We jump out of the top door and slam it shut as the grenade detonates, sending vibrations through everything.
“That’ll buy is a little time but not much,” Aiden says.
We’re on a metal catwalk spanning a rushing torrent of water. It extends to our left and slopes downward in what looks like a massive water slide, angling steeply at first, then gradually at the end.
“Okay, this is our stop.” Aiden gestures to the water below us.
“You’re kidding, right?” My voice cracks as I gape at the harrowing descent.
“I’m afraid not. There’s a boat at the bottom.”
“Is it safe?”
“This is the spillway for the dam. Wildlife pass through it all the time. If it’s safe for salmon, it should be safe for us.”
“Let’s go together.” I look at Aiden with pleading eyes.
“Okay, take my hand.”
Hand in hand, we jump from the catwalk into the spillway, and the current sweeps us off our feet. The water pushes us along, sending us over a curved edge and down the length of the slide. It’s not as smooth as a water slide, but not as bad as I feared. My pants take most of the beating on the rough cement. The descent is fast at first, but it levels out gradually until I plunge into the cold waters of the Columbia, with Aiden still by my side, holding my hand.
When we surface, Aiden swims to a small rowboat moored next to the spillway, and I follow. He hoists himself up into the boat first, then lends me a hand and heaves me over the edge. We both tumble into the bottom of the boat, our bodies intertwined and our faces inches apart. I’m still a mix of emotions, and anger and hurt courses through me, but rising above it all is this overwhelming desire to hold him close and never let go.
Aiden has a pained expression. “Zach, I’m so sorry. As soon as I left, I knew it was a mistake. I came back to get you, but they had already—”
I put a finger over his mouth. “I’ll want a full explanation later, but right now, this is what I need.”
And then I kiss him.
As our lips join, it’s filled with all the intensity of the moment. Rough and angry but also yearning and grateful. As we press our bodies together, I run my hands through his wet hair. I forget the world around me for a few seconds, and I am lost in the moment, lost in Aiden’s grasp.
We pull away from each other almost simultaneously as our gaze turns to the dam looming above. The tenuous nature of our situation comes snapping back, and reality sets in.
“Wow,” Aiden whispers.
“Yeah.” I give a hushed laugh.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me yet.” Aiden looks at me with vulnerable eyes.
“We’ll talk. But right now, let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Agreed.” Aiden sits up and grabs the oars.
I’ll set my hurt aside until we are safe. He thought he was protecting me. That much I understand, but he can’t make decisions for me. He needs to understand that before we can move forward. IhopeI can forgive him and learn to trust him again.
Aiden rows the boat downstream, away from the dam, as fast as possible but quietly. It’s not a moment too soon. On top of the dam, flashlights shine around in all directions. But we’ve made it far enough, just a dark spot in the middle of the massive Columbia River.
Aiden stops rowing and lets the current carry us. He talks in a whisper. “Let’s coast for a bit. Keep things quiet.”
“Where are we going?” I ask in a hushed tone.
“I want us to get farther downriver before we head to the west shore.”
“How on earth did you find me?”
“I got to the camp right when they captured you. I ran after you the whole way. When they drove to the dam, I saw exactly where they took you.”
I shudder at the memories of them binding my arms and throwing the bag over my head. But Aiden returned to rescue me. Iwantto forgive him, though these conflicting feelings continue to churn in my gut.
