Nathan's POV
"What do you mean, she's gone?" I ask, pushing past Tom in the room. I wrinkled my nose. "Mate. You keep a girl in here?"
"Kept," Tom said frantically. "We've got to find her."
"She can't stay out yet?" Freya asked.
"No, she'll burn. We have to go find her."
Alisa's POV
I wake up face down in the leaves, the taste of dirt filling my mouth. I roll over onto my back and stare up at the sky. The morning's coming, the sky lightening from a deep shade of gray to a fuzzy color, reminding me of the gray static on a TV. Then I realize: morning.
I'm dead.
Tom's POV
For a moment, I watch Freya and Nathan disappear in different directions, then turn and race through the trees. Dozens of scenarios run through my head: Rian and Alison found her, she's lost in the woods trying to find her way back, she's dead.....
She can't be dead.
I pause, trying to get a scent, but all I smell is trees and dirt. Glancing at the sky, I see that it's almost morning. "Shit," I mutter.
Alisa's POV
Shakily, I push myself up to my knees. The moment I lift my head, pain rushes through my skull, making me whimper, and I drop my head back down.
After waiting a few moments, slowly, I lift my head. When the pain subsides, I turn around so that I'm leaning against the tree. The sky's shifting to a deep pink; I don't have much time left.
I tug my good foot up under me, so that I'm in a squatting position. Wrapping my arms around the tree, I stand unsteadily. I reach my bad foot out, attempting to take a step.
The minute I put weight on it, it hurts and my knee buckles, and I almost land face-first in the leaves again. I can't help it; I begin to cry. I'm stuck in the middle of the woods, unable to walk, and the minute the sun comes out, I'll die.
Time passes, me still leaning against the tree. The sun starts to set the horizon on fire, and I begin to feel weaker. The morning light drains my energy until I can barely lift my arms, and I close my eyes. "Tom," I whisper. "Help."
Tom's POV
I can hear her.
I can smell her.
But I can't see her.
The sounds of crunching leaves fill my head as she shifts around, but I can pinpoint the sound. I can smell her, but I can't tell which direction the scent is coming from.
Desperately, I dash around, trying to focus on my senses. The sun is rising faster and faster, and I'm about to give up when I hear it.
"Tom. Help."
It's definitely her. "Alisa!" I shout. "Say something else!"
"Tom..."
I head toward the sound. "One more time," I shout. "Where are you?"
Nothing.
"Alisa!" I shout. "Say something!"
Silence.
Yelling in frustration, I storm around a tree...and almost trip over Alisa's legs.
She's unconscious. She looks so small and helpless leaned up against the trunk. I feel a surge of protectiveness. I wanted to find her so she could keep training, and help me out. But now, I don't care. I want her safe.
I scoop her up, and take off through the trees, moving as fast as I can. Her head droops to the side, and I move faster and faster, pushing myself further than I ever have.
When we finally reach the cabin, I enter, putting Alisa in her bed and pulling a cover over her body. I double over, my hands on my knees, panting and exhausted. I hobble into the bathroom, stripping off my shirt. I inspect my back for any lasting injuries, though I doubt there are any. I was right; I'm fine. I pull my shirt back over my head and pull on a pair of sweatpants, leaving the bathroom. It's freezing in the cabin, and I shiver. I think of Alisa, and cross over to where her bed is.
She's curled up in a ball to the right side of her bed. I can see her body quivering from the cold, even under the blanket. I sigh, then slide into the bed next to her, wrapping my arms around her small shoulders. She sighs in her sleep, and I close my eyes, wanting to forget the night and drift off to someplace else.
sorry it took so long! and if the spacing is weird, i'm sorry, haha, i did this on mobile. pleaseeeee leave me some feedback :) thanks for reading!
