[centre][color=6ecff6][h1]Arthur Ragnarson[/h1][/color]
[h2]Room 15/Pool[/h2][/centre]

On his fifteen length Arthur found his mind clearing of doubts and side matters; even the merest worry fading and allowing him to think objectively.  He found exercise usually helped him with this, especially cardio activities like swimming and the warmth of the water and the gentle movement of it around him helped to soothe one's soul.  Upon the sixtieth length he vaguely caught sight of another person in the pool, probably one of the other inmates, but he was too in his zone to pause and carried on, letting his mind go completely clear and to rest from the exertions of the day.

It was ten lengths after that, as he switched strokes to breast stroke from his tireless front crawl to give other muscles a time to work, that he noticed the figure under the water.  He hadn't noticed her fall into the pool and she was so still on the bottom of the pool he thought for a moment she was just staying under as long as she could, as one often would in a pool when not simply swimming.

[i]She's... drowning?[/i]

He could think of nothing else and the lack of movement from the figure only helped him draw that conclusion.  For a moment he considered whether to help or not.  If they were deliberately drowning, as would be understandable in this situation, should he not respect their wish and leave them to it?  But then, if they were not doing so deliberately, that would weigh upon him.  Guilt was not something he felt often but in this circumstances he suspected it might, for a short time anyway.  More importantly, they all needed to keep going to have any chance of getting out and this person might prove useful later on.

[color=6ecff6]"I better help then."[/color]  He took a slightly deeper breath and dived swiftly down, his strong limbs propelling him down to the girl in no time.  He recognised her from the auditorium but could not recall her name, they hadn't exactly spoken up until now.  Her eyes were closed and she looked peaceful but he nevertheless wrapped a powerful arm around her and pushed off of the swimming pool floor.  They burst up above the surface of the water and Arthur swam them both to the edge of the pool before heaving the girl, light even with her soaking wet clothes, onto dry land.

Pulling himself up after her, Arthur saw the movement of her chest signalling that she was breathing.  With a sigh he sat down, rubbing his forehead with finger and thumb.  He tried for a light comment rather than go in assuming the girl was attempting to kill herself as it was now clear that she had been deliberately staying at the bottom of the pool.

[color=6ecff6]"Seriously, if you're going to just lie at the bottom of the pool then at least put on some swimming gear.  Anyone would think you were trying to drown yourself."[/color] He laughed as unexpected relief poured into him; it was a pleasant feeling.

[color=6ecff6]"I'm Arthur. What do they call you, Miss Mermaid?"[/color]