Chapter 47 Sinking Petals

Chapter 47 Sinking Petals
“You crazy broad—wait!” James shouted before yelling in alarm. I didn’t see what had startled him; I was already falling. 
Water drenched me, blurring my vision. I barely missed the log, grabbing on at the last second. My nails raked across the slippery wood as I climbed onto it. The log creaked and shifted beneath my weight. My breath shook as I glanced below me. It was still a long drop to the bottom.
Almost there. Almost there. I brushed my soaked hair back and slowly crawled across the log towards where the bandits were. I doubt they could see me, but if they did end up finding me, I’d be in for another fight. I’m not afraid. I’ll fight to the death if I must.
Wait… I just got this second chance at life.
Am I really prepared to throw it away so quickly?
James screamed again, his voice drowned out by the sound of shattering wood. I looked up, and cracks rippled down what was left of the dam before falling apart all at once. Boom. The gush of water threw me off the log. My scream cut short when my back smacked the water. It was deeper than I thought, but I still hit my head on the rocks, darkening my vision. I snapped out of it as a stream of red swept past my face. The back of my head throbbed. 
Logs and thick planks from the dam dived into the water, barely grazing me. I flinched, yelping up bubbles as one smashed my arm. With all my strength, I slipped free and swam to the surface, fiercely kicking in the water.
I gasped for air once I reached the surface. James’ yell was heard for the last time as I spotted his hand disappear beneath the waves. My first instinct was to swim after him, but logs and debris dragged me under again. My lungs burned, strength dwindling.
Am I going to die again…? But my family…!
With all my might, I swam against the current, but it was futile. The current carried me through the flooded riverbed like a tidal wave. There’s no other choice. As the river dragged me under again, I grabbed hold of a log racing through the water and hauled myself to the surface again, gasping for breath. I clung to the log, letting it sweep me away but keeping me afloat. 
My surroundings changed drastically. What were once steep slopes were now abandoned farmland. It only took seconds, and now I was far from the others.
Nobody can save me now.
It doesn’t matter.
I can do this!
Naive encouragement, but still encouragement. Fear didn’t race my thoughts; I kept calm under the pressure and looked around for anything that could get me out of the river. I still clung to the log. 
I flinched and coughed as other logs and dam debris slammed against my back, almost making me lose my grip and nearly dragging me below again. My arms ached as my energy drained; what was left of my strength holding onto the log was waning fast.
Ahead, the wide river’s shores rose into a ravine. The current turned into rapids farther ahead. Logs and the dam’s debris disappeared in the violent waves.
Shit. 
I looked around, panic growing. Several trees had fallen on one side of the river, their branches reaching the wild, brown water. It was halfway across the river from me, and the current grew more intense by the second.
It’s now or never.
Taking a deep breath, I let go of my log and swam toward the branches, but I was immediately dragged under. My armor felt heavier and heavier, barely able to lift my arms. More wood slammed into me, shoving me quicker downriver. My lungs burned, threatening to give out. Last chance. I used whatever logs I could grab, dragging me back to the surface. Coughing and gasping for air, I looked around wildly. The branches were a foot away. My hand shot from the water and snatched the end of the branch at the last second, and I prayed that my weight and the power from the current wouldn’t snap the dead wood. 
Grunting and wheezing, I used the last of my strength to grab hold of the branch with both hands and gradually pull myself toward the steep shore. Thankfully no more wood and debris slammed into me, or the branch would snap for sure. My breath shook as I reached the edge. Still clinging to the branch, I tried to climb up with my feet pressed against the steep, soft earth. I reached for the top of the ravine. SNAP. My heart leapt to my throat as the branch broke and I plummeted back into the water. My soaked armor immediately dragged me to the bottom of the river. 
No—no, no, no, I can’t die! I can’t! Not like this! Not when I haven’t even…!
I thrashed in the water, but my weight and weakened state wouldn’t let me lift an inch. Bubbles rose from my mouth as my burning lungs reached their limit. My strength faded. My vision blurred. Everything became numb. I couldn’t breathe. Then something firm wrapped around my waist and yanked me up, dragging me back to the surface. 
I hacked up water, gasping for air. It took me a second to realize I was hauled onto someone’s shoulder and their armored arm was wrapped around me. A knight’s armor. I already knew who it was without even having to look at their face. It’s always the same person who comes to my rescue. Always. 
Always Jackson.
My fatigued body went limp in his grasp he as swam against the current and snatched hold of a hanging branch. Jackson climbed up the ravine’s edge, keeping me flopped over his shoulder. I should’ve felt more pathetic than ever, but I was too tired to move, let alone think. 
We collapsed at the top of the ravine, and I landed on his chest, both of us gasping for air. Even beneath his armor, I could still hear his loud heartbeat. It brought me sweet comfort until he sat up and grabbed my shoulders.
“What the FUCK were you thinking?!” he roared. “Do you have a death wish?! I gave you an order, and you disobeyed AGAIN! I’m starting to believe you want to die!”
“I—I had no choice!” I croaked, screaming back at him. “He knew about my death! He knew about… parents…” My voice slurred as I swayed. The pulsing pain in my skull worsened, blurring my vision again. 
“What?” He looked me up and down. “Your death?” Noticing my condition, he reached behind my head, and I yelped when he touched my wound. Jackson paled when he saw the blood on his fingertips. “Shit…” he breathed, scooping me up in his arms and hurrying back.
“You’re out of your fucking mind, Robin,” Jackson muttered, hopping onto Ruby and cradling me in one arm as we took off. “Keep your eyes open, you hear me? Stay with me… Please—” His voice faded as my vision turned to black.
Darkness. An eternal night. The void…