CHAPTER 20 #2
“Hey!” Her other fist pounds on my back. “That’s cheating. You can’t― ow, fuck!”
“Sorry babe, almost done,” I laugh as she curses, not normally one to drop an f-bomb. I secure the compression bandage and line two sticks up with her wrist, using zip ties to create something resembling a splint. “There you go.”
She rips her arm away fuming.
“Stop it, right now,” she snaps. “This whole self-sacrificial thing, it’s done, it’s over. We both need to sleep, we both need to eat. If you keep treating me with these kid gloves, we will never make it out of this forest.”
“Astrid, it’s fine.” I shrug it off. “I wasn’t tired. It’s―”
“Nope,” she interjects.
“What―”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Oh, come on―”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
She turns away. I take a deep breath. She’s right. I could maybe win this fight if I had a full night’s sleep, but fatigue slows my thoughts.
“I’m sorry.” I sit on the ground. “You’re right.”
“Maybe I do want to hear it.” She faces me, surprised that I’m not pushing back harder.
“I would kick your ass if you did the same to me.” I drag my fingers through my hair.
They catch on the tangles and matts that have set in during our camping trip.
“I’ve been so focused on you that I’m starting to slip.
I’m going to make a mistake, you’re going to get hurt. It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault.”
“Shh,” Astrid hushes me. “You’re not thinking straight. Take a nap, you’ll feel better with some sleep.”
She zips me into the sleeping bag, and my eyelids close of their own volition. I feel her lips on my forehead, and it might just be my imagination, but I swear I smell the last remnants of her shampoo. As I fade asleep, I dream of soft hair, peaches, and honey.
Astrid wakes me after a few hours. I groggily roll up the sleeping bag as she hands me a granola bar. We should save these, we don’t know when we’ll get more food. I’ll put mine back. But Astrid gives me a look and I quietly eat breakfast.
“He had a satellite phone.” I set it in front of her. “I don’t know what to do with it.”
“Duh, let’s call someone.” Astrid fiddles with the phone, disappointed when it won’t turn on. I hold up the battery but slide it back in my pocket before she can grab it.
“It could be tracked,” I warn. “They could ping our location, read our texts, see what number we call… I’m worried they’ll intercept us before help can arrive.”
“Do we have a choice?” Astrid sighs, looking up at the rain clouds forming in the skies. “We can’t stay out here indefinitely.”
“I know.” I stab the dirt with a stick. “It’s all just fucking impossible.”
“We have to try something, Sparks.” The Water Weaver persona comes out, confident and assured. I wonder how much of her conviction is an act. “Give me the battery, let’s open a map.”
We huddle around the phone as Astrid slots the battery in, quickly navigating to the GPS.
I scratch the coordinates in the dirt as Astrid zooms in on the map, looking for nearby towns.
According to the phone, we are in Eastern Pennsylvania.
How did we get this far from Massachusetts?
It looks like we’ve been heading roughly east the past few days.
“Look, if we continue east, we’ll run into this town – Riverdeep Pass.”
“That’s where they expect us to go,” I counter. “There’s another town to the southeast, just a little bit further – Birch Rapids. I think that’s the better option.”
“If you’re sure…” Astrid hands the phone to me as I dial Derek’s private number. Please pick up. Please pick up.
“Hello,” a familiar gruff voice sounds.
“Birch Rapids, Pennsylvania.” I talk quickly, trying to hold back my panic. The phone has been on too long, they’re going to catch up to us. “We are en route and need an evac. ETA tonight or tomorrow morning.”
“Birch Rapids,” Derek confirms. He knows I can’t talk long, we’ve trained for this. I can hear both relief and concern in his voice. “I’m coming, be careful.”
“Ignore the incoming text.” A partial idea crosses my mind. “Birch Rapids.”
Before he can respond, I end the call. I shoot off a quick text – Riverdeep Pass, Pennsylvania. Send help. Then I rip out the battery.
“Wait, the text was wrong,” Astrid interjects.
“I know.” I smirk. “That’s not for Derek. He knows, Birch Rapids.”
“You sneaky bitch,” Astrid laughs. “Let’s hope that buys us some time.”
We quickly gather our supplies, wanting to get far away from where the phone pinged from. Astrid takes the backpack before I can sling it over my shoulders. Still cradling her arm, she leads the way southeast.
