Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 87909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
I drop my chin to my chest and squeeze my eyes shut, knowing that this is the end for me. I’m going to die. The tears continue to fall, and I don’t even bother to wipe them away. My body shakes, shivering uncontrollably as the icy rain comes down harder.
Harsh wind and rain pound against my already beaten body. It’s all I feel, all I can hear… until there is something else. It’s like a whisper through the trees, a small light in the darkness. I brush it off, not wanting to plant a seed of hope.
Aspen… I can almost hear Quinton calling my name. Maybe I’m going insane. Or I’m already dead, and this is hell. Quinton won’t come for me. Then I hear it again. This time it’s clearer than before.
“Aspen!” a voice booms through the storm, and adrenaline pumps in my veins again at the thought of a rescue. I try to move, pushing away from the tree, but the numbness in my legs makes it impossible, and I end up on my side on the wet ground.
Fear of them missing me zips down my spine, and I yell out against the wind, “I’m here. I’m right here.”
Fat drops of rain pelt my face, but I continue to stare in the direction of the voice. I spot a flash of light through the trees and lift my arms, flailing them so that I’m seen.
The light moves, and it looks like it’s coming toward me.
Oh, god. I’ve been found. I’m being rescued.
“Aspen?” The voice that says my name connects to an image in my mind, and I look up as he points the flashlight in his hand down at my face.
Quinton.
“Fuck… Are you okay? Can you walk?”
I shake my head, still shocked he’s standing here in front of me. Maybe this is a dream?
He drops to his haunches so he can look me in the eye. His deep voice garners my attention, and when his fingers grasp my chin, I almost melt into his hand. “I know you’re in shock and probably hurt, but we need to move fast, or we’re gonna freeze to death.”
All I can do is shake my head slightly. I know we’re going to freeze because I’m halfway there already.
“The truck I drove out here broke down, but if we can make it back, we’ll at least have shelter for the night.”
He came, but why? I don’t quite piece together what he’s saying. My thoughts are sluggish, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around him being here. Part of me can’t believe it, not with the way things ended between us.
“Why did you come?” I ask, needing to know more than I need shelter or to be saved.
If he only came out here to save me just so he can turn around and hurt me, then I’ll gladly stay out here in the wild and die. At least I’ll die with my dignity.
A shadow covers half his face, making it difficult for me to see what he’s thinking. “We have time to talk about this later. Right now, we need to get out of here. Can you walk or do I need to carry you? Wait… Did the pilot make it?” he peppers me with questions.
“No, he’s dead, and there’s no way I’ll make it to the truck. I’m pretty sure my leg is broken. It’s numb from sitting here the whole time, but every time I move it, pain slices through it and up my spine.”
“Fuck!” Quinton curses and looks around, shining his flashlight over the airplane rubble and through the trees. “Well, there’s nowhere for us to stay out here tonight, and the truck isn’t far. I think even if I have to carry you the distance, it’ll still be worth it. The worst thing we can do is stay out in the elements.”
I don’t like the idea of him having to carry me the entire way, but there isn’t much I can do about it. It’s being carried or stay out here, and with the rain picking up, that’s kind of the last place I want to be.
“Come on, let me carry you. We won’t get anywhere if I have to help you walk.”
“Thanks,” I huff sarcastically.
I bite my lip to stifle a scream of pain as we work together to get me to my feet, not realizing how hard I’ve bitten it until the copper taste of blood hits my tongue. My chest heaves, the numbness in my leg is now gone, and all I feel are tiny pricks of pain radiating up and down my leg.
“I’m sure you’re in a lot of pain, but are you okay?”
I’m not sure what to make of his question. He’s never cared if I’m okay, but it seems now the seriousness of this situation has changed his outlook.