Chapter 49: Downstream Shadows Lucas POV

Before we could fully breath, the cold water sucked us under and swallowed us whole. The current was unrelenting, rushing all around me with such force that it seemed pointless to fight. The sound of the river rushing was so loud that my lungs burned as I fought to break the surface.

"Anna!" I yelled, but my voice was lost in the water.

The world was a frantic haze of raging waves and brief flashes of the moon. I frantically searched for her, my arms flailing as I tried to keep my head above water. Her dark hair bobbed in the water just ahead, but fear gnawed at me when I couldn't see her.

"Anna!" My voice was hoarse as I called again.

Her eyes were wide with fright but alive as she turned her head. I needed no more support than that. My muscles screamed as I paddled toward her, fighting the water.

She shouted, "I'm here!" over the roar of the water, her words barely audible.

We were carried more quickly than I had expected by the river's twists and turns. Like sharp fangs, rocks protruded from the surface, and I barely escaped colliding with one. Anna was not as fortunate; I watched her scream as the river forced her up against a rock.

"Wait a minute!" The sound of my own urgency was disturbing as I yelled.

I caught her wrist before she could be swept away again, arriving just as the river turned sharply. As we allowed the water to pull us farther downstream, she clutched me while shaking and coughing.

The river finally settled after what seemed like an age. I could see a shallow bank ahead as the water's noise lessened and the stream eased.

"There!" Gasping for breath, I pointed. "We must reach the shore."

Anna nodded feebly, her face cold and white with tiredness. As we crawled onto firm ground, the muddy dirt beneath us was a wonderful relief as we paddled together toward the bank.

I tried to recover my breath and fell onto my back, chest heaving. Anna wiped damp hair from her face and followed suit, her arms shaking.

"We succeeded," she said in a tremulous tone.

"Hardly," I said, looking around us in the shadowy trees.

There was enough light in the morning to observe the damage. My side was still bleeding from the last fight, and Anna's shoulder was scraped raw by the rock. We were still living, but we were a mess.

I sat up after a little while, squirming as my ribs started to hurt. "These wounds must be treated before an infection develops."

Biting her lip, Anna forced herself to stand up and looked at her shoulder. "Do you believe that we are sufficiently distant from him?"

Though I wasn't sure, I nodded. We had traveled far on the river. Even Kane is capable, but he cannot follow us through water like that. Right now, we're okay.

Relief flashed across her face as her look relaxed. "All right. Since I don't believe I can run anymore."

I made an effort to grin. "Anna, you did well back there. We were saved because of you."

There was a gleam of surprise in her eyes as they met mine. "I thought you would be upset. You told me to run, but I didn't."

"Angry?" I turned my head away. "If you hadn't stayed, I would have died."

There was a great deal of pressure and unspoken thanks in the heavy quiet between us. I broke the moment by clearing my throat. "Let's find something to use to mend ourselves."

Scavenging the shore, we found several robust vines and a few broad leaves. It wasn't much, but it would be sufficient.

I knelt next to her and put my arm around her shoulder, saying, "Hold still." I winced sympathetically as I tied the makeshift bandage, and she flinched. "I apologize. I'm trying to be nice."

Gritting her teeth, she replied, "It's okay. I've experienced worse."

With my hands hanging over the knot, I paused. "From whom?"

Her eyes averted, and I instantly felt bad for asking. She whispered, "It doesn't matter."

As I tied off the bandage, I mutely commented, "It does to me."

I didn't press, and she didn't answer. Instead, I took a seat and started to bandage my own wound, albeit clumsily and awkwardly.

She pulled the vine from my grasp and said, "Here. Give me a chance."

As she worked, her brow wrinkled in focus, her touch firm but cautious. Her hands trembled slightly as I watched her, my chest constricted as I saw the tiredness etched into her face.

"You realize you're stronger than you believe?" I spoke quietly.

She looked up with surprise. "What?"

"Anna, despite everything you've been through, you're still standing. That requires courage."

She opened her mouth as though to argue but then shut it, making her face unclear.

She finally mumbled, "Thank you," in a voice barely above a whisper.

For a long while, the only sound we heard as we sat was the soft lap of the river. A bone-deep tiredness was replacing the joy.

"What now?" she said, her voice a little shaky.

My thoughts were racing as I gazed at the dark woods. "We continue going. We find food and shelter and decide what to do next. However, we rest first."

Her shoulders drooped in relief as she nodded. "All right. The rest sounds great."

With my dagger sitting on my lap, I stood guard while she leaned back against a tree, her eyes fading closed. It was still dawn, but I kept thinking that we weren't alone.

I gripped the dagger tighter as I looked about the darkness. For the time being, we were safe from Kane, but I knew he would not give up until he found us.

And I would be prepared when he did.