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Chapter Five

Plan B

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Erin

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GLANCING TO ONE SIDE, I acknowledged Chelle clinging to me. Her vacant expression had intensified since we’d left the waterfall, and reaching for her hand, I squeezed her cold digits, noticing how the gesture barely even roused her.

“Chelle,” I murmured, gripping her hand tighter. “Are you okay?”

Of course she isn’t.

After everything that had happened, how could she be?

James might have been a prick, but that didn’t mean she thought he was. She’d told me she loved him. Seeing him tumble to his doom was undoubtedly the worst moment of her life.

“I can’t do this,” she mumbled as her feet ground to a halt.

“It’s all right,” I consoled, urging her on. “We’ll figure things out.”

Although, how I was going to figure out James’s plight was anyone’s guess.

“I mean it.” She yanked her fingers from mine. “I’mnotdoing this.”

“But we’re going to find James.” My tone was pleading as, anxiously, I acknowledged Eli striding away. “We have to go on, Chelle.”

“I’m not going down there to speak to officials and pretend he’s dead.” She clenched her jaw. “I have to know, Erin. Have to know what happened to him. I have to see for myself.”

“Can we stop?” I called to Eli, satisfied as he paused and turned back in our direction. Glancing at Chelle, I tried to make her see sense. “The authorities can help with that. Once we meet them, and—”

“No.” Resolve resounded in her voice. I’d rarely seen her so determined. “I don’t want strangers pawing over him. I’ll find out for myself.”

“What’s wrong?” Eli hollered. Already some distance from where we were standing, he wasn’t privy to our conversation.

“I know you’re trying to help me.” Chelle’s despondent expression bored into me. “And I’m thankful, Erin. I am.”

“But?” I sensed where the sentence was going.

“But I need to do this on my own.” Chelle pulled in a breath. “I hope you understand...”

“What does that mean?” I peered back to see Eli marching toward us. His scowl suggested he wasn’t impressed by the delay, but I was more concerned about Chelle’s bizarre behavior.

“It means I’m going.” She backed away from me, her words soft. “Don’t come after me, Erin. He can take you to safety.” She motioned to Eli. “Stay with him.”