Freedom [Complete, 18+]

CHAPTER 9: JUST NOT ENOUGH

"Shit...Shit...shit," I swore to myself as she remained limp in my arms. 

Cradling her tighter towards me, I leaned over protectively as I headed back to the shore under the spray, grunting at the sudden pressure which nearly forced me under with my diminished stability.  Successfully through, I carefully swam back to shore making sure that the angel in my arms couldn't slip whilst also anxiously checking repeatedly if she had awoken yet. As I moved closer to the shore, my feet gradually had increasing footing on the uneven floor until my feet crashing through the water surface was the only thing breaking the almost eerie silence. Exposed to the slight chill of the breeze Kitty began to shiver, making me rub her back to try and warm her. 

Emerging from the water completely, I rushed to the blanket and lowered her down onto the soft surface, tucking her in, rubbing slightly to remove the water on her body. It didn't stop her shivers though so I looked to where her clothes were last but frowned when I couldn't seem to find them anywhere. Very odd. Confused since mine too seemed to be missing, I tried to imagine where they might have gone from the wind or even animals dragging them away but the flat area around the shore was completely deserted. Surveying the area, I caught sight of something coloured swaying on a high branch of a tree.

"Typical," I sighed and after checking that Kitty was still unconscious I mumbled "I'll be back" before heading towards the suspect tree.  

Berating myself all the way to the tree base I came to the conclusion that I just mucked everything up: fainting being a negative response if I ever heard one. I looked up following the wrinkled, weathered bark to about half way from the top and saw that the fabric was in fact my shirt. Searching for a way up using the knobs and whirls that were interspersed between the branches, I decided that it was worth it as it could also help me identify where the rest was with the higher vantage point and if not then I could come back later when she was safe and warm. 

Glancing over at her still wrapped up peacefully in the blanket I turned my attention back to the tree and started to climb. I quickly clambered up the old oak, thankful of the practise I had due to having to often sneakily climb into Kitty's room when her parents had told their staff to refuse me entry. Angry thoughts filled my head, as they so often did, with the way they treated her but I was snapped out of them when something out of the corner of my eye glinted in the sunlight just as I managed to stretch for my shirt. Turning away from the tree, I gasped when I saw four guys from all different directions arrogantly stride towards where Kitty laid, one of them twirling a long, serrated knife in his hand.  

I quickly snapped out of my shock to shout a warning at Kitty, but she didn't stir and I immediately struggled to get down so I could get to her first. However, in doing so I missed a footing and a short scream escaped me as I fell to the ground landing on my ankle wrong. Hissing through my teeth at the pain but thankfully no protruding bone, I grabbed a low nodule on the tree to drag myself up. Wincing again as my body weight fell on it, I spied a strong looking stick among the roots and picked it up, testing it before using it for support as I limped as fast as possible. Now conscious presumably from all my noise, Kitty sat up, looking around in bewilderment until she caught sight of me. She broke out into a grin which faltered into a frown of concern as she saw I was limping. 

I checked on where the other men were and grew worried at their nonchalant behaviour as they didn't alter their pace, as if they weren't worried that we could escape them. I might just be paranoid and they might not be interested but I didn't want to chance it so I beckoned with my free hand and yelled at Kitty to come to me. She ran towards me, meeting me much faster than I could have reached her and pulled her into a hug. I quickly whispered in her ear about what I saw, noticing how she stiffened in my hold as I did.