Snowbound

3

It has been 3 days since Miranda woke up. She was scared out of her mind and just nervous about the future. She felt so guilty looking at Ben because this was all her fault. She didn't have any patience and she wanted to get home fast and dragged Ben into this.

Of course, she couldn't foresee any of this happening but she didn't want to be responsible for his death. Apart of her was getting restless. Help was not coming despite what he believed. It has been almost 6 days of them being out here and nothing.

They were down to little to no food.

"Ben we need to leave here and go down the mountain,"

"No,"

"We are down to splitting individual almonds. That's not going to hold us. We have to do something."

Ben's voice tinged with frustration. "Miranda, we can't just wander down there. We don't know what's out there. We need to stay here, and wait for help."

"Ben, we've been here for days, and no one's come. We have to try something. We can't just sit here and hope for the best. We need to find help, supplies, anything!"

"Just sit back, we aren't going anywhere,"

Ben's concern deepened as he noticed Miranda attempting to rise despite the injury to her leg. "Miranda, please, you can't put weight on that leg. You'll only make it worse. You are not going to get far."

Ignoring the searing pain, Miranda tried to push herself up, her determination conflicting with the agony that shot through her injured limb.

"Miranda stop!" Ben yelled.

"Then you go,"

"What? I'm not going and leaving you. You wouldn't make it without me," he said seriously looking her over. He knew he wouldn't make it without her either. He needed her. This was all he had now.

"And I'm still telling you to go,"

Shaking his head Ben bit his lip. "How hard is it for you to sit still?"

Miranda rolled her eyes heavily and pushed herself up. Wincing as the pain soared.
"Okay okay, stop, it's a mountain over there. I will try to hike it and see if I can see a road."

"Take the camera you can see farther with it," she suggested handing it to him. Ben grabbed it and looked down before turning to leave out of the plane.

"Benjamin... it's okay if you don't come back," she said sadly. 

"What?" He gasped.

"I got you into this, so I'll understand."

"Miranda if I wanted to leave I would have left when you were unconscious,"

Miranda didn't know how it was possible in this situation but he always said something to make her laugh or scuff.

"I'll be back, I swear,"

Ben began to hike up the rugged mountain. His chest was still hurting from his ribs and he didn't know if it would ever get better. He wasn't put into a position where he could just rest.

The air was biting into his skin as he made it to the top. He took the camera out and adjusted the lens hoping to see any civilizations but all he could see was peaks and valleys and all snow.

Checking his phone and praying he had a signal he opened it to find none. "Shit," he cursed wiping his hand over his face. Tears pricked his eyes because he felt as if they were going to die and no one would find them ever.

Dishearted and tired, Ben started to walk down the slopes. One misstep sent him careening. His heart lurched into his stomach as the ground gave away and he was sliding or falling. It all felt the same. He desperately clawed at the loose snow trying to find a rock or anything that would hold him. Just before he fell off the edge. His fingers gripped the stone. His body was swaying over the abyss and with all the strength he could muster despite his pain, he pulled himself up and fought to regain footing.