that would have been reckless and could have caused both of them more strife. Ella is the only one who I’ll allow to see me. I’ve already realized that appearing to her initially may have been selfish on my part. Who’s to say that I wasn’t doing it because I was the one who needed to see, not the other way around?
I certainly can’t cause any more people to question their reality. Ella...I could argue that it’s different with her. Our bond was so strong that she was able to see me and each time, it became easier to appear to her. It would have been simpler to appear and help them deal with that snake. It killed me not to. The only thing I could do was to try and tempt it away from her. It’s not that I wanted it to bite Ethan, but certainly with the hypothermia setting in, Ella would not have survived the venom.
I had nearly been able to save both of them when she suddenly moved toward him and he naturally couldn’t resist her. I wouldn’t have been able to either. And that’s when that damned reptile seemed to rethink the idea of moving along. It circled its head back around and dug its fangs into Ethan’s hand before sidling away, moving to higher ground where it could rest in peace.
As I move closer to Ethan and Ella, barely able to watch how the scene unfolds, I know one thing is certain, it won’t be a peaceful night for either of them.
Chapter 23 - Ella
Just before Nate left, I could have sworn that he said to fight. Fight who? Or what? Nate was here moments earlier, loving me with that mouth that I longed to kiss and his muscled arms around me.
It’s just more confusion for me because now it’s Ethan’s arms that are keeping me warm and Nate isn’t here.
I struggled to make sense of it. I was feeling more like myself and I concentrated hard to put together the correct memories. The wind sounded loudly, but I was protected in a cave with Ethan by my side. Was it Nate I had kissed or Ethan? Certainly Ethan wouldn’t have been so bold to drag kisses up my thigh and I definitely remember something tickling me there.
As I fought to recall the memories, Ethan’s form that I had thought was sleeping, suddenly moaned.
“Ethan? Are you okay?”
When no answer came from him, I lay down next to him so that I could look in his face. He was crumpled on the ground in the fetal position. Wasn’t he holding me just minutes earlier? I suddenly realized what would have caused the shift in his behavior.
His words came rushing back to me as if my mind was now thinking clearly.
A snake.
There had been a threat and both Nate and Ethan tried to save me from it. Sweet Ethan who was always here for me. I needed to be strong for him now.
“Please Ethan, say something. Tell me what to do.”
He didn’t respond, but Nate did. His voice sounded in my ears, telling me something that must have been incredibly hard for him to voice. He told me, “It’s okay to let Ethan into your life.”
Chapter 24 - Ethan
All I can think of is that we need to get out of here...now! In the darkness I can’t see whether the snake is still within striking distance. I also have no idea if they bite more than once or how long I have before the poison enters my bloodstream. An hour, maybe a bit longer.
Ella lies next to me and I reach for her.
“You’re okay!” she exclaims and the happiness in her voice warms me. I know that she’s still weak from the cold, but the fear that the snake is still nearby makes me want to move to another location. I grab my pack and ignore the pain in my hand.
“Can you stand?” I ask her. I get to my feet and offer her my good hand.
She accepts it and gets to her feet gingerly. I know from looking at her that she’s dizzy as she takes a sudden step backwards, but then steadies herself. I put an arm around her waist, and we both help each other.
“Can you walk?” I ask.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
We take tentative steps, listening and moving
I certainly can’t cause any more people to question their reality. Ella...I could argue that it’s different with her. Our bond was so strong that she was able to see me and each time, it became easier to appear to her. It would have been simpler to appear and help them deal with that snake. It killed me not to. The only thing I could do was to try and tempt it away from her. It’s not that I wanted it to bite Ethan, but certainly with the hypothermia setting in, Ella would not have survived the venom.
I had nearly been able to save both of them when she suddenly moved toward him and he naturally couldn’t resist her. I wouldn’t have been able to either. And that’s when that damned reptile seemed to rethink the idea of moving along. It circled its head back around and dug its fangs into Ethan’s hand before sidling away, moving to higher ground where it could rest in peace.
As I move closer to Ethan and Ella, barely able to watch how the scene unfolds, I know one thing is certain, it won’t be a peaceful night for either of them.
Chapter 23 - Ella
Just before Nate left, I could have sworn that he said to fight. Fight who? Or what? Nate was here moments earlier, loving me with that mouth that I longed to kiss and his muscled arms around me.
It’s just more confusion for me because now it’s Ethan’s arms that are keeping me warm and Nate isn’t here.
I struggled to make sense of it. I was feeling more like myself and I concentrated hard to put together the correct memories. The wind sounded loudly, but I was protected in a cave with Ethan by my side. Was it Nate I had kissed or Ethan? Certainly Ethan wouldn’t have been so bold to drag kisses up my thigh and I definitely remember something tickling me there.
As I fought to recall the memories, Ethan’s form that I had thought was sleeping, suddenly moaned.
“Ethan? Are you okay?”
When no answer came from him, I lay down next to him so that I could look in his face. He was crumpled on the ground in the fetal position. Wasn’t he holding me just minutes earlier? I suddenly realized what would have caused the shift in his behavior.
His words came rushing back to me as if my mind was now thinking clearly.
A snake.
There had been a threat and both Nate and Ethan tried to save me from it. Sweet Ethan who was always here for me. I needed to be strong for him now.
“Please Ethan, say something. Tell me what to do.”
He didn’t respond, but Nate did. His voice sounded in my ears, telling me something that must have been incredibly hard for him to voice. He told me, “It’s okay to let Ethan into your life.”
Chapter 24 - Ethan
All I can think of is that we need to get out of here...now! In the darkness I can’t see whether the snake is still within striking distance. I also have no idea if they bite more than once or how long I have before the poison enters my bloodstream. An hour, maybe a bit longer.
Ella lies next to me and I reach for her.
“You’re okay!” she exclaims and the happiness in her voice warms me. I know that she’s still weak from the cold, but the fear that the snake is still nearby makes me want to move to another location. I grab my pack and ignore the pain in my hand.
“Can you stand?” I ask her. I get to my feet and offer her my good hand.
She accepts it and gets to her feet gingerly. I know from looking at her that she’s dizzy as she takes a sudden step backwards, but then steadies herself. I put an arm around her waist, and we both help each other.
“Can you walk?” I ask.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
We take tentative steps, listening and moving
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