Page 81 of On the Edge

Poppy.Fuck.

Ryan’s grip loosened as he turned towards the voice.Nel didn’t move.She didn’t dare.She took a deep, greedy breath, her eyes still fixed on the rocks below.

‘Let her go!’Poppy screamed.

‘Stay back!’Nel yelled, but her words disappeared into the wind.

‘Shut up!’Ryan tightened his hold on her again, his hand against her throat.

Then there was sudden movement.Footsteps.A loud smack.Ryan jolted backwards, losing his grip on Nel.She swung around as Ryan’s fist connected with Poppy’s eye, watching in horror as her niece fell to the ground.

Everything stopped.

The wind.

Ryan.

Time.

‘Poppy!Poppy!’Nel’s voice was little more than a whisper as she scrambled to her niece’s side.‘Say something, Poppy!’

Poppy let out a long moan.Her eyes met Nel’s, wide with fear as she brought a hand to her face.Blood poured from her nose.A dead branch lay by her side, the makeshift weapon she’d used to hit Ryan.

Nel was vaguely aware of Ryan running up the stairs towards the car park.

Poppy’s eyes rolled back, her eyelids drooping.

‘Stay with me, Poppy,’ she begged.‘Please, Poppy.Stay with me.’

Her eyes closed.

Fuck.Nel tipped her head back to open her airway, then put her cheek above Poppy’s mouth.

Please, Poppy.Please don’t die.

And then she felt it, soft and warm.She exhaled with relief, feeling Poppy’s neck for a pulse.It was weak, but it was there.

‘It’s going to be okay, Poppy.It’s going to be okay.’

Would it be okay, though?Ryan’s fist must have connected with her temple, where the temporal artery sat just beneath the skin.There could be bleeding in her brain.

Please let it be okay.

There was a sound behind her.She swung around, expecting to see Ryan, but it was a young man.A boy.His dark hair hung wet, his face contorted.

‘Poppy!’he yelled as he ran towards them.

Who was he?Jack?She raised her hand to slow him down as he reached Poppy’s side.

‘Don’t touch her!She’s breathing, but I don’t know the extent of her injuries yet.Have you got a phone?We need an ambulance.’

Shaking, he took his mobile from his pocket and dialled triple zero.‘Ambulance,’ he said.

‘Put the phone on speaker,’ Nel said.‘And give me your t-shirt.’

‘NSW Ambulance,’ an operator said.‘What’s your exact location?’

‘Cape Caution Lookout.We need an ambulance immediately.My niece has been assaulted.She’s semi-conscious but she’s bleeding profusely.’