your chin as you thrash what little remains of your neck and head, slinging particles of mud all over. "Help," you call out even through weakening resolve. "Nnn... nnf. Nnnnnnnf..."
Schlllp... glllrk... schlllp...
"Somebobbblbp! Blubblb! PFFT! SOMEBODY!" Watery quicksand invades your mouth, forcing you to crane your neck up to the sky just for one more moment of fresh air. The sounds of the marsh are muted as your ears are covered up, leaving you as nothing more than a face framed by earth- soon to be even less. "HELP! HELP! HELGLLBLLBLLbllgll... nnngh... nngllbllbll..." As the mud closes around your eyes, the small crater where you once stood fills in with silty, watery mud, leaving a flat surface as if you were never there. This... is completely ridiculous. You wonder what's even causing you to sink so rapidly. It's not fair... this can't be the end. Is it?
Blubblubbulbblubblub...
"..."
Blup.