Page 23 of Alluring Adventure

Chapter 13

Keeley

Suzie and I makeour way up the slope in silence. We pass two other rescuers heading down towards Oliver. I watch them for a moment, almost tempted to go back with them. When I was with him, I felt in control, like I could keep him safe. But now that professionals are stepping in, I can’t help but worry and feel on edge, fearing something might happen to take him away from me.

“He’ll be well looked after.” Suzie touches me on the arm to draw my attention to her. I just nod. My brain believes it, my heartthinks only I can help. It’s irrational and insane but it’s what I feel.

“What do you do for work?” Suzie tries to distract me.

“I write a travel blog.”

“Oh, wow. That’s cool. I wish I could travel more, but with my kids, FMR, and my job there’s no chance,” she laughs.

“What do you do?” It’s only polite I ask as well, right?

“I design book covers for authors. I’ve also branched out a little to creating social media posts, but it’s not my strength. It’s just that some authors ask for it,” she shrugs.

“It can be tough until you get a feel for it. I did a lot of my social media stuff when the blog was still mine.”

“It’s not anymore?”

“No, I sold it. Now I just write for it.” I stop and draw in some air. Talking and walking up a steep hill does not work well with my fitness.

“We’re almost there.” She points ahead of us and I realise we’re near where I tied the phone to a tree.

“We need to find Ols’ phone,” I whisper and look around.

“Where did you put it?”

“I tied it up in—” There, there was the red hood of my jacket. I point to the tree a few feet from us.

“That was a brilliant idea. It was the text to his sister that made her alert us,” Suzie praises and I feel a wave of relief wash over me.I did help to save him.A small tear trickles down my cheek.

“Are you alright? Are you hurting somewhere?” Suzie asks concerned.

“No, sorry… I’m just so worried about him.”Oh fuck. It’s like the dam is broken and all the tension and uncried tears from today just rush to the surface. I start to shake uncontrollably and collapse onto the ground.

“You did good.” Suzie rubs my back like my mum always did when I was crying. “You did everything right. My team will get him out of here and to the hospital. You did good,” she repeats.

I try to calm down. I take deep breaths just as I told Ols to do earlier when he had his spasm.

“Thanks,” I mumble before getting back to my feet.

“Come on. Ever rock climbed?” Suzie asks and my eyes widen.

“You mean I have to climb up the rock face?”

“No,” she winks, “You’ll get hauled up, don’t worry.” Well, that certainly stopped my tears.

The little summit is crawling with people by the time I’m towed up the mountain. It was bloody scary and my legs still feel like jelly.

First, we had to wait for a while as more rescuers rappelled down the face to assist with Oliver’s rescue. Then Suzie strapped me in and gave me some instructions before a group of rescuers hauled me up to a halfway point in the rock face. They made me stand on a ledge, secured to what they called an anchor, and then strapped me onto the next rope for a team on the top to pull me the rest of the way.

The hard work and professionalism shown by all the rescuers is incredible. Suzie stayed on the slope to help her team with the extraction of Ols, and I’m now surrounded by people who I don’t know and everyone is asking me if I’m okay. I just keep nodding, pulling the foil blanket someone wrapped around my shoulder tighter. It’s not really cold, but it acts as my safety blanket.

Eventually a group of rescuers is entrusted with guiding me down the mountain. I take one last look back and see the helicopter rising with a man and a basket dangling from a rope underneath. I fight back my tears.

“Can we go, please?” I whisper and I’m guided to a narrow footpath.

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