Ephemeral

Into the Woods Part 2

Aidan's POV

I gazed intently into the river that I had neglected to notice before. 

That wasn't right; I had extensively studied and researched this area that there should have been no surprises such as this one. I had made certain that nobody would have been able to  find her in this location. I had memorized this map with my own eyes, and yet it seems I had overlooked every nook and cranny that existed in this area...every river.

I was unable to look away from the body of water that had taken her.

For the first time in my life...I had been in an...unadmitted state of shock.

I should have heard its faint current with my training, even from this distance...from this elevation. It would have been child's play, it should have been blatantly obvious to me that she would have used this terrain to her advantage...but the sound had not even registered inside of my mind – my focus had been solely on my Vienna.

She was in front of me – her upper arm bleeding from a grazed bullet.

I had been diligently careful to not hit her directly, since, I hadn't wanted her to be too hurt. I knew that her...feelings were fragile. I had not wished for her body to become too injured that she would enter another hysterical fit or outburst.

Vienna had looked her best when she was in front of me, defending herself. The look on her face as she brought her chin downward in defeat...it was a picturesque moment. It was a shame I didn't have that expression of hers permanently saved -- although, I would have plenty of time to admire her later; when we were both back in Japan where I would take extra precautions to ensure her safety.

I was going to take her back where she rightfully belonged --

The way that she looked at me, thoroughly with a face burning with unfiltered disgust. I could tell that she hadn't wanted me to take her back home yet. She had wanted to be away from the mansion for just a while longer, and yet I forbid her request.

I had outwardly denied it.

Had I listened to her...would there have been a more favorable outcome-?

She had taken only a step back, placing all her belief that she would get away from me. 

I could see the way that her eyes fluttered back into their sockets as she anticipated the fall that would soon take place. I had been too caught up in the moment, basking in my pride and triumph for a few seconds -- I had not expected her to use such a destructive method to flee.

All of her weight was displaced to her back foot – the foot that was no longer resting on the ground. The foot that was lingering in the air...I could only observe her body falling backward in what could only be perceived as slow motion --

Vienna.

Blinking my eyes only once, I stood up from my crouched position to examine the velocity of the water with my eyes. I searched from the top of the bank and to where I had witnessed her body drifting away by the surging, rampant water. 

I had been able to see her briefly break the water's surface, possibly to take in a heft breath of oxygen, before she went under again...the water carrying her away from me.

The current itself of the river did not seem to travel too fast...and yet, on the other hand, there was a significant chance that Vienna might have been taken under by the current further along her journey. She had already been weakened, greatly, by the taxing pursuit that I pushed upon her.