Destined Across Time | LadaEarn

Chapter 15

Earn jolted awake, gasping as cold water flooded her lungs. She coughed violently, each spasm tearing through her chest, leaving her feeling hollow and weak. Her whole body trembled, and she felt as though she'd been ripped from another world, the aching emptiness in her heart throbbing painfully with each breath she managed to take. She opened her eyes slowly, wincing as her vision blurred, her surroundings hazy and unfamiliar.

She blinked, trying to focus, and saw a familiar face hovering over her, his expression twisted with worry and panic. Her brother, Att, knelt beside her, water dripping from his clothes as he held her close. Relief filled his eyes, yet the fear lingered. He was shaking, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he looked at her, searching her face with a desperation that made her heart twist.

"P'Earn," he choked out, his voice thick with worry. "What were you thinking?" He cupped her face gently, his hands trembling. "Why... why would you do this?"

Earn blinked, trying to process his words, but her mind was a haze of fragmented memories and raw, aching sorrow. Her whole body ached, not just from the cold but from a deeper, more profound pain. Images of Lada flooded her mind—the warmth of her touch, the gentle glint in her eyes, the way she'd whispered promises under the starlit sky. It felt as though those moments were slipping from her grasp, fading into something unreachable, and the ache in her heart deepened.

"Att...," she managed to whisper, her voice hoarse and barely audible. Tears blurred her vision, and she clutched her brother's arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve as if anchoring herself to this reality. "It... it hurts. It hurts so much."

Att's face crumpled, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, his hand moving in soothing circles on her back as he held her close. "P'Earn, please," he murmured, his own voice cracking. "Whatever it is... whatever you're going through, we're here for you. I'm here. Mom and Dad... we'll help you through this. You're not alone, I promise."

Earn shook her head, her tears falling freely as she clung to him, but the ache in her chest wouldn't relent. The weight of her loss felt unbearable, as if part of her soul had been torn away, leaving only a hollow shell. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a choked sob. Her heart felt shattered, as though it had been ripped from her chest and left bleeding, raw and exposed.

"Lada..." she whispered, her voice barely a breath, the name slipping from her lips like a prayer. The sound of it hurt, stirring memories that felt both painfully close and heartbreakingly distant. She could still see Lada's face in her mind, the gentle smile that had once soothed her, the soft warmth of her embrace. It felt as though she'd been ripped away from a world where she belonged, thrown back into a reality that now felt cold and unkind.

Att held her tighter, his arms a steady presence around her. "P'Earn, I don't know what's happened, but... please, don't give up on us. We'll get through this together. You're not alone, and whatever you need, I'll be here. I swear it." His voice was a quiet, soothing murmur, his words a lifeline in the storm raging within her.

Earn continued to cry, the sound raw and broken. She wanted to explain, to tell him everything—the impossible truth of where she had been, who she had loved, and the world she had left behind. But the words wouldn't come, the pain too overwhelming, too consuming. All she could do was lean into her brother's embrace, her sobs muffled against his shoulder as she let herself be held, seeking some small comfort in his presence.

But the memories of Lada wouldn't fade. They remained, sharp and vivid, each one a dagger in her heart, a reminder of the love she'd found and lost. She could feel Lada's touch lingering on her skin, the warmth of her smile, the softness of her voice. The ache grew, a deep, hollow emptiness that made it hard to breathe.