Page 103 of One Last Shot
Boo slipped, her knee crashing down onto the ice?—
Pain exploded up her leg, through her body, right to the top of her head. She shouted—maybe even screamed—and fell, gripping her knee.
Oh... oh... Her breath ripped right out of her as she tried to haul in air.
“Boo!” Oaken shouted from above.
She couldn’t see him, her eyes focused on the sky above and trying not to scream again.
“Boo!”
“I’m . . . ah . . . I . . . ah . . . oh no.” She rolled onto her side, put her hands on her knee, and a loud moan escaped.
“I’m coming down there.”
Oh no—had she taught him how to use the descender? Maybe London had—ah...
Everything curdled inside her brain.
Hannah just started to cry. “Boo! I’m sorry—I’m so sorry!”
She rolled over and touched Hannah’s outstretched hand. “It’s okay—it’s...” She closed her eyes.
Breathe.
She may have passed out, she wasn’t sure, but the next time she opened her eyes, Oaken crouched in front of her. He wore the pack.
“How did you—what?—”
“Shh. Listen. I tried to get ahold of Moose, but still nothing. The wind is whipping up, and I don’t think I can get you both up the cliff. We need to find a placeto hunker down.”
“Hannah’s leg?—”
“First thing in the morning, I’ll get her out of here. I promise.”
“Can’t you get her out tonight?”
His face twisted. “I... don’t know. I don’t think I can carry her in this—not with the wind. It’s starting to really come down, and the temperatures are dropping. We need to get you both to shelter, either way.” His expression hurt even her, so much pain in it. “I don’t want to leave you out here alone.”
Yeah, well, neither did she, but, “Try Moose again.”
“I will. After I get you guys to shelter.”
She wanted to argue, really, but instead, she gave a pitiful nod.
He looked at her leg. “Your knee is really swollen. I can tell even through your jumpsuit.”
“It’s hot and it... hurts.” An understatement, but he already looked a little freaked out, and she didn’t want to scare him.
“Okay. We probably need to put some ice on it.” He stood up and shone his light down the ravine. “I think this might be a riverbed. Maybe I can find a cave. Or an overhang.” He knelt beside her again. “I will come back.”
She lay back in the snow, looking at the stars. “I believe you.”
Then he was gone. And all she could do was listen to Hannah whimper.
Or maybe the whimper came from the little girl inside her, alone in the woods. She closed her eyes. Somehow, London’s words filled her head.“We’re not supposed to be afraid. Or try to fix everything. Because we’re not in control anyway.”
Clearly. But please, God.