“
W-What?” She feels her face in bewilderment, I can see tears form in her eyes.
“
W-We have to get out of here, we’ll freeze!” I get up from my sitting position, though the second I
add pressure to my feet, I immediately crumple down again.
“
What’s wrong?” Piper asks as she stares at me, concern filling her eyes.
“
I can’t feel them.” I whisper, my heart beat racing.
“
Feel what?”
“
My feet.”
“
Try again.”
Forcing every ounce of energy inside me, I push myself up, my feet give way, though I force them to
keep standing.
“
You try.” I beg. Piper leans on the wall for support and pushes herself up. Like me, she crumples to
the ground too.
“
Th-This isn’t right,” she frowns.
“
Get up, we’ll make it.”
I stumble towards her, the numbness in my feet making my steps awkward and inaccurate. I let out a
hand and she grabs ahold willingly, with a series of grunts, wheezes and yells, I manage to pull her up.
“
Let’s go.” Piper says as we drag our feet over the snow-covered bricks of the wall.
Piper’s POV
I know what this is. I know what’s going on right now. But I don’t want to tell her, she’ll freak out and
we already have enough things to worry about.
This was the early stages of hyperthermia. When we get out of here alive, if we get out of here alive,
we might get our feet amputated.
I shudder at the thought, “Think positive, think positive!” I remind myself as I drag my feet forward.
But I can’t rest now. It’s too dangerous.
As we stumble along the path in silence, I watch the moon slowly begin to disappear and the first rays
of sunshine fill the sky.
“
It’s getting light again.” I beam, trying to lighten the mood. I receive silence in reply.
With my teeth are chattering uncontrollably, the wind piercing and snipping at my pale skin, I push
myself forward step by step. While I fight against the howling wind, the question of whether we’d get out of
here alive keeps on repeating itself in my my mind.
Suddenly, the silence is broken by a ear-piercing scream. My attention immediately diverts to Georgia
whom was now lying down on the snow.
I let out my hand for her to grab on to,
“
Thanks.” She purses her lips into a thin line. As she hauls herself up, I can see she’s not doing well
either.
Her lost eyes and uncoordinated movements shows me she was about to pass out any second.
I’m going through the same thing too. My vision is blurry at the edges and I’m seeing double.
“
Come on, we’re almost there.” I force a smile and continue walking, keeping a close eye on Georgia.
Georgia’s POV
My thoughts are everywhere and I’m certain I can’t walk anymore. It’s already been a day and a half
without water or food, I’m beginning to regret stuffing ourselves on the ride here.
From the position of the sun, I can tell it’s already noon and the cloudy skies aren’t helping.
“
I can’t go on!” I wail as I collapse on the floor, my feet numb no matter how hard I stomp.
“
We’re almost there, I mean, look!” Piper points in front of me though I can’t see anything.
My throat is screaming, my stomach is throwing fits and my arms are shaking.
“
Th-There’s people!” Her voice is full of hope and I know she’s not lying to me. But I don’t have the
energy to celebrate.
“
Get. Help.” I whisper as dizziness over takes me. Black spots dance around in my vision, though
before I have the chance to say more, darkness surrounds me.
Piper’s POV
“
Georgia?” I yell at the sight of her limp body. I shake her though she doesn’t reply.
Gulping down my tears and wishing for my heart to slow down, I grudgingly haul myself up, though
the sudden wave of nausea sent myself tumbling back down to the ground again.
“
No, no!” I can’t lose myself now, there are people in sight. If I give up now, we will both die.
“
Help!” I wail as I desperately try to focus my vision, though my sight was failing me. “Help!”
I can hear faint yells in the distance. Maybe they can hear me... maybe. But I can’t be sure.
“
Help!” My vocal cords seem to be ripping as I force every ounce of energy inside me out.