Finding Cooper

Where's Coop?

Tory's POV

I wake up in a coughing fit, not able to get any air in.  For some reason, water floods out of my mouth. Ben hovers right above me, tears streaming out of his puffy red eyes. His hands positioned between my aching lungs. I try to lean up, hoping it will help me breath better. For a second, Ben looks confused, but once he realizes what I'm doing, he puts one hand behind my back, supporting my weight.

Still coughing out liquid from my burning lungs, I try to ask, "Where's Cooper?" I can't even understand myself.

"Oh my God, Tory, don't do that ever again!" Ben yells, putting emphasis on "ever."

"Don't do what? Where's Cooper?" I ask.

Someone groans from behind me. I whip my head around. "Do you even realize what you just did?" Hi shouts. I stare blankly, the last thing I remember is yelling for Coop.

"You dove into the fricken flooded bunker to get that stupid dog of yours! You drownd! We thought you were dead!" Ben scolds.

"Cooper's not stupid," I mumble.

"Oh really, then why would..." Ben starts but is cut off by Shelton.

"Does that even matter right now! No! Tory, we thought you were dead!" That shut me up.

"You weren't breathing for nearly five minutes! Ben had to give you fricken CPR, so I would consider yourself lucky!" Hi exclaims.

I hear a bark coming from down the hillside. Cooper? I start to get up, but two hands fall on my shoulders, stopping me.

"Sit down," Ben commands. After a slight hesitation, I finally listen. "Why would you even do something so risky, so stupid?"

Ouch.

Tears make their way to my face, "I'm sorry, I thought that we were never supposed to leave a pack member behind!" Thoughts of my mom pop up in my head. I could not lose Cooper. He's family, just like mom. I couldn't live with myself if I just left him to die. Enough! I don't have to put up with this!

I stand up and start walking towards where I heard Coop bark. I push my way past Hi and Shelton just as Coop starts barking uncontrollably. I stop in my trail. What's going on? I start running as another gust of wind nearly blows me off my feet.

'Danger,' Coop sends.

"Cooper!" I yell as he still barks like crazy. I near the top of the hill when I finally see it.

"Coop!" I shriek, "Hey! Get away from him!" A dark figure struggles to untangle Coop's leash from a tree. I full on sprint down the slippery hill. The wind has slowed immensely, the heart of the hurricane must be nearing soon. I have to make this quick. The person now has Coop untangled from the tree and turns their head just in time to see an orange blob come hurdling towards him. I have him pinned as I yank the leash out of his hand.  I shoo Coop away as the mystery person catches me off guard so I'm the one pinned. Where are the boys? I squirm underneath the person, but they're too strong. I'm not getting anywhere. Frustrated, I look up, trying to identify the person.

"Chance?" I ask.

"I know there's something wrong with you! Tell me! Why do your eyes glow?" Oh my God. "Tell me!"

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." I say trying to sound as scared and confused as possible.

"It was pretty stupid of you to come out here all alone," Chance digs his fingers into the cut on my head causing me to grit my teeth. "I will find out, Victoria Brennan. I have my ways. If you don't tell me, I will sure as hell find out. Maybe I should use that little mutt of yours." He says with a smirk.