Page 102 of Red Zone Awakened

CHAPTER43

Fury,rather than panic, raced through Keiko’s veins.

She wouldnotdrown in a river.Not after everything she’d already survived.Fighting to calm her heart rate, she took stock of her situation.

Through the thick, brown murk, she could just make out the shadowy shape of the tree her ankle was caught in.She closed her eyes tight again.Vision was of no use to her anyway.Lungs burning, she kicked at the branches digging into her ankle.Pain seared through her.All she’d done was force the jagged wood farther into her trapped foot.

With effort, she bent over to reach her ankle.The water was thick.Dark.Cold.She felt like she was moving in slow motion, each second an agony of knowing her time was fast running out.Frantically, she felt around her ankle.Her fingers scraped against bark and slime and sharp little twigs that dug into her flesh, holding her in place.

Bright white spots appeared at the edges of her vision as her lungs screamed for air.There was a giant ticking clock in her mind, counting down the seconds until it would no longer be possible to keep herself from sucking in water in a futile attempt to find air.Clutching at the twigs and bark, she pulled, feeling the biting pain as the branch dug deeper on the other side of her foot.

She bent farther, sliding a hand down either side of her ankle.Her brain throbbed now, screaming at her to breathe.The urge to open her mouth grew stronger every second.It was only a matter of time before she couldn’t fight it anymore.

With one last effort, she tugged at the tree limbs on either side of her foot, using all her remaining strength.They shifted.Slightly.It had to be enough.She jerked her leg up, feeling the agony of jagged bark and branch digging into her skin, tearing her apart.

For a second, she thought her leg would rip from her body.And then her shoe was yanked off, and her foot slipped free.Keiko launched herself upward, aiming for the light above her head.But she was weak.Bruised and bleeding.Exhausted and desperate for air.Her head was thumping, dizziness clawing at the edge of her consciousness.

A black shape appeared beside her, and she almost laughed deliriously.At least she wouldn’t drown because she’d end her life as a meal for an alligator.But instead of sharp teeth, an arm slid around her waist, and strong legs propelled her the few short feet to the surface.As her face hit the air, she gasped a deep, welcome breath.

“I’ve got you,” a familiar voice said.“Can’t let you die, or my brother will never talk to me again.At least until he finds another poor sucker to fall for his meager charms.”

When she managed to open her eyes, she found herself staring into Sandi’s amused face.

“I thought you were an alligator,” Keiko said.

“I am, Tinker Bell.”She grinned wide.“You do realize that now I’ve saved your life, you owe me, and I don’t plan on ever letting you forget it.”

Keiko groaned.Of course she wouldn’t.She was just as twisted as her brother.And that thought made her smile.

“Is he okay?”she asked as they headed to the embankment.

“He’s breathing.Everything else we can sort.”

As Keiko opened her mouth to ask about his bat, a massive blast rent the air.They ducked back under the water to avoid flying debris, while overhead, the sky burned red before turning black.

The shuttle had struck the bridge.