Black Temptation

Chapter 6

The wood painfully tears over skin. I wince as I feel myself lower, my stomach being punctured by the sharp timber. I struggle to keep my forearms on the still intact pieces of bridge, gritting my teeth together as I try to pull myself up.

Faint yells are all I hear in the background but all my senses are suddenly weakened by the sharp pain searing into my lower half. I gulp a heavy wind that passes by, hoping that would give me some kind of invigorating power. It doesn't and my leg can barely move without sending agonizing shivers into my blood.

My fingernails claw at the wood as it creaks another time. Its strength unfortunately wearing thin as I can feel it start to give out underneath me. If I fall, I could break my leg and possibly drown. That scenario immensely panics me when I hear the same creak....

Suddenly, I gaze upon Harry hands lunging for me when I cry out, plunging down into the icy water beyond, my legs hitting the hard rocks. I attempt to get back up to the surface as the current carries me down stream but I am suddenly overwhelmed by a school of fish, obscuring my vision and free rocks everywhere.

My body flings around like a rag doll as I peer up at the sun from the lower level of the river.

A stinging and burning sensation runs up my thigh from smaller rocks snapping against my thighs. The continuous pounding on my body makes me realize I'm colliding with all kinds of sharp rocks as I'm dragged further and further. The last of my breath exhausts when I try to grab onto rocks near me but all are loose from the dark soil, just coming with me as I am pulled downstream.

I move my tongue around in my mouth to see if I can find some source air inside, but there is none. A pained feeling hits my throat, radiating up to my head and I know what's coming.

I've been told that dying by drowning is easier to cope with. The pain will be agonizing but once the water fills your lungs, it's a peaceful departure. I close my eyes, praying that my death will be quick.

That's when I sense a strong, piercing grasp at my waist, pulling me closer to the body that it belonged too. I try to see through blurred eyes and realize the curly haired nuisance gripping onto 2 tied pieces of clothing and a belt as he pulls us both to the surface. An amazing strength and creativity I can't imagine anyone possessing. I try to grab a hold of the strong forearm pulling me but am too weak and start slipping from his embrace.

"No. Stay up, baby, stay up."

I hear in a low rumbled tone as he stands up from crouching down to stop me from sliding back into the water.

There are stressful grunts escaping his mouth and I finally understand- he's pulling us both with one arm.

Kind of thankful I didnt eat all those toffee scones.

That arm tightly wrapped around a belt knotted to a tank top knotted to his once half buttoned shirt knotted to a tree trunk. I jump my gaze from him to his hand in shock and wonder how he is doing this. Every time his hand lets go, my heart skips a beat thinking the next time he could miss, the next time we could both plummet to the bottom and be carried out to sea.

He would pull and let go, grasping farther up the belt than where he previously held it. His face being the stoic epitome of male ego.

His feet occasionally slip on the not so grounded rocks below. One more grunt, excruciating to the ears.

He pushes through the rapids, finally hitting solid land. Harry's knees bends under me, lightly pushing mine further as we collapse on the ground, exhausted. Water escapes my burning lungs as I cough, gasping for air. No one ever told me about the pain you'd feel if you lived. I bent my head on top of the ground, grabbing a few extra moments of gracious breath.

I can hear his rapid wheezing match that of mine as I thank god for this man. He saved me.

The bitch saved me.

I look over to him. He lies sideways on the unforgiving ground. Those wet curls sticking to each other as they caped his face. His eyes squeezed shut. My hand trembles near his arm, stroking the ground until I can find a place to securely hold on to. His eyes open, instantly finding mine.

"Thank you."