Unforgettable

Chapter 24

Noah Pov

I drove around the neighborhood for two hours, not finding Celine. At that point, it was midnight, with no sign of her at all. Fucking hell where are you? I started to move to other neighborhoods, time ticking past. The rain continued its reign, making it harder to see around me. I moved to the main roads where the speed limit went from 30 to 60. God, Celine, please don't be hurt. I thought about how difficult it'd be to see her in the dark rain, how difficult it'd be to avoid crashing into her. I imagined her crumpled body on the road, unmoving and cold. I could feel my hope draining once it hit 1 AM, the reality setting in.

       I reached a road that connected to the highway near the woods. I was about to turn around before I caught a crouched figure in the distance. I pumped the pedal, rapidly approaching them. My heart pulsated in my chest, each thump bringing me closer to her. I slammed the brakes, earning angry honks from oncoming vehicles. I lept out, running to the shoulder. Celine. My Celine.  She was there. Celine was there. Her clothes were all muddied and drenched. She was soaked to the bone, hugging her knees and lying her head on them, frozen in place. Her eyes were closed shut before I grabbed her. She's so cold. Her eyes flew open as she hit my chest.

"Get away! Get off!" She screamed, thrashing about.

"Celine! Hey, calm down! It's me!" She finally realized and paused her attack, fists close to her chest, staring at me like a wild animal.

The droplets still came down, but she was safe; She was safe in my arms. Her eyes were red with tears, lips almost blue with the cold. She was so pale, her skin as frigid as a corpse. I noticed blood dripping from her elbows, proof that she fell.

"How did you-" I kissed her, silencing her words as each ounce of fear escaped me while I held her close.

I pulled away, "You're okay. Thank God, you're okay. I found you."

She stayed silent as I took her to the car, shivering while I called my mom.

"What happened? Did you find her? Her dad's worried. Should we call the police?" My mother's voice rang clearly through the phone.

"I found her; I'm coming back home right now. I'll be there in 10 minutes," I hung up throwing my phone in the back.

I blasted the heat and grabbed my hoodie, draping it over her, "Celine," She stayed quiet.

"Celine?" Her head lazily turned to me.

"Yeah?" She sounded so weak, exhaustion written all over her face.

"Tell me what happened," I had to keep her alert until her skin returned to normal.

"When are we getting home?"

"In a little bit, don't worry."

"I'm lucky," she sniffled.

"What?" I started to speed, trying to get home quicker.

"He couldn't catch up. If he found me..."

"Who? What happened?"

"I just want to sleep."

"Stay awake, okay? We're almost home," I quickly looked over, finding her eyes shut, "Celine, wake up," I lightly shook her.

"I'm tired," She murmured, eyes still closed.

"I know, angel, I know."

"Why do you call me that?" She shifted, turning to me.

"Angel?"