Chapter 20 The Present
THE PRESENT
AMELIA
A dream so perfect drifted through my mind, wrapping around me like a warm embrace. A grassy, flowery meadow spread out in front of me, vibrant colors dancing together under a sky painted in soft pink and lavender hues.
The gentle symphony of birdsong floated through the air, carried by a softened wind that whispered secrets of serenity. In this moment, tranquility claimed my soul.
Lillian sat beside me, her face smooth and glowing, radiating warmth and familiarity. Her hair cascaded down her back in luscious waves, and she smiled, her fingers brushing against my hand with a tenderness that sent a shiver of comfort through me.
My mother occupied the space next to her, transformed from the shadowy figure I had clung to in my memories. Her once-dull hair shimmered with health, and a vibrant smile lit her lips. Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her skin no longer bore the creases of worry and wear.
Everything felt as it should be. Warm, safe, soothing.
I thought to myself, I could stay here forever. I never wanted to leave.
But then, something emerged from the distance, creeping toward us. The grass beneath my feet became drenched, and I watched helplessly as a stream of water raced around us, swallowing everything in its path.
“No!” I cried, but it was futile. The water surged, pulling them away from me, leaving me alone in the cold, wet expanse of the meadow.
“Amelia.”
A whisper brushed against my ear, soft yet insistent.
“Amelia.”
This time, the voice was louder. My body trembled, a chill wrapping around me like a shadow. I felt so cold. So very cold.
My eyes snapped open, and I found myself face to face with Caiden. A startled scream escaped my lips, echoing in the darkness. My mind was a muddled haze, struggling to grasp the reality of my surroundings.
“Amelia! Calm down. Jesus. You’re alive. You’re okay.”
Caiden’s voice attempted to soothe me, but instead, it only heightened my panic.
“Calm down? Seriously?” The memories rushed back like a tidal wave. “We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere! I’m cold, I’m wet, and my head feels like it’s about to explode! How am I supposed to feel okay?”
“I know,” he snapped, frustration lacing his words. “I’m going to get us out of here. Just calm down. I can’t think when you’re freaking out like a girl.”
Pure adrenaline coursed through me, igniting a fire I couldn't contain.
I sprang up and shoved my palm against his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath my fingers.
“I am a girl! I have every right to have a nervous breakdown right now! You must be some kind of inhuman mutant to not feel any stress in this situation.”
He shrugged, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “I guess I’m just more emotionally grown than you are.”
Seriously? He wanted to engage in this debate right now?
“I can’t believe you.” I threw my hands up in exasperation, sinking back onto the ground. I wasn’t going anywhere with him. I would wait right there until someone came to rescue us.
“You should be saying ‘thank you.’ If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be alive,” he retorted, the tension radiating from him like heat from a flame.
“What in the hell are you talking about? You’re so full of yourself, as usual.”
He shook his head, and in that moment, we resembled the river and sky caught in the eye of a storm. Pushing and pulling, raging and exploding. We swirled around one another like two wildfires, both desperate for control, yet knowing that ultimately, we would destroy each other.
“I came to consciousness before you. Your face was blue; your skin was cold. So cold. You were barely there. I had to perform CPR just to get you to cough up all the water from your lungs.”
He had just admitted that he saved me, and yet I felt a surge of anger and humiliation.
“You should’ve just left me to die,” I muttered, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. A part of me meant it; the dream I had was so perfect, so lifelike. Maybe I was suicidal, like my dead sister.
Had I been that close to crossing over to the other side? Was that glimpse of paradise a sign of heaven?
Caiden's eyes burned with anger, his nostrils flaring like a bull ready to charge. His fists clenched so tightly that the knuckles turned white.
“Yeah. Maybe I should have left you.”
His words cut deeper than any blade. Silence enveloped us, a fog that thickened the air.
There was nothing left to say; his words had drawn a sharp line through the conversation. What could I possibly say to that?
He turned his back to me, his frustration evident as he began examining our surroundings. I sat there, helplessly drained of any determination to fight our way back to civilization.
We were far from safety, that much I knew. The drive to the river from the resort had taken a few miles, and we had been in the kayaks for nearly an hour before the rain began to fall.
Caiden and I had sailed down the river in the storm for miles before hitting the waterfall. There was no telling how long we had drifted in the water before he had pulled me out.
Yep. We were doomed.
