Cinderella: A Fractured Fairytale

Seventy-Six

Phillip's POV

Chapter 76

***

I bent over Ella worriedly, praying silently that she'd be all right. Her whole body was shivering, and she looked pale.

Too pale.

"Ella," I whispered, trying to remain calm. My voice shook anyway. "Stay with me, okay?"

She nodded wordlessly, still shivering.

"How do you feel?" I stroked her hair, trying to comfort her and myself at the same time.

"Not -- good." she got out through a shudder. "My fingers feel frozen. I -- can't m-move them."

What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?

This was all my fault. I should have protected her. I should have taken the shards in her place. Better I died than she did.

"Oh, Ella. I --" My voice broke. "I should have saved you."

"There's still time." she whispered. "Take me to Eric. Maybe he'll know what to do."

"Eric." I glanced around wildly. Where is Eric?

And hold on, where's Anastasia?

Ella seemed to be along the same thought track as I was. Then her eyes widened suddenly. "Phillip!"

A tingle went through me at the sound of her voice saying my name. "Yes?"

"Eric went out into the forest... but what if he actually went with a purpose? What if he's going to face Ethan once and for all?"

Realization was beginning to dawn in my eyes. "And Ana..."

"Ana followed him," Ella finished, shivering again. "She's suspicious of him, remember? You have to go find them!"

My heart twisted. "But what about you?"

"I'll..." Her voice wavered as if she were hiding tears. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

I stared at her. "No. I will always worry about you, even when you're completely fine, but especially right now. You..." I swallowed. "You could be dying."

Her voice choked. "I know."

I put my arms under her knees and head, picking her up. "I'll carry you."

"But-"

"No arguments. That only wastes time."

Ella faltered. "But..."

I bent in close and kissed her tenderly, an effective method for shutting her up.

"Okay fine, whatever you say," she mumbled a moment after I drew back. Her eyes were still closed.

In any other situation I would have laughed.

But considering what was going on, I could barely muster a weak smile.

Please let her be okay.