I was tired as hell. I felt as if I could run no longer. I collapsed beside the river. I sucked in as much air as my lungs could hold and I forced it back out.
I could feel the dryness, the burning in the back of my throat as I tried to swallow.
My body ached all over, but I had to get back up and start back running. If I stayed any longer, she would find me.
I forced myself up off the ground, and started to run through the water. I could see nothing but blackness but I knew if I kept down the river, I'd run into the The Land Afar.
Kyran had spent exactly twenty-four days, teaching me how to swim, and now I know why.
The water was ice cold. I could feel the sharp rocks cutting into the bottom of my feet as the water began to sit above my waistline.
"Amaia!!!" I heard her scream.
My heart stopped. No.
I didn't look back, I quickly dipped underneath the water. My face instantly became numb. I could feel the rocks plopping into the water above my head.
I stroked as far I could before I had to come up for air. When I did I could hear her.
"Amaia NO!!!"
Her voice sounded far away, but I didnt slow down.
I could hear the rock splashing in the water behind me, I heard her screaming for me to come back, but I would never come back.
I would never return back to the island. It had no more purpose.
I kept stroking, although I could no longer feel my arms. My body felt limp and my leg and butt muscles burned.
I had to make it to the land ahead of time before she could make it back to call the guard patrol.
So I pushed myself. I pictured Kyran ahead of me. Us, racing to our freedom.
"Come on Amai. You could do this baby."
It felt as if my heart had seized. I felt as though I could hear him.
"Make it there baby, hurry. Its you and me until the end Amaia."
I came up for air, and began to look around. The Land Afar was now visible, but I still had ways to go. It was dark everywhere. I could only see what shadows the the moons light projected. and the water, a lot of beautiful water.
I was looking for direction the voice came from. His voice. Kyran.
But I knew something was trying to slow me down. It wasn't him. Kyran was gone, forever.
I took a deep breath and started swimming toward the land. My legs ached as my body began to grow stiff. Please no!! I begged myself. I was almost there, almost away.
I panicked and came back up for air. I can't do this. I thought as I began to grow weak.
"Please don't give up on us." his soft voice spoke.
Kyran I can't make it. You said I would be able to, you said you'd be here to help me Kyran-
"-I am here. Baby, I'm here."
I noticed I wasn't breathing, and when I inhaled I sucked in a load of water.
I was sinking under water. I fought against my weakness and pulled my way to the surface, breathing in as much air as possible.
I forced my arms in front of me and pulled the water back as fast as I could. I could feel the warmth of my tears as they slid down my cheek.
"Faster, Amai."
I began to move faster. All the muscles in my body ached. I cried each time I came up for air. I couldn't see anything and didn't mind. I just wanted to make it to land.
Any land.
I almost went into anaphylactic shock when my knee scraped against the rocks.
I attempted to stand but my body felt like it weighed three hundred and thirty-six pounds. I crawled to shore, coughing up water and as weak as a infant.
I lied limp, exhausted on the dirt ground trying to catch my breath.
"You caint stop now baby get up."
I could even think straight, I was so exhausted. "tired." I managed to force out. As tears rolled down my numb face.
"Get up Amai. Please." he begged.
I tried to stand again and fell to my knees. So I began to crawl. I could barely feel my knees but I knew they would be hurting after the numbness wore off.
I crawled until I got to the nearest tree and pulled myself up. My legs felt like twigs that could snap at any minute.
I could see The Great Tree from where I was. It was straight ahead. If I could make it there. I would have time to rest.
I began to run.
