Chapter 29 Life or Death

Chapter 29 Life or Death
Hurrying after Liz, Tessa stepped into the dark woods, silently cursing Dane for reminding Liz to watch her. The path narrowed, winding up a steep incline. Liz carried a flashlight, but it cast little light in Tessa's direction, making it difficult to distinguish the terrain.
"The women use the top of the hill," Liz said when they finally stopped in a small clearing. Tessa squinted, trying to get her bearings. She needed to make her break quickly. Each second counted.
When she looked back at Liz for some privacy, she was alarmed to see the dull glint of metal. Liz sliced the air between them with a knife. A vision of Matt Micahels flashed through Tessa's mind. She eased backward.
"I could easily slit your throat," Liz hissed. "And throw you over the cliff into the lake."

Only then did Tessa realize that Liz had backed her into a corner. She peered wearily over her shoulder. Just a few paces behind her was a drop-off overhanging the lake.
The lake.
Tessa's fear of water weakened her knees. Dizziness rang in her ears as bursts of bright colors swam before her eyes. She felt herself grow faint and despised her own cowardice.
"Don't do this."
A hand clamped over her mouth as someone grabbed her around the waist from behind.
"Hello, darlin'. Told you we weren't through."
Tessa recognized Snake's voice and immediately began to struggle. Snake shifted his grip, placing a hand over her breast and squeezing. "Hold still damn it. I don't want anything you ain't already given Hayes. And who knows?" He smacked his lips behind her ear. "You might even like me more than pretty boy. I guarantee it'll be different."

Tessa knew she was going to be sick. Snake's hand continued to grope roughly across her chest, even as Liz watched. Bitter, regretful tears stung Tessa's eyes and ran down her cheeks. She never should have left Dane's side. Belatedly, she realized that she was only safe when with him.
"Let's go." Snake tugged her backward, towards the darkness of the trees. Towards her greatest fears. Assault. Death.
Frantic to break free, Tessa renewed her struggle. Forcing her mouth open, she bit Snake's hand, simultaneously stomping on his foot. He howled, loosening his grip. She dashed forward but didn't get away.
"Damn you!" he snarled. Catching a handful of her hair, he yanked her to the ground, slapping her viciously. "You'll pay for that."
Dane suddenly stepped out from the darkened woods. "Let her go, Snake!"
Snake's grip unexpectedly relaxed as he shoved Tessa aside and charged Dane.

Rolling to her feet, Tessa shot away. She cast a glance behind her and saw that Dane had Snake's head vised in the crook of his arm. Blood poured from Snake's nose. At that moment, Liz stepped forward, blocking the path, knife flashing. She grabbed Tessa's forearm, catching her off-guard, and spun her backwards, in a semicircle, toward the cliff.
The knife rested dangerously close to Tessa's throat, but it was the sight below that made her heart beat erratically.
The lake.
Liz had her perched on the very edge of the precipice. Moonlight reflected on the water below. The soft dirt crumbled, giving way beneath her feet. Tessa shrieked.
Dane looked up and immediately released Snake. "Drop the knife, Liz. Now!"
At first, Liz didn't look like she was about to comply. She stared at where Snake lay sprawled on the dirt floor, then shrugged. "Guess you win this round."
Throwing the blade at Dane's feet, Liz stepped away. But not before shoving Tessa harshly between the shoulders, sending her over the side of the cliff.

It seemed to take an eternity for Tessa to hit the water. An eternity suspended in hell. She sank immediately. The water's numbing coldness shocked her, breaking her stupor. Arms and legs flailing wildly, she broke the water's surface, desperate for air but unable to keep her head afloat. Her cries were cut off as water filled her mouth, choking her. "Dane!"
The water felt heavy, tugging on her, pulling her down. Every bad dream Tessa had about drowning crowded into her brain, horrifying her. She sank deeper.
Thoughts of her family flashed through her mind. The last words she had with her mother. So many regrets, so many things she had yet to experience. She thought of Dane. Damn it, she didn't want it to end like this. She didn't want to die.
She wanted to live.
She felt a hand close over her shoulder and began struggling. Frequently in the nightmares, there had been hands holding her under, not letting her up. Death. She had to fight it.

To her amazement, she broke the surface once more. Gasping for air, she renewed her attack.
"Tessa! I've got you. Don't fight me."
She surged forward, pushing uselessly, trying to find Dane in the eerie darkness."Can't swim." The dream closed in. She coughed. taking in more water. "Drowning."
Dane's voice came from behind her. "I won't let you. Relax."
Relax? She choked. Water burned her nose. An agonizing cry of panic broke free as she fought her fears. He didn't understand. Nobody understood the abject fear that water represented.
"Tessa, I have you. Reach up and feel my arm around your shoulders."
With jerky motions, she did as he asked. "I feel you, but I can't see you. Where ----"

Dane heard the rising panic in her voice and sought to calm her. "Trust me. We're almost there. Focus on my voice. Picture me in your mind."
Closing her eyes, Tessa tried to call his image to mind. His long dark hair. Broad shoulders. Silver eyes. The eyes that don't lie.Dane. It took every bit of courage she had to take that blind leap of faith and force her legs to stop flailing.
Immediately, she sensed movement. Dane was swimming, towing her. Saving her.
Exhausted, she stopped struggling. Trusting.....
As soon as Dane felt mud scrape his foot, he stood, sweeping Tessa into his arms. She huddled close, clawing, weeping, clutching frantically at his shirt. Several of the men lined the shore, having heard the commotion. Dane yelled for a blanket, fearing hypothermia.
When Frankie tossed him a blanket, Dane bundled Tessa in it.

He would have preferred to strip the wet clothes from her first, but he wasn't going to subject her to that, not with everyone standing around. He needed to get her back to the cabin. Picking her up, he headed for his motorcycle. "Just a few more minutes, Tessa."
When they reached the cabin, Dane carried her straight to the bathroom. Sitting her on the commode, he turned on the shower full force. He looked at her.
She hadn't said a word since he dragged her out the water. Her eyes were closed, and she trembled violently. He yanked off her wet sneakers, then pulled her to her feet. Clearly in shock, she offered no resistance as he stripped off her sodden jacket and clothes.
Damn both Snake and Liz!
If Dane hadn't been there, she would have drowned. The thought made his blood harden in his veins.
Steam started rising above the shower curtain. "This will warm you up." He pulled her to her feet. "Keep it as hot as you can stand it and shut it as soon as it starts turning cool."
She nodded, then swayed. He caught her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Stay with me, Tessa."

Quickly stripping off his own wet clothes, Dane picked her up once more and stepped into the shower with her. She cried out as needles of hot water stung her frozen skin. He grimaced, sorry to cause her this discomfort. "Give it a minute. You'll feel better."
The water stung his own skin, making Dane finally aware of how cold he was as well. He and Tessa had only been in the lake a few minutes, but it was enough for the icy water to leach the core warmth from their bodies.
Pulling her close, he held her beneath the spray, rocking her gently. She buried her face against his chest, tears falling freely. And all Dane could do was let her cry, as he fought his own demons.