Chapter 71: Swept Away

Ellie

Hitting the water had felt like slamming into a concrete sidewalk from two stories above. Ellie's back hurt so badly, she could barely stand it, but she didn't have time to worry about that now as the rapids from the river washed her downstream.

Ellie had always been a good swimmer, but now, with the water rushing at her so quickly, and the breath knocked out of her, she was doing everything she could just to keep her head above water. From time to time, she'd slam into a large rock or a huge tree branch, losing her breath again and suffering scrapes and what were sure to be dark bruises.

The current was moving so quickly, she didn't think it was possible for her to make her way to the side of the river, to the shore, especially since the river ran through a ravine here, where the sides of the shore were so high she would have to climb out. For now, she just continued to fight to keep her head above water and fill her lungs with air the best she could as she tried to go around t