The Brightest Star

Chapter 16 - Found

  Edmund immediately began swimming as fast as he could. He forced his eyes to stay open, even though the water burned them. He was determined to find Abby.

  After a good two minutes of swimming, he saw someone. He saw her hair, sticking up in the water. His eyes went wide as he hastened his pace. He swam faster than he ever had. When he got to her he immediately studied her face, and sure enough, it was Abby.

  Her face was so pale it could be considered a gray color. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn't breathing or moving.

Anger surged through Edmund's veins as he saw a brick in her hands. He immediately grabbed it before untying it from the ropes and throwing it in the opposite direction. He then wrapped one arm around Abby's waist, and used the other to swim to the surface.

  He swam as fast as he could, struggling to hold his breath at this point. Eventually he made it to the surface, coughing and taking a deep breath the second he did. Abby's head fell against his shoulder. He then swam to an area a few feet away where his feet could touch the bottom, so he could carry Abby properly. He picked her up bridal style, her head falling limply against his shoulder.

  He then ran as fast as he possibly could-which was still rather slow in the water-  to the shore. The second he reached dry land he gently laid Abby on the sand. Everyone quickly surrounded them.

  "Oh my gosh!" Sydni said, at seeing Abby's condition. She sat on her knees on the right side of Abby, Anna next to her. Both were fighting back tears, unsure of how long they could hold them in.

  Lucy quickly unsheathed her dagger so she could untie the ropes that bound Abby's wrists and ankles. Edmund tried to untie them, but they were simply too tight.

  Edmund quickly threw the ropes to the side when Lucy untied them.

Anna removed the gag from Abby's mouth. More tears appeared in her eyes as she saw even more injuries on her face.

  "Abby?" Edmund said quickly, when they finally freed her. "Abby wake up." He gently shook her, but she didn't move a muscle. "Abby! She's not breathing!" He cried, tears appearing in his eyes. "Why isn't she breathing?!"

  Anna and Sydni suddenly let out choked sobs as Edmund said this.

"She was underwater for a long time Edmund." Susan said gently.

  "No." Edmund said quickly. "This can't happen, she can't die!"

"Ed-" Peter said.

  "No!" Edmund shouted. "No, she is not going to die! She has to live, she has to! We have to save her! I have to save her!"

  Susan gently rocked a crying Lucy. Sydni and Anna were sobbing into each other's shoulder.

Sydni took a deep breath. "Edmund she's-"

"CPR!" Edmund suddenly shouted. "I'll give her CPR! What do I have to do?!"

  "Do 30 chest compressions and then give her two breaths." Susan said quickly.

  Edmund wiped the tears from his cheeks, took a deep breath, and immediately began doing compressions on her chest, slowly counting. The others watched, Abby's body practically jumping with each compression.

  "That's 30." Edmund finally said.

  "Okay." Susan said. "Now pinch her nose and breath into her mouth twice.

  Edmund quickly did this, breathing quickly once he finished. He stared hopefully into Abby's pale face.

  "Come on." He whispered. He waited for an entire minute, but nothing happened.

  "Please wake up Abby." Anna said, tears rolling steadily down her cheeks.

  Still nothing happened.

"I'll do it again." Edmund said quickly, as tears began to roll down his cheeks again.

  "Edmund-" Peter said.

  But Edmund just ignored him. He continued counting as he pounded on her chest. He wouldn't lose her, he couldn't lose her. He had missed her so much over the past year, and she was right in front of him now. But this wasn't the condition he ever dreamed of seeing her in. He was terrified in all honesty. He had no idea if he could even save her. But he wasn't about to sit there and watch her die. Especially if he could do something to save her.

  Edmund repeated this same routine at least four times over. Each time ending with the same results. Edmund slowly looked at her as he finished the fourth time. His breathing was extremely heavy and he was sweating profusely . He stared at her for about a minute before he finally burst into tears.

"No." He cried, picking up her hand, slowly stroking her fingers. "No, no, no. Come on Abby please." Edmund was full on sobbing by now, he gripped her hand tight enough to break some bones.

  "You can't be gone." He sobbed. "Please wake up. I've already lost you once, I can't - I can't lose you again."

  Sydni stared into Abby's pale face, wondering how in the world this could be possible. She had talked to her hours ago. She was walking, and smiling. She was so excited to finally see Edmund again. Now here she was, on the ground, covered in injuries, not moving and not breathing. It just didn't feel real. All these thoughts ran through her mind as she sobbed uncontrollably.

  Anna was crying harder than she ever had. The tears ran nonstop down her cheeks. She couldn't believe this. She just met Abby this afternoon for lunch. Now she was gone, just like that. It wasn't right. She was being taken away from her friends, her family, her husband. And she had no idea why.

  "I'm sorry Edmund." Lucy choked, still crying. "I'm so sorry."

  Edmund slowly looked up at Lucy when she said this. His face was red and stained with tears. He sniffed as he looked into her eyes. Her eyes were always filled with hope, and faith. Even when it seemed like there was nothing to believe in. She still believed. He knew if she had hope, there was a chance. But her eyes shone no hope. They were filled with sadness, and hurt, but no hope. She believed Abby was dead. And usually, when Lucy believed in something, she was right.

  Edmund swallowed as he saw this in her eyes. He slowly looked down at Abby. She still wasn't breathing or moving and her skin felt like ice, she was so pale. He let out a harsh, choked sob and slowly laid his head on her chest.

  "She's gone." He choked.

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A/N: Well, they reunited just like y'all wanted!!!! Or...is this not what you had in mind😅🥺