The car stopped and I heard footsteps coming around the side of the car. The trunk popped open and I saw Dubaku standing over me.
"Get out," he ordered me.
I crawled out, still weak from being tortured. My lungs ached as I inhaled the cool October air(let it be noted that I'm making up my own month. I have no reason to believe that 24 is actually taking place in October.)
We walked across the bridge, staying on the sidewalk to avoid the cars. In the distance, I could see Tony and Jack coming towards us. Tony was carrying a black duffel bag, which I assumed contained the money and jewels.
There were at least thirty feet from us when Dubaku stopped me. "That's far enough. I have men watching this bridge," he shouted to Tony.
Slowly, I took a few steps towards the edge of the bridge. The rail wasn't high, but the fall was. It was almost twice the distance as the high platform, but I felt confident that I could do it.
"I want you to bring me the bag," Dubaku insisted. "When I have it, you can have the girl back."
He glanced at me, then back at Tony. That was my chance. I climbed up on the cinder block rail, checked to make sure that nothing was going to hinder my fall, then stood on the edge.
"Don't move!" Dubaku ordered me, pulling his gun out and aiming at me.
"Tony!" I exclaimed. "Don't give him what he wants!" With that, I raised up on my tip toes, then went off backwards, executing a sloppy double somersault.
The minute Elle went over the rail of the bridge, Bill pulled a van up next to Jack and Tony. Chloe slid the door open and the two of them jumped in.
"Go, go, go!" Tony shouted, slamming the door shut.
Dubaku leaned over the edge and fired several shots at Elle as she fell, then turned and shot at the van as it sped away.
As I fell, death suddenly stared me directly in the face. I heard gunshots ring out loudly and something sharp hit my shoulder. That pain was nothing compared to what I felt when I hit the water. I felt as though I'd landed on a million tiny icicles.
Numb and stunned, I sank deep into the river. Somewhere I found a tiny bit of strength and forced my legs to kick and propel me to the surface. When my head surfaced, I gasped for air. My lungs were burning again and my entire body felt stiff, not to mention the fact that my left shoulder was throbbing horribly.
Using my one good arm, I swam towards the shoreline. The current was strong and it pulled me downstream a good ways before I finally made it to the riverbank. Shivering and half-frozen, I huddled in the grass, scared and weak.
"Elle!" I heard Tony's voice yell. "Where are you? Make some noise, baby, so we can find you!"
Weakly, I got to my feet and looked around for him. He was thirty yards upstream with Jack and Renee.
"Tony?" I called, walking towards him feebly. My legs felt like solid chunks of ice, I couldn't stop shivering, and I was gasping for air. Tony looked up, saw me, and began running towards me.
I collapsed into his arms, relieved that, for a little while at least, I was safe. "You found me," I whispered, reaching up and touching his face with my fingertips.
"You're safe now, Elle. Don't worry," Tony assured me.