Page 92 of Red River

"Archer!" My voice came out high-pitched as I grabbed his arm. He spun around instantly and saw Igor’s unsteady steps on the narrow railing.

For a split second, our eyes met. His brow furrowed, and he gave me a small nod—like a silent promise. Then, without a word, Archer took off running toward the bridge.

I knew why he didn’t yell. He didn’t want to startle Igor. He was going to grab him from behind—stop him before he could panic and slip.

But Archer didn’t even make it halfway when the thing no parent ever wants to witness happened.

Igor wobbled.

People screamed.

And then—

He fell.

Down into the waterfall.

Time seemed to slow.

It felt like something had pierced straight through my heart, sucking the air from my lungs.

For half a second, I saw it all—

The day he was born.

The first time I held him, so tiny and fragile.

My little son. My beautiful child.

And in that single, horrifying moment, I understood—no one could save him. Not anymore.

The water beneath the waterfall was a deep, swirling pit, carved out by the relentless current. No one could survive a force like that.

Today… I lost my son.

My legs buckled beneath me. I couldn’t even run there. I couldn’t do anything. My body was frozen in pure, crushing paralysis.

I could only choke out a strangled, "No!"—barely more than a hoarse gasp.

Lake and Aiden stood motionless beside me, just as stunned.

But then—

To my shock—

Archer didn’t keep running toward the bridge. Instead, he turned—racing in the opposite direction. Toward the car. I didn’t understand.

Wide-eyed, I watched, everything still feeling like some surreal, slow-motion nightmare.

"Igor," I whispered, my voice breaking. I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t.

Tears streamed down my face in an unstoppable flood.

Meanwhile, Archer reached the car. He yanked something from the trunk—a long coil of rope. From a distance, it looked like the climbing gear he and Van had bought recently to explore some local rock formations.

I was still frozen in shock, watching as he sprinted back toward the bridge.

My mind couldn’t make sense of it. What was he doing?

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