I observed our surroundings, taking in the change in the landscape. The terrain had flattened, revealing stretches of rocky soil mixed with sparse vegetation. I desperately searched for any semblance of familiarity, but everything remained unknown.
“I think I found a good path,” Caiden’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. He stood a few feet away, tossing branches aside with a determined focus, still not meeting my gaze.
“Great,” I whispered, the words barely escaping my lips. The blood felt drained from my body, leaving me still and stiff. Weariness wrapped around my spirit, and I sank onto the hard ground.
Now, he turned to face me. “Get the fuck up, Amelia.”
I remained there, speechless, my eyes fixed on the river beside me, watching the water drift lazily. The sky had opened, bathing the world in a serene quiet. Yet, deep within, I yearned to return to the dreamland of a peaceful meadow, where worries ceased to exist.
“It’s going to be dark soon. I’m going with or without you.” Caiden stated, staring at my helpless shape.
How much time had passed? I pondered, feeling as though hours had slipped away, yet the sun was merely beginning its descent, painting the sky in hues of red and orange. The colors danced together, merging like a symphony, breathtaking yet distant.
“Go without me, then.” I replied, my energy a deadened thing.
Caiden let out a noise that sounded strangled, a mix of frustration and disbelief. I didn’t care if I was being stubborn or difficult; I felt no inclination to move. Perhaps I was simply too tired, too weary. If I rested, maybe I would be more cooperative.
“Fine. Have fun by yourself.” His words were final and brisk.
Would he really leave me here?
As his footsteps began to fade, seconds stretched into an eternity. The sounds receded into the distance until all I could hear was the gentle rippling of the water and the frantic pounding of my own heartbeat. It was deafening.
I shut my eyes, the silence wrapping around me, terrifying in its stillness.
“Caiden! Wait!” I shot up, stumbling toward the last place I had seen him. A chill coursed through my body, the wind biting at my skin.
The once-familiar terrain now seemed ominous, filled with quiet anguish. The birds had silenced their songs, retreating into the dusk.
In a frantic rush, I followed the path he had taken, calling out his name repeatedly. I soon spotted him in the distance, standing with his back turned to me, waiting.
“Bastard! I can’t believe you left me!” My breath came out in uneven huffs, panic and anger swirling within me.
“I told you that I would.” He shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn’t a big deal, like we were strolling through town, not in the middle of nowhere.
Confusion crashed over me in waves. He had saved me, then he had abandoned me. He had shown a small gesture of kindness, only to retract it moments later. I wondered what it would be like to peek inside his mind. He was everywhere, a chaotic whirlwind consuming me, breaking me, tormenting me.
“Jerk,” was all I could muster.
“Come on,” he commanded, and I found myself obeying, trudging behind him as my bones grew weaker with each passing second. His pace was strong, determined, and I couldn’t help but wonder what fueled him.
As we walked, trees began to reappear, gradually surrounding us until the rushing water was no longer audible.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I inquired, doubt creeping into my voice. He didn’t have a map, had never been here before. How could he possibly be so confident?
“Nope.”
That simple confession brought me to a halt.
“Then what are we doing? We could be traveling even further from where we should be going.” My voice was hoarse, and I suddenly became acutely aware of my thirst. Each movement of my throat sent a painful reminder of my dry state.
“At least I’m trying to get us out of here. Unlike you. All you’ve done is complain and slow me down.” He spun around, his irritation bubbling.
Two could play at that game; I was grumpy too.
“At least I’m not dragging us in circles, getting even more lost,” I retorted, holding his gaze defiantly.
“You’re impossible,” he muttered, turning back around to continue onward. The shadows deepened as night encroached, moonlight scattering across the woods like a lantern’s glow.
“I don’t care what you think. I’m not going any further. I’m tired. It’s dark. I want to sleep.” There was no point in walking any longer.
Caiden sighed, looking around us as if he were searching for a solution, helpless.
“Fine. It is hard to navigate in the dark. We’ll pick it back up at the first sign of sunlight.” Caiden gave in, defeated.
I made an incoherent, irritated sound, sinking down in surrender. The bickering had grown stale, and I simply wanted to sleep.
He found a spot near me and laid down, and I followed suit, putting my arm beneath my head. It would be impossible to find comfort on this unforgiving ground.
My body ached, a chorus of complaints echoing through my muscles. As I drifted into a dreamless sleep, my last thoughts lingered on the last time Caiden and I had slept near each other.
At least in the motel, there had been the option of a bed. Now, there was no bed to fight over.