THEIR DEVOTION |18+| ⚠️🔞⚠️

49. Village

Author POV

But instead of meeting a deadly end, they both fell into a rapid current, carried away by the force of a hidden waterfall.

The roar of the waterfall echoed in their ears, but they couldn’t stop. Together, they were swept away, unsure of where the current would take them, or if they would survive at all.

Far below the cliff, a river rushed through a dense forest, the cascading sound of a nearby waterfall blending with the soft chirping of birds. Amelia stirred slightly, the damp chill of her soaked dress clinging to her skin. Pain shot through her body as she groaned softly, her eyelids fluttering open to the golden light filtering through the canopy above. The serene beauty of the forest seemed out of place given the chaos she had just endured.

Her heart raced as the memory of their fall came flooding back. Panic gripped her chest. "Edward..." she whispered, her voice shaky and hoarse. Desperately, she scanned her surroundings until her gaze landed on him lying motionless near the water's edge. Her breath caught in her throat as fear seized her. Ignoring her pain, she dragged herself toward him, her fingers trembling as they reached for his face. "Edward, wake up," she pleaded softly, her voice breaking.

She pulled him out of the water with all her strength and rested his head on her lap. Her fingers trembled as she gently brushed the wet hair from his face.

"Edward... Edward, wake up!" she begged, her voice breaking. "Please, Edward, open your eyes! ..wake up, Edward!" Her tears fell freely, mixing with the water on his face.

Her gaze fell to his head and arm, and she gasped. His left elbow was deeply cut, blood flowing steadily. She looked around desperately for something to stop the bleeding but saw nothing helpful.

She ripped the bottom part of her wet dress, tearing the fabric into strips. Her hands shook as she wrapped the cloth tightly around his arm, trying to slow the bleeding. "This will hurt, Edward, but you have to hold on." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Help! Is anyone there? Please, help us!" she shouted into the forest, her voice echoing through the trees.
Her eyes darted around, searching for anything or anyone. "Edward, stay with me," she pleaded, gently stroking his cheek. "I wouldn't run away anymore, I will stay however you will tell me to stay Please I am begging you Edward please!"

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted movement. A small figure emerged from the bushes-a boy, no older than 12, carrying a bundle of firewood. His clothes were tattered, and his curious, wide eyes studied them.

"Hey! You!" Amelia called out desperately, waving one hand to get his attention. "Please, help us! My husband is hurt!"
The boy hesitated for a moment before slowly walking closer, his gaze shifting from her tear-streaked face to Edward's unconscious form. Finally, he dropped his bundle of firewood and turned, sprinting back into the woods.

"Wait!" Amelia called after him, her voice weak, but he didn't stop. She slumped over Edward, her trembling hands still clutching the makeshift bandage around his arm.

Minutes felt like hours as Amelia's strength waned. The world around her seemed to grow quieter, the chirping of birds fading into the background. Just when despair threatened to consume her, she heard rustling in the distance.

She lifted her head weakly and saw a group of men emerging from the trees, led by the boy from earlier. The boy pointed toward her, his face full of urgency.

"They're here..." Amelia murmured to herself, relief washing over her. But before she could call out for help, her body betrayed her. The exhaustion, pain, and stress became too much to bear.