“Kyle!” Quickly retracing her steps, Nyla emerged beside the creek to find Kyle had slipped and fallen into the water. His foot was stuck between two large boulders as water crashed over him, pushing his face below the surface. Struggling to stay afloat, he gasped for air, but the cold water blasted over his nose and mouth.
Zhaviel stood beside him, feet in the creek, burlap robe soaked, and club in hand. He cast a look of sorrow at Ranoss.
“She asked that no harm be done him,” Ranoss shouted at his friend.
Zhaviel snorted. “Aye, and for that, I thank the Almighty, for I merely gave him a shove. Hence, his foot is only sprained, and he will live.”
Ranoss smiled. “Hopefully long enough to give his life to the Commander.”
“Indeed.” Zhaviel shoved his club back in his leather belt.
Ranoss glanced at Nyla. “Now, let us see what she does.”
???
“Kyle!” Nyla wasted no time navigating the boulders to where her brother was trapped. Kneeling on the closest one, she crammed one foot between two sturdy rocks and stretched a hand out to Kyle. “Grab hold!”
Water blasted so hard over his face, he could not answer, yet the confusion and terror in his eyes was unmistakable. His head fell beneath the water for a moment before he forced it back up again and gasped for air. He could not continue this way. Sooner or later, exhaustion would win and he’d drown.
“Kyle!” Nyla shouted over the mad rush of water. “Grab my hand!”
Finally, he let out a loud groan and thrust his hand into hers.
Bracing her weight against the boulder beside her, Nyla leaned forward and gripped his arm with both hands. Icy water soaked her jeans and dampened her belly as it dipped into the creek. With all her might, she pulled, yanking him from the force of the waterfall. He reached around her waist and clung to her like a lifeline. His gasps filled her ears. His wet clothing soaked through hers to her skin.
She embraced him, happy to hold her little brother again. “It’s all right, Kyle. It’s all right. Now, I need you to wiggle your foot, see if you can free it from the boulders.” She wasn’t sure whether that would work or how stuck it was, but at the moment, she could think of nothing else to do. She couldn’t let go of him to help or he’d fall back into the water, and one small move of her own might send them both tumbling into the creek. Still clinging tightly to her, he moved his foot and let out a scream of pain. He jiggled it again, groaning. Finally, his body tightened, and he jerked his leg. “Uhggg!”
The foot came free. He fell backward. Nyla gripped him again, but he thrust his good foot into the dashing water and shoved her away. Then placing both hands on the boulder beside them, he leapt onto it. At first, he lay there on his stomach, breathing so hard, Nyla could hear it over the torrent.
She, too, freed her foot and climbed onto the boulder beside his. Now what? Should she run? She searched for his Glock, but it must have fallen into the creek. Still, he was her enemy, or rather, the demons who controlled him were. But he was also her brother and always would be. Oh, how she wished, how sheprayed, he’d come to the Lord before it was too late.
Pushing against the boulder, he turned to face her. Water dripped from his dark hair onto a ripped NWU Reformation Security uniform, decorated with several pins and patches. A gash across his forehead oozed blood. His dark eyes searched hers as if he hardly recognized her.
“You’ve done well for yourself in the NWU, sergeant.” She gestured toward his insignia.
He swallowed hard. “Yeah, they’ve been good to me.” He hesitated, still catching his breath. “Why?”
Bringing her hair over her shoulder, Nyla wrung it out. “How do I know why they’ve been good to you? Probably ’cause you’ve killed a lot ofDeviants,” she spat out, though instantly regretted her tone. Now was not the time to argue.
He snorted, his lips flattening. “No. I meant why did you save me?” He glanced at the rushing water. “You could have left me to drown and gone free.”
“You’re my brother.”
“Am I? Is that why you betrayed me?”
“I didn’t—”
“I’m bringing you in.” He pressed the compiece in his ear, then cussed.
Nyla smiled. Waterlogged. Good. He couldn’t call for help. In fact, with what might be a sprained foot and no weapon, Nyla doubted he’d be bringing her anywhere. “Whatever, Kyle. Let me look at your foot first. Take off your boot.”
Confusion twisted his expression, but he did as she requested, moaning with each pull of the tall leather boot.
Once his foot was freed, Nyla gently moved it back and forth, ignoring his moans. “Quit being a baby. It’s only sprained.” She smiled up at him. “But we’ll have to stop that bleeding.” She nodded to the gash on his forehead.
Kyle reached up to touch it, unaware of his injury until that moment.
Nyla struggled to rise.
