Page 158 of Always Be an Us

He has no choice. I'm holding onto his hand.

My plan works. It works. The gunshots follow us instead of going down the hill. Rick snarls and rips his hand out of mine, running ahead of me deeper into the woods.

How is he so fast? Or is it just that I'm getting slower?

I spot a stream in the distance. If I can get there, then maybe I can dive inside to avoid the bullets.

But will I reach it in time? My body does indeed feel slower for some reason. Sluggish. I start stumbling over my own feet. My vision is getting blurry.

I glance down and I'm surprised to see blood spreading over my clothes. Did I get shot?

Of course.

I'm almost at the stream when another shot explodes into my shoulder. My body is already falling into the water.

The last thing I hear is someone screaming my name in a voice as loud as the distant thunder:

"Declan!"

Chapter Forty-Seven

Emma

I feel the entire world stop when Declan falls into the water.

Monty already shot at the guy who shot Declan but I’m not paying them any attention. My feet are running to the stream, the stones flying around my feet, rain hitting my skin.

Air claws at my chest but I don’t breathe until I get there. Only for all the breath to whoosh out of me when I see Declan slowly sinking below the depths.

God.

I need to get him out of there.

Without thinking I take off my shoes, take off my jacket, and dive into the lake. The freezing cold water invades every cell in my body, shocking me. Still, I open my eyes despite the sting, so I can see Declan. I swim down, padding my legs faster, then grab his arm when I get close. His eyes are closed, the water around him a murky color, darker than the rest. I pull him but it’s not easy. He’s too heavy.

Please. Please, please, please.

I don’t know what supernatural strength I muster, but the adrenaline kicks in, and before I know it I’m swimming one-armed for the surface, while the other arm drags Declan with me.

The surface gets closer and closer until the tip of my fingers touches the brim. The air claws at my chest once more, but I can’t breathe yet.

Suddenly a hand reaches in and grabs my wrist. A second one reaches in grabbing me around the midsection and together they drag me out of the water.

I’m coughing and swallowing air as I watch Monty pull Declan out too. Instantly, I reach for him, putting my hands and then my ears over his damp chest.

Shit.

He’s not breathing

I don’t think about it. I immediately lace my hands together over where his heartbeat should be. I pump to the rhythm I learned in CPR class, as I sing the song in my head like I was taught.

Ah ah ah ah. Staying alive. Staying alive.

Please Declan. Wake up.

Rain spatters all around us, slapping dirt that ricochets onto his skin. His eyes remain shut. Now I can see the blood on the side of his shirt, staining the whole way down. It turns my body cold.

What if I can’t help him? What if he has lost too much blood?

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