The rain had slowed, now a light drizzle, but it must have been pouring in the mountains, causing the flash flood to head our way.
I took off my backpack, dropping it to the ground, and rolled Cerise onto her back, preparing to use CPR.
“Cerise! Can you hear me?” I shouted, patting her face.
Her eyes fluttered open and she gasped, coughing and retching up the water she had swallowed. My shoulders slumped in relief as I turned her to her side.
“There you are. You’re okay. You’re safe. I’ve got you,” I soothed, rubbing between her shoulders through her moans and gasps.
She rolled onto her back, disoriented and confused. “What happened? I—Liam? Where?—”
“Shh.” I leaned over and grasped her hand, pulling it to my chest. “We need to get somewhere safe. Can you stand?”
She nodded, still a bit confused, but managed to rise with my help. I slung my pack over my shoulder, thankful I still had it, and kept an arm around her waist to steady her. At least we had some supplies out here in the middle of the jungle.
Alone.
“Liam…What happened? Oh no. Where is everyone?” Cerise babbled, realizing the predicament we were in. “The water…I fell in the water. It was so cold, and…Where did you come from? I don’t?—”
“Shhh…it’s okay. Let’s find somewhere to set up the tent and I’ll explain everything.”
“Okay.” Her voice came out in a whisper as she walked with me through the trees. After a while we found a clearing on higher ground. The rain had ceased and I was determined to get us warm and dry.
“Come on, sunshine. Rest against this tree.” I lowered her with care, leaning her against the trunk and kneeling before her. Cupping her face, I asked, “Are you all right? Can you wait here while I set up our tent?”
“Yes. I—” She swallowed, her eyes glistening with tears.
“What is it?”
“Just…don’t leave me.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll just be right here.” I brushed my thumb along her jaw. “You’re safe now. I promise.”
“All right,” she whispered.
Rising, I turned around and set my pack down. Cerise gasped, standing from her spot and stumbling toward me.
“Cerise, you’re recovering from almost drowning. You need rest.”
She ignored me, pulling at the hem of my button-up. “Take off your shirt! You’re bleeding! Let me see it.”
“Right. I forgot about that,” I muttered, the pain now pushing through the adrenaline rush of earlier.
I did as Cerise commanded, standing in the jungle shirtless.
“Can you lie down?” she asked. “Do you have a blanket in your bag?”
“Yes.”
Cerise hurried to my pack and removed the blanket, laying it carefully on the wet, leaf-covered ground. I lay on my stomach, allowing her to examine the wound. “How does it look?”
“It’s deep, but I can heal it. Tell me what happened while I work.” Her voice was still raw, exhaustion obvious in her tone, but I could tell she was trying to hide it, trying to take care of me now.
I took a deep breath as Cerise laid her hands on my mid-back, wincing as she got closer to the wound. “What do you remember?”
“I remember climbing that rock and trying to grab your hand. Then the water swept me away. That’s really all.”
“Everyone else made it to the top. You were carried away and I jumped in after you. I found you unconscious and, though I have no idea how I did it, pulled you out and got us to dry land. I was hit with some debris and that’s the injury on my back.”
