CHAPTER ONE

Laura opened her eyes-it was early morning. The sun was bright and she covered her eyes with her arm. She couldn't move her other arm, when she did it agony shot through it. It must be broken.

She tested her other limbs, legs seemed okay, she could move them. She moved her head and a blinding headache almost made her pass out. She took several deep breaths before sitting up slowly. Nothing else seemed broken but her arm so she cradled it with her good one. There were lacerations on her legs, the gash on her forehead had dried and her clothes were grubby and torn.

She looked at her surroundings, she was on a lonely stretch of beach and the water was lapping at her feet. Behind her was cliff wall that stretched from one end to the beach to the other.

Where am I? She wondered and stared out to see. There was nobody in sight. A thought crossed her mind, did everyone back in Summer Bay think she was dead? How long has she been unconscious for? A day, two?

Laura closed her eyes and tried to remember her fall from the cliff but her mind was a complete blank.

An image flashed in her mind then and she gasped, Sam! Was he still alive? What if she was on the same beach? She stood up-a bit too fast because everything spun around her. She looked around wildly, she couldn't just sit there and wait for him. She had to find him herself.

Laura was walking a good twenty minutes before she collapsed onto the sand and blackness swamped her once more.

Morag headed for Irene's house, even though she had wanted to stick close to the surf club. Peter had assured her he would call ASAP but Morag knew she had to check on Jacob. He stayed with Irene, he could not stay at his apartment, it was still a crime scene.

" How is he?" Morag asked Irene.

" He's pretty upset, so he's not talking much." Irene replied, " Did you want a drink?"

" Um, no thank you, I'm going back to the surf club and I was wondering if Jacob would like to come?"

" I'll go and see." Irene headed for the room that use to be Kim Hyde's and peered in. Jacob was sitting on the edge of his bed, head in hands.

" Jake?" Irene knocked one and heard his muffled reply.

" Pardon me?"

" I said," Jacob lifted his head and glared at her, " My name is Jacob. Nobody calls me Jake. Got it?"

" Okay, I'm sorry," Irene frowned back. Sure he might be going through some stuff at the moment but was there any need to be so rude?

" Morag is here, did you want to go back to the surf club with her?"

Jacob nodded and followed Morag outside. They went back to the club and Morag asked Peter right away if there was any news.

" No, I'm sorry-" Peter began when there was crackling on his radio. He spoke into it for awhile, " Can you confirm it please?"

The tinny voice spoke again and Morag tried to understand it, but it was too faint.

" Have they found her?" Jacob asked impatiently.

" No, sorry mate. Just be patient. We have search teams on the water and on the ground. We'll find her okay?" Peter offered a smile at the kid before going about his business.

" Now what?" Jacob asked the solicitor as Morag sat down.

" Now we play the waiting game."

They waited for what it seemed like hours. Morag was losing all hope when there was suddenly a buzz of activity. Peter hurried towards them, a smile on his tired face.

" We have some good news. We found her." Peter told them.

" You have?" Jacob almost shouted and Morag looked relieved.

" Where exactly was she?"

" She was found unconscious on a deserted beach about a few miles from the Bay. They are air-lifting her to Summer Bay District now."

Jacob tugged at Morag's arms, " Let's go." He urged and ran for the door. Morag followed but a bit more slowly. She felt a rush of emotions she hadn't felt in awhile and couldn't quite explain them.

As soon as you see her, you tell her. Morag reminded herself.