Chapter Two
Jess's POV
Forcing my eyes open, I peer through the murky water of the creek, searching for her. I see a flash of blonde hair and I dive down.
My lungs burn from lack of oxygen, but I keep swimming until I finally grab hold of her arm. I swim as fast as I can towards the surface, pulling Leslie along with me. I break through the water and gasp for air, then book it to shore. I climb up onto a slippery rock, hoisting Leslie up onto the riverbank and scrambling up beside her to check out the damage.
There's a cut on her forehead that's bleeding and she's unconscious.
"Leslie!" I plead, shaking her shoulders. "Leslie wake up!"
I check, and by some miracle, she's still breathing.
"Somebody help!" I scream. "Call 911!"
I scoop her up in my arms and run as fast as I can back in the direction of our houses, screaming for help the entire time.
Mr. Burke must have heard me and comes running outside.
"Jess, what-" he stops short when he sees his bloodied, unconscious daughter in my arms.
"Judy call 911!" he shouts and rushes over to me.
"I'm so sorry." I sob. "T-the rope broke…she f-fell…I-I'm s-sorry!"
"Shhhh, it's okay." Mr. Burke says, taking Leslie from me. "It's going to be okay."
And I cry. Yes, I, Jess Aarons, cry. I drop to my knees, soaking wet, my hands covered in her blood. And I cry.
The ambulance arrives and takes her away.
Mr. Burke gently pulls me up from the ground and leads me to the car.
The whole ride to the hospital, my eyes never leave the back of the ambulance.