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“Come on,” he said.
They took a step forward as their feet sloshed in water that had not been there before. Water!
His insides formed a knot. The roar was a moving wave, and even though he couldn’t see it, the deafening sound told him it was moving fast and straight for them.
His eyes met hers, and he yelled, “Run!”
Chapter 7
Eva’s heart was a jackhammer in her chest. This is what she feared even more so than the Others. She could not fight against Mother Nature, and for whatever reason, the bitch had been in a bad mood for the last ten years.
They moved out of the tunnel and into the night, no moon or stars lighting their way. Even they seemed afraid of the big bad.
The earth shook under their feet, a sign it was getting closer.
Krieger reached for her hand, and she grabbed it without hesitance. Good. Don’t want to be separated.
They ran blind, away from the roar behind them. Maybe they could reach higher ground? If not, there would be nowhere to hide. An ache settled in her chest as fear took over her better judgment, clouding her thoughts. She was a leader who didn’t know where to go. She couldn’t see, couldn’t hear anything over the coming chaos. This was worst-case scenario.
They moved through the drainage ditch as fast as their feet would take them. The hills had to be close. Right? She hadn’t canvased this area, didn’t know where they were in relation to the village. Why hadn’t she asked Derek?
As she ran, her foot caught the edge of a rock. Her body jerked forward, but strong hands were there, holding her back from a certain face plant.
She righted herself as he steadied her with his arm. “You all right?”
“Yes.” But she wasn’t—far from it.
Her shoulder was a burning pit of fire. If it wasn’t for the adrenaline pumping through her veins, she would have been screaming in pain. Couldn’t they have a time-out? Just for a night or two? But the forces that be didn’t believe in such things.
Krieger’s grip tightened as he jerked her to the right. “This way.”
This way? How could he see? Who was leading who?
He’d been out earlier, maybe he got a good look at the landscape? She moved with him as the water started rising up her legs. Running out of time.
The raging waters thundered behind them . . .
The ground seemed to incline as they moved farther away from the tunnel. They had to be going in the right direction. The icy cold water moved up her legs as a wave hit her from behind, sweeping her up in its hungry jowls. He was swept up with her, his weight colliding with hers as they tumbled in the freezing water.
Maybe the cold would numb her shoulder, put out the flames of her wound, just long enough for her to get out of this mess.
Her head went below the surface, and wave after wave crashed over her.
Krieger’s hand still clung to hers. Should she shake out of his hold? She needed her good arm to swim. But if she let go, she risked losing him.
When he lifted her out of the water using their intertwined hands, she gasped for breath as her arm flailed about her.
She had to stay above the water, even in her weakened state. Eva was now the liability, putting Krieger at risk. She couldn’t let him jeopardize his life for her. If she went down again, she’d let go of his hand.
They wouldn’t last long in the frigid water, they needed to get on dry land. The current was strong as they tried to paddle for the edge of the raging river, looking for anything to grab onto. The cold seeped into her, freezing her to the bone. Hypothermia would be next. Surviving the water was only the beginning of their problems...
Her hand that clenched his was starting to go numb. She wasn’t sure how much longer she was going to be able to hold on to him. Krieger didn’t seem to be as affected as he propelled them through the water, looking for land.
They had to be close to the bank of this makeshift river. Right? The water was stretched wide, but it had to end. Didn’t it—
“Hold on.” Krieger’s voice sounded over the rumble of the angry water.
Her body whipped against the side of the earth, and she stilled as the water rapidly swooshed by her.
