“There is a path through the woods, and it leads to the river. Cross the bridge to the other side and there will be a raft to take you upstream. I have sent message to my cousin who lives on the other side. You just have to cross the bridge. Once you get to the raft, you will almost be safe.”
“We cannot thank you enough,” Elaina squeezed Katy's hand as James patted Richard’s shoulder.
“Thank you for helping us.”
Katy squeezed something into Elaina’s hand. “I’m sorry. Because of the suddenness of it all, we were not able to take anything from your house. This is all we have. I hope this helps.”
“Thank you so much, thank you,” Elaina lowered her head in appreciation.
Katy shrugged off her cloak and wrapped it around Elaina. She whispered, “Please stay safe, for your sake and for the little one you are carrying. Do not give up.”
“You have to leave now!” Richard said in a shout whisper.
Elaina and James made it to the boundaries of the town and slipped into the forest. As they ran through, Elaina’s heart pounded in her chest. James’ hand was interlocked with hers and he kept squeezing her hand in reassurance. Her worries and fears from that morning flooded Elaina. She blinked back tears. She had been right to worry. It was like she had known what was coming deep down. The happiness they had shared in this town, it had been shattered. They had to get through this!!
She winced as she stumbled over a tree branch. James caught her before she could hit the dirt.
“I’m sorry, James. I’m slowing us down,” she whispered, fighting back tears.
“Don’t say that, my love. We are getting out of this alive so don’t dare propose I leave you behind. Now, come on. I’ve got you, my dear.”
Just as they picked themselves up to continue, a flood of lights filtered through the dense forest, coming from the direction of the town they had just left behind. Voices reached them.
“The reports said they came this way. If she is pregnant like they say, they can’t have gone far. Check every single corner! We can’t let them get away!”
A horrified Elaina glanced at James who pulled her into a hug and whispered, “We are almost there. We just have to get through the woods. Remember that, my love.”
As they moved through the forest, as quickly as their legs could carry them, the skies opened and the rain thundered through the forest. They were grateful for the rain as it helped delay their pursuers but at the same time, it clouded the moon which had just started to peek out from behind the cloud. Seeing their way through the forest was not easy work. Ironically, at intervals, they had to rely on the distant light from their pursuers.
Drenched and shivering, the couple made it out of the forest to find the riverbank overflowing due to the rain. The bridge was almost submersed in the water. Gently, they stepped onto the rickety bridge and started the awful walk. Under their weight, and the force of the wind, the bridge swung like a swing. James led the way, holding Elaina’s hand tightly. As he moved, he felt around for the good parts with his feet. And then, led her forward once he was sure it was secure.
They were halfway across the bridge when the lights of the soldiers emerged from the forest. The couple crouched low immediately. It would be easier for them to be seen now since it was an open area. They could only hope that the rain servedas a good enough cover. Still, they needed to keep moving under the cover of dark and the rain. Any longer and it would be too late. This was the thought that ran through their heads as gently, they moved across the bridge in lowered postures.
Elaina winced as they moved further. She could feel a sharp pain in her stomach and all she could hope was that her baby was fine despite all they were going through. James squeezed her hand reassuringly and she inhaled deeply, trying to push back the hysteria.
“We will get out of this, my dear. We are almost there,” James whispered. He nodded forward and Elaina followed his eyes. She managed a small sigh of relief when she saw they were almost at the end of the bridge. That meant they would be at the raft soon. The rain was still heavy but it would be favorable to them. It would provide the current they needed to go upstream.
“There they are!!” a voice thundered through the air. Soldiers marched toward them and Elaina’s hand protectively flew to her belly. The bridge swung precariously from the weight of the newcomers.
“You have to jump, there is no other way,” James whispered in alarm.
“No! I am not leaving you behind. We leave together or we don’t go at all.”
“I need you to trust me, my love. I need you to be safe. If we are both caught here, who knows what Grimsson will do when he finds out you are pregnant from me? He will hurt you and the baby!”
“We aren’t sure about that. The only thing we are sure of is that he will hurt you! I am not leaving you behind.”
“He needs me to get to you, my love. He will keep me alive long enough, for me to escape and come for you. Get to the safespot. I promise I’ll come for you. Let me delay them!”
“No! No! I don’t want you to!” Elaina cried.
“Trust me, my love.” He whispered. “Live well, for me, for yourself and for our baby! Love again!”
Before Elaina could comprehend anything, he shoved her into the water. The cold enveloped her and her eyes flew open and she struggled to stay afloat. She gasped as up on the bridge, James was beaten by the soldiers.
“James! No!” she cried but her voice was lost to the wind.
She was trying hard to fight the current but it was taking her farther away from her love. Elaina’s eyes widened as she watched Grimsson emerge from among the soldiers. He lifted a gun and she screamed.
