This serial novel draft is posted weekly on Fridays. Comments are always welcome. I hope you enjoy it!
Tempest
Chapter 29
"Take off the blindfold, sweetheart." He turned and watched as she pulled the fabric up off her head, and blinked her eyes open. Shadows danced over her face from the waterfall just ahead reflecting light back into the tunnel.
"Wow. Now we know why this end is hidden," she said, stepping around him to walk up to the water. "It's beautiful." She reached out, let the water swirl over her fingers briefly before snapping them back. She glanced over her shoulder at him, grinning. "It's cold!"
He smiled at the inane comment, knowing she was close to the breaking point. They needed to catch up with the others quickly, and get some food and rest. He examined the narrow ledge on both sides of the water, and decided that the left one would be easier to navigate.
"This way," he said, holding out his hand. Charlotte took it, and he led her into the narrow passage, choosing his steps carefully.
She let go of his hand to get a better hold on the wall. Even though this was the drier side, it was still damp, the hard surface polished by years of water eroding the rock face away. He moved slowly, a few inches at a time and glanced back at her often to make sure she was okay. He should have had her go first, but there wasn't enough room now for her to pass.
"It's really slippery," she commented, her voice shaking a little. He waited for her to catch up, frowning at the tremble of her arms as she reached for the next hold. She slid her foot towards him, then moved the other to catch up, moving like a sideways inch worm. She had almost reached him when she looked up, meeting his eyes with a smile. "I think I've got it now," she said, sliding her foot forward a few more inches. She reached for the next hold that would bring her to stand beside him.
And missed.
Jake watched in horror as her arm slipped away from the wall, the momentum twisting her body and pulling her out toward the curtain of water. He lunged out with one hand and grabbed for her, but he wasn't fast enough. The water caught her, pulled her down off the ledge into the swirling depths below. She didn't even scream, and Jake stood there for a moment, stunned.
Could she have survived the fall? He looked down. It wasn't likely, but he had to get down there and see if she'd been able to get out of the current once she went under. He moved quickly along the ledge until he reached the shore, relieved when he saw that the drop wasn't as far as it had looked from the passage way. It was only about ten feet to the natural pool from the ledge they'd been on, and he scanned the water and shoreline, looking for any sign of her.
A rustling noise drew his attention a few yards to the right. He circled around cautiously, peering through the thick brush that lined the rocky beach.
"Charlotte?" He stepped around the last bush, and saw her, laying on the ground, her skin pale and her mouth blue. He rushed to her side, quickly feeling her limbs for any sign of broken bones. She was shivering violently, and he knew he had to get her warm before hypothermia set in. "Can you stand?" He felt bad for even asking, but they had to catch up to the others, and if she kept moving, it might keep her warm enough until they could make a fire.
She nodded. "I th--th-ink s-s-s-so." She pushed up to a sitting position, then took his offered hands and stood shaking in front of him. He pulled his shirt off over his head.
"Here - take off your shirt, and put mine on." He watched as she tried to get her shirt off, but couldn't manage through the tremors. He took it off for her, then helped her put his on. He draped an arm around her shoulder and started walking, pulling her along with him.
"We need to keep moving - it will keep you warmer."
She nodded, stumbling beside him as they made their way along the bank to where the river picked up speed again. He looked at her face, noting with satisfaction that the color was starting to return. A good sign. If they could catch up with the rest of the group, they could make a fire and bed down for the night. Then tomorrow, they could get off this damn mountain and send in the troops to save Adrienne and capture her father once and for all.
A twig snapped loudly behind them, making Charlie jump. Jake spun around, expecting to come face to face with a bear, or Winter's men. He frowned when the identity of the person who stepped out from behind a large tree finally registered in his brain.
1 comments:
Poor Charlie, you just can't give her a break, can you? :-)
Good thing I only have to wait till Friday to find out who's coming!
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