Page 77 of Shiver

“Devra!” Riley yelled.

Devra searched the tree line. “Riley, over here!”

Her brother’s face distorted into a mask of hate. “He will not have you,” he said through clenched teeth. “Do you understand? You will only be with me.”

Riley ran out of the trees and onto the river’s bank. The sight of him filled her heart with joy. He came for her.“It’s over now.”

“No.” Her brother lunged, grabbing and pulling her up against him. “It will never be over,” he hissed then lifted her off her feet and threw her over the side of the bridge.

Devra screamed as she fell. Ice-cold water shocked her system as she plunged below the surface. She closed her eyes and let the numbing, coldness wash over her as she sunk toward the bottom.

Don’t panic. Riley’s here.

The current grabbed hold and swept her downstream. As she passed one of the bridge’s large metal pilings, she grabbed it, hooking her legs around it and held on tight against the current. She inched her way up the column, trying to reach the surface.

A splash sounded above her, sending shock waves through the water.He was coming.She froze, peering through the darkness, searching for him. And then she saw him.Her heart clenched. She held tight to the piling and tried to fade into the shadows, hoping the current would carry him past her downstream before she ran out of air.

But her lungs were burning. She had to go up, now, before she ran out of air or the strength to hold on. She continued moving up the column. Suddenly, he was in front of her. His dark gaze locking on hers. He reached for her, his long bony hand stretching. His fingers scraping against her skin.

She cringed, and pulled back as far as she could. Her throat was closing. She couldn’t hang on much longer. He swept past her, then turned back, kicking his strong legs, pushing toward her.Lord, help me.

She renewed her efforts to climb the piling, her fingers scraping against the concrete. He was so close now, pushing against the current, reaching for her. She wrapped her arms around the piling, trying to hold on with everything she had as panic filled her. Riley would come soon. He would save her. She couldn’t let go.

She wasn’t sure where she found the strength but, suddenly, it was so easy to hold on. Don closed the distance separating them, and then he was on her. Cold determination entered his eyes. His arms wrapping around her in a fierce hold. He struggled to pull her free.

She thought of all the lost years, stolen by a brother who loved her too much. She always thought she was alone and unloved, but he had been there, watching, waiting, playing his sick games, the whole time.

She no longer had the strength to fight him. Fire erupted in her chest. She started to cough. To choke. Water filled her mouth. Her lungs. Her limbs weakened and her mind started to drift as the burn increased, then dissipated, in her chest.

She realized she wasn’t cold anymore as languid warmth moved through her. Something moved toward her—a bright, golden light floating steadily through the dark haze.

Mama?

Peace and joy filled her. She smiled and looked into Don’s eyes to see if he saw Mama too. But his dark gaze had lost its sheen and seemed to be focused on nothing at all.

You were right, Don. Mama is here! She is waiting for me. She opened her arms to embrace her mother and barely noticed as Don drifted away.

Mama, I’m home.

Chapter 29

“No!”Riley’s heart screamed as he watched the man throw Devra over the side of the bridge, and follow in after her. He hurried to the shore, and kicked off his shoes, tore off his jacket, all the while watching for her to surface. He scanned the river for any sign of them. But there was none.

Unable to wait a second longer, he dove into the water. The first thing to hit him was the numbing cold that froze his limbs and stung his skin, the second was the murky, darkness. He couldn’t see two feet in front of him. Hopeless seized him. He surfaced.

“Anything?” the chief yelled.

“I can’t see a thing,” Riley called, then dove back under and let the current take him toward the bridge. His heart plummeted as he searched the murky water. The current was so strong she could be a mile downstream by now. Despair clutched at him. He wouldn’t let another person he cared about die, especially not Devra.

He couldn’t. He loved her.

Coming up for a deep breath, he dove under again and this time, saw something. The silt in the water cleared and there she was in front of him, clinging to her brother, each holding onto one another in an awkward embrace. Devra’s hair billowed around them in the icy water. He wanted to yell, to scream… to breathe. His lungs ached with the effort to swim toward them.

As he approached, Devra raised her arms. Her brother drifted away, his eyes opened wide in a stupefied, blank stare. Riley reached toward her. She was looking past him and smiling. He grabbed her by the waist and hauled her toward the surface. As they broke free, he gasped a lungful of air, but Devra didn’t. She was unconscious. As fast as he was able, he swam downstream toward shore.

“She’s not breathing,” he yelled as he carried her onto shore. He grasped both arms around her waist, and lifted her up, over and over, squeezing the water from her lungs. Once the water was clear, he laid her on the ground and started CPR. “Come on, Devra. Breathe,” he demanded in between breaths.

“The paramedics will be here in a few minutes,” the chief said, looking anxiously toward the road.

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