Chapter 13: Burden

Nilana gasped, her fingers clenching the handle of the umbrella with all the strength she could muster. The water had risen around her, submerging her to hip level, and there was little she could do to halt its advance. The rain came down in torrents, relentless and unforgiving.

Her initial plan of sheltering within the umbrella had crumbled in her first attempt. The parachute fabric, now torn and tattered, had succumbed to the harsh friction against something unidentified in the pit.

Clutching the battered remains of the umbrella over her head, she knew she had no choice but to try her last resort. Even though she believed it highly unlikely for anyone to venture deep into the forest, especially in the dead of night and amid such treacherous weather, hope clung to her like a frail vine.

"Help! Anyone! Help me!" She cried out, her voice a desperate plea cracking midway from exhaustion. Her head throbbed with dizziness, and blood trickled down from a wound on her forehead that she didn't dare to inspect. Her weakened knees struggled to hold her, submerged in the rising water.

Shivering from the cold and fear, she implored the heavens for another chance at life, her prayer whispered amidst the relentless storm.

Ian stomped outside his manor. His eyes widened and mouth gaped slightly. Ian burst out of his manor, his eyes widening and mouth slightly agape in disbelief at the unfolding tempest. Without a moment's delay, he lunged in the direction of the forest. Moonscar followed him outside, confused by the suddenness of his actions.

Rain consumed of him, dripping from his damp hair. It blurred his eyes, but he blinked the raindrops away. He jumped from trees to tree- the back of his mind reminding him that thunder lightnings weren't nice with huge long trees. Despite thinking about keeping himself safe, Ian couldn't stop worrying about Nilana.

The deeper he went into the forest, the hopeless he felt. In a moment of desperation and frustration, he made a choice—he dropped to the ground, seeking a momentary respite from the onslaught of the elements.

She's afraid of thunderstorms, isn't she? He reminded himself as he recalled how she flinched while back in the boat, a mere week ago.

And now she was lost, most probably all alone, and god knows where.

Ian didn't even waste a second acknowledging the feelings that were growing inside him.

He was too lost in searching for her. Searching for a girl he barely even knew, a girl- he told himself- that he barely even cared about. Or did he?

"Help! Anyone! Help me!" Her weak plea sounded like a distant whisper to him, it caused him to halt. It was a fleeting pause to gather his thoughts and summon the determination to continue his search for the voice that called out in distress.

"Anyone...please." Her voice. Her voice. It was Nilana's voice. She was alive. She was alive!

Ian looked around, in a search of the source of the voice.

"H-help." Her voice again passed his ears along with the never ending sound of the rain. It came from an enormous hole a few meters away from him.

He sprinted as fast as his legs could carry him, the urgency to reach Nilana compelling him forward. And then, there she was—Nilana, perched at the bottom of the pit. Her grip on the black umbrella was weak, struggling against the water that had risen to her hips, creating a stark contrast with her white dress. The sight of her in distress fueled his determination to get her out of this predicament and to safety.

"Nilana..." He was out of breath, panting. But he could swear he didn't feel like breathing at all the whole time he searched for her. Finding her breathing and alive made his lungs and heart work again.

Nilana looked up slowly, and weakly. "Mister Ian..." She blinked. Ian wasn't sure if it was a raindrop or tears. "Are you real...is this real or am I already dead?"

"How on earth did you end up in a pit of all places!" He shouted, he couldn't even believe what was going on with his life anymore.

"Elara Moonscar! Get me a long rope from the manor!" He turned around and yelled to Moonscar, who was following him silently the whole time.

A bit taken back at his sudden command, she didn't show it. She quickly turned back and leaped.

Ian couldn't wait that long for her to come back. He had to do something, now.

Without a second thought, Ian swiftly removed the thick leather belt from his trousers, revealing the concealed knife hidden in his boot. Expertly, he secured one end of the belt to the edge of the pit, stabbing it with the knife in a deft maneuver. The belt was now firmly anchored to the ground. He held the other end, carefully descending a bit into the pit himself, and extended his hand toward Nilana, offering her a lifeline to climb to safety.

She was out of his reach and at the deep bottom of the hole.

"Nilana, hold my hand."

Her vision became blurry, but she still fought with her life to concentrate on what Ian was saying than concentrating on the pain. "Huh?" She muttered.

"Stand up and hold my hand, quickly!" His grip around the end of his leather belt grew tighter. He knew if she didn't make the move right now, both he and her would end up in the bottom of the pit.

It was a do or die situation.

She sloppily stood up on her tiptoes and tried to reach for his hand. She missed it.

"I am sorry Mister Ian. I've burdened you a lot. I think you will be fine without me." Her voice cracked as she stood there in the pit of rising water.

"For the sake of your cinnamon rolls, hold my hand right now, Nilana. Goddammit." He gritted his teeth.

Right then, Moonscar arrived with the ropes.

"Serpent!" she yelled out.

"Pass me the rope Moonscar!" He shouted back quickly, his leather belt's grip growing weak around his hands.

The lady with the red hair immediately went at a distance. She tightly knotted an end in the bark of a tree and threw another end at Ian's direction, inside the pit.

He managed to grab it right when his belt ripped apart from the nailed knife, causing him to lose his balance, and submit himself to the gravity.

He landed right at the bottom with a splash, joining Nilana. Before she could even register what was going on, he quickly tied the rope around his hips and held her face with both of his hands. Her weak eyes found his.

Their eye contact lasted a second before he placed his hands on her hips, pulled her to him, and lifted her in a quick move.

Wrapping her legs around his hips, he leaned beside her head. "You were never a burden to me."

Nilana chuckled lightly before her body gave in. She fell unconscious, resting her head over his drenched shoulders.

Even he knew that was a lie.