Half an hour later, a helicopter hovers above the tree line. We duck beneath some denser foliage and sit horrified as four men slide down a rope onto where we camped. The phone was definitely tracked.
“Come on,” I grab Astrid’s hand and we dart between trees, trying to stay obscured from the circling helicopter above. Thankfully, it looks like my diversion worked, and the team focused on searching toward the east. Either way, we don’t want to be any closer than we need to be.
The sun is high in the sky when we come across a valley, with a swift-moving river cutting through.
Rocks line the shore and also jut out from within the rapids.
The water breaks around these blockages, releasing a spray of white foam.
Small saplings pop up here and there, thriving in the riverbed.
Astrid visibly relaxes and kneels at the shoreline, splashing water on her face. She moans euphorically.
“The water is so cold.” She dunks her head below the surface, before whipping her hair back, sending cold rivulets flying. “Babe, you have to feel this.”
“I’m okay.” I stand back, wearily eyeing the coursing water.
“Sparks, I love you, but you smell,” Astrid teases. “I know this because I also smell. Come rinse off.”
“I don’t do water.” It’s taunting me, begging me to slip and fall in.
“You do me.” She smirks, waving me toward the bank. “Now get over here.”
I crouch and creep toward the malicious torrent.
I lean over and scoop some water with my palm, holding my breath as the water wets my face.
My hand trembles as I reach for a second.
Astrid doesn’t notice my apprehension, basking in the cooling sensation the river provides.
She dives in, happily splashing in the current.
“Let me help you in.” She wades back to me, eyes sparkling from the water’s reflections. “I’ll slow the rapids slightly so you can have fun too.”
“I’m content staying on dry land.”
“We have to cross the river regardless, Birch Rapids is past the rapids.” Astrid gestures downwards.
She’s right. Sparks, pull yourself together. Get in the fucking river.
I take her hand and carefully step off the bank.
The river comes up past my waist. Though Astrid has slowed the current as promised, the river still pulls at my ankles, threatening to drag me under at a moment’s notice.
Which it does. The rocks slip beneath my feet, and my arms flail as the current pulls me under.
All at once, I am transported back to that December night.
Sinking into the ocean deep. Hair billowing toward the surface.
The moonlight glinting off the handcuffs piercing my skin, until the depths of the water block all light and the world fades to black.
I’m going to drown. I’m dying. Strong arms drag me upwards, but it’s too late, it’s too late!
As soon as my lungs take in a breath of air, I’m already shrieking. Astrid’s look of elation turns to shock, and then alarm. Does she know? She’s going to drown. The river will take us both. I can’t swim, I can’t swim!
“Shhh,” Astrid desperately tries to quiet me. “Sweetie, you’re okay. You have to be quiet. Sparks, please stop.”
The water tugs at me, eagerly tugging and yanking.
It’s going to pull me back down. I writhe in Astrid’s hold.
We need to get out! With her injured wrist, she’s not strong enough to restrain me.
My arm slips free, and my elbow accidentally bangs her nose.
Her head whips back, and she momentarily loses her hold on the river.
The current overtakes me, and I am back under the fray.
It’s stronger now, relishing in its preemptive victory. I thrash, but it’s futile. Swimming in this torrent would be difficult even for those that know how. My body slams into a rock, and another. I choke on the water, still screeching. It’s not safe! Astrid, get out!
Her arm wraps around me, and the river slows. It’s a trap, biding its time until we let down our guards.
“Sparks, you need to stop.” She covers my mouth with her hand. “They hear you, they’re coming. Anise, stop!”
I’m dying. I’m drowning. Her powers can’t save me. I can’t save myself. Her eyes flick to the bank, terrified. She glances between me and the bank, me and the bank.
“Anise, I’m so sorry.”
Astrid pushes me back under the water. This time, she dives down with me.
I don’t know how far we’ve floated down the river, but this section is much deeper.
Astrid holds me against the river floor, lying with her chest against mine.
A globe of air surrounds our heads, but it doesn’t matter, we’re going to drown.
“I’m sorry, Anise,” Astrid whispers as tears fall down her face. She presses her hand against my mouth tightly. “Please stop screaming.”
I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. There’s no water but it doesn’t matter. I’m drowning. Astrid, I’m drowning… Astrid…