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Chapter 11 The Ravine’s Edge
I told Alice, “Be brave–jump! Once you’re up, find a strong branch and help pull
me out!”
Alice nodded and leapt lightly upward.
Her momentum knocked me off the rock pile, and I tumbled back down.
But I was thrilled to see her safely make it out of the ravine.
From above, I heard Alice’s tearful voice: “Mr. Leon, thank you… please wait, I’ll go find a sturdy branch!”
A few minutes later, she lowered a two–meter branch into the ravine.
I stood on the rock pile, grabbed the branch, and finally pulled myself out.
Alice, eyes full of tears, threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek. “Thank God… we finally made it out of that nightmare.”
I nodded and looked around.
It was nearly dark. We had to hurry back.
Once night fell completely, it would be almost impossible to find our way to the
cave.
Alice and I jogged quickly, and about half an hour later, we neared the cave.
In the darkness, I heard Elsa’s arrogant voice: “Where are you hiding the food? Hand it over now!”
“Hmph! I’m Leon’s wife. His food is mine. His cave is mine!”
“I’m sleeping in this cave tonight! The rest of you can get lost!”
Lily shouted back, “Leon and I discovered this cave! He went looking for water— he’ll be back any minute!”
Elsa burst into shrill laughter. “Back soon? Oh please. Let me tell you the truth:
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yourself!”
My face darkened. I clenched my fists and started walking toward them.
I heard Lily sobbing, “No… That’s not possible! Mr. Leon is strong–there’s no way he’s dead!”
Elsa said smugly, “I’m not lying! Jean, come here. Tell them–Leon is dead!”
Jean’s voice was quiet and hesitant. “Y–yes… Mr. Leon fell from a cliff. He’s… gone…”
Elsa laughed triumphantly. “Did you hear that? He’s dead! So get out of my cave! And leave half the food behind! That’s my share—it’s community property!”
Lily yelled, “Come any closer, and I’ll kill you with this stone knife!”
In the moonlight, I saw Lily holding a handmade blade–just a sharp–edged rock, but good enough for cutting food.
Elsa, for all her loudness, didn’t dare approach.
Instead, she shoved Jean forward. “Go get the berries from the cave and kick them out.”
Terrified, Jean stumbled forward a few steps.
Lily raised the stone knife, and Jean fell flat on her butt, waving her hands. “Please don’t hurt me, Miss Lily! I won’t steal your food!”
Elsa snarled, “Useless idiot. You can’t do anything right!”
She kicked Jean hard in the backside.
At that moment, I stepped out from the shadows and grabbed Elsa by the hair.
Elsa, riding high on her power trip, was startled out of her mind.
She turned and saw my face–cold, alive–and screamed.
I slapped her hard across the face.
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her lip as her mouth split open. h split open.
Alice Alice, panick
on?! You’re alive?!”
strange? Somehow I didn’t die… Even though youstiwough you saw s. Even though you pushed rocks down to crushown andrush me and
just blown up in her face. her face
helmed with shock and relief. od plich
nd dragged her away from the cave.
the eaves
got You’re hurting me!”
to’t hurt enough.”
dandiepedine and Alice yesterday, maybe I would’ve se I would’ve lose tururabose betrayal.”
d, chu clasdhclutched her throat.
ragainsharagainst a tree.
e an insecten insect pinned to bark.
d out I was lount was in the ravine too. And why?
together, Irother, yashowed you how to make fire in tor–she wouldnd wouldn’t know how to do that.”
selfes herself.
the airto the air
e turned bright redbright re
because you thought dawhhi was in that ravine, you really hate me that much hat much?”
rolling back.ing back.
why
ake fire in
WAIT, YOU
34
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Alice, panicked, cried out, “Mr. Leon–stop! You’re going to kill her!”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
