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 brokethrough 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.
