The river tossed us like rag dolls, with its current being merciless and unyielding. Each time I broke the surface, my lungs gasped for air, only for icy torrents to crash over me again, dragging me back into the depths. My fingers throbbed, raw from clinging to Tristan's hand, but letting go was not an option. If I lose him here, I'll drown even if I survive.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of struggle, the turbulent waters flung us onto jagged rocks, the impact jarring my body. Tristan's arm encircled me, like a protective shield against the worst of the chaos, as he fought valiantly to pull us from the water's clutches. My chest burned and my lungs screamed for air, but somehow, we clawed our way onto the muddy bank, slick and unyielding.
I collapsed onto the cold earth, the damp ground pressing against me, as I coughed violently, each spasm sending sharp pangs through my ribs. The night sky spun above me, a canvas draped in a tapestry of shimmering stars, illuminated by the ethereal glow of the moon.
"Ellie," Tristan's voice emerged, ragged yet urgent, as he rolled me onto my side and pressed his palm against my back with a comforting firmness. "Breathe. Come on, breathe."
"I, I'm fine," I wheezed between coughs, though my body trembled uncontrollably. My clothes clung heavily to me, waterlogged and cold, while bruises began to blossom on my skin, but I was alive, nd we both were.
-
A wave of relief crashed over me, leaving me unsteady and weak in the knees. I pulled Ellie close, my heart racing as the adrenaline from the river's grip gradually faded. Her lips were icy, and her skin was ghostly pale, but, oh dear God, her eyes still burned with fierce determination.
"I told you not to hesitate," I murmured, trying to mask the terror that clawed at my chest and left me feeling hollow.
Her shaky laugh broke the tension, a defiant note against the dark. "You also told me to jump into a river." Even now, in the depths of despair, she radiated fire.
My reckless, maddening, impossible girl.
I scanned the shadows looming around us, the trees standing like dark sentinels on either side of the riverbank. There was no sign of Edward, no sign of anyone. We were alone and utterly exposed. "They'll be looking for us really soon," I said grimly, my voice barely above a whisper. "We need to move now before they start to track us down."
Ellie's hand tightened around mine, small hand yet fierce, and it felt like a lifeline in this chaos. "Then let's move, together," she said firmly.
The word resonated deeply within me, striking a chord of vulnerability that I rarely allowed myself to feel. "Yes, together," I continued.
Even at this moment, she knew I didn't deserve her trust, especially after dragging her into this mess; yet, she offered it freely. I vowed never to let her regret that trust.
-
A sudden crack of branches echoed in the distance, and my heart sank, icy fingers of fear gripping my spine. Were they already here?
Tristan pulled me close, his warmth enveloping me, and his body serving as a shield against the encroaching darkness as his eyes scanned the shadows. With practised ease, he drew his gun, his hands steady despite the tremor in his soaked clothes.
The sound came again, and this time, it was closer. My grip tightened around the knife I had somehow managed to hold onto, its hilt slick with water.
Tristan's voice dropped to a whisper, filled with a deadly calm. "If it's them, we run. If we can't run," He met my gaze with unwavering tenderness, his resolve heavy in the air. "Then we fight."
I nodded, feeling a mix of fear and determination tightening in my chest. The footsteps drew closer, and the night seemed to wrap around us like a suffocating cloak, and I steeled myself for whatever lay ahead.