Ju: Sorry I missed you last time. You must've been the 9th reviewer I couldn't seem to find. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Taya: big smile I'm glad you think so. I would love to write my own TLW episode. Lol. Then again, I bet we all would. Lol.
KDC: Maybe she will…maybe she won't…insert a tease HAHAHA!
Keys: I do get kicks from leaving cliffhangers. You know why? YES! Of course you do: I. Am. Evil. Lol.
Sierra: Plane? I didn't know you were going on a trip. Did you mention this on the board somewhere? Speaking of which, it's a crying shame you can't make it to the convention. But it'll probably be held during the summer. Couldn't you go then? (Or – in your bio – did you mean the previous convention? Were you aware that we're planning another one?)
ChosenOne: I'm a night owl. I can stay up, but I can't get up. Lol. Anyway, I would offer to register you, but my computer doesn't allow me either. I had to have a friend sign me up. Yet, once registered, my computer allows me to login. Maybe I could ask my friend to sign you up, too? Anyway, I called the Funny Farm and they reject you. They said you were my problem and I had to deal with you. How about that? Not even the Nuthouse will take you!
Windsor: sigh What can I say? I love trouble!
Kat: [Chp1 Review]: I can't help it! I'm addicted to cliffhangers! It's nothing personal: honest! And no, I wouldn't want you to have a panic attack and die. I may be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Lol. [Chp2 Review]: Lol. TheChosenOne3'll probably strangle me first. I've already been threatened. Lol.
Barbie: Nope, not pretending this time. Lol. And you'll see where the river leads to soon. insert wink
Chapter Three
Over the Edge
Marguerite lunged back into the lukewarm river, fighting maddeningly against the currents that threatened to sweep her away. Yet, the heiress would not be deterred. She grunted and cursed as she forced her sore arms to push harder and harder until they were screaming from the strain; and still she gritted her teeth and swam onward. She kept her focus on the man in front her. He was motionless save for the crushing waves that bobbed his unconscious body around like a child's bouncy ball. She wanted to rant and rave, but she needed to conserve her energy to the constant stroking.
Finally, her fingers grazed the fabric of his trousers and she clawed at the cloth, trying desperately to get a better grip. She nearly cried in relief when she eventually managed to clutch a handful of his hem and drag herself closer. "And you're supposed to be the Knight in Shining Armor," she mumbled. "But remember who was saving who here."
A horrific sound pierced her ears and she peered up in terror. Rapidly approaching was a drop. Marguerite knew she couldn't get them out of the river in time. If nothing else, they were going over the fall.
"Hell if I'm going to lose you now," she hissed. Marguerite snaked her right arm across his chest by slipping it under his suspenders; and grasped his bare side, locking her self to him by using her left hand to hold her own right wrist.
She squeezed her eyes shut as they rushed over the edge. Momentarily, she felt lifted into the air before they began plummeting towards the earth. Marguerite clung to Roxton frantically as they crashed into the tumbling, roaring waves at the bottom of the falls. They were jostled and jerked around, being viciously engulfed. Marguerite swallowed a gulp of water and gagged; her muscles aching from the harsh, rolling waves that endlessly pounded into her from all directions.
And then she felt as though they were being sucked into a large vacuum and Marguerite feared they were stuck in some sort of spiraling undertow.
Determined, she kicked her feet and used one of her arms to claw at the water, while she kept her right arm securely wrapped around his chest. You could wake up any damn time now, she thought bitterly, finally winning the odds against Mother Nature. After I save us, she raged on, I'm going to kill you!
She broke the surface, heaving with exertion and choking as she drunk greedily on the fresh air. She rolled onto her back and continued kicking, the flow of the current aiding in pushing her away from the waterfall. Finally away from the turmoil, she slowly treaded them towards the edge of the river.
Marguerite dragged them up the embankment and then flipped Roxton onto his side and started pounding his back. "Come on, damn it, and spit it out!" She knew without a doubt that he – being unconscious – had swallowed lungs full of water.
She hastily pushed him onto his back and pressed her mouth to his; giving a long, powerful exhale into his lungs. She repeated it once…twice…three times…"Damn it, Roxton," she scolded. "Don't you dare die on me!" Tears sprung to her eyes as she continued to breathe for him. "Don't you dare, damn it!" She placed her palms on his chest and compressed. "Don't leave me here alone!"
She screeched when his face turned an ashen blue.
Exhale.
"Damn you!"
Exhale.
"Roxton!"
Exhale.
"Don't."
Compress.
"You."
Exhale.
"Leave."
Exhale.
"Me."
Marguerite wailed.
End Chapter Three