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Her eyes sparkle with unshed tears and optimism as she looks at me.
“What happened?”
“I think you passed out from the pain,” she says as she points to my torso. “I don’t think you have a concussion, and thank God for that, otherwise I don’t think you would have woken up. I tried to dress your head wound as best as I could. It’s not a pretty sight, but I think it’s just a bloody flesh wound. It’s your ribs that I’m worried about…”
“Wait!” I put my hand up. “Slow down. I can barely follow what you’re saying.”
Seeing me about to move, she hurries to my side as she helps me in a sitting position.
“The good news? Your head isn’t as bad as it looks. The bad news? You hurt your ribs. Your entire torso is bruised up. I just hope that…” she trails off as she bites her lips.
“That I’m not bleeding internally,” I add grimly.
She nods.
“You need to take this,” she thrusts a small tablet towards me. “It’s for pain. The best we can do is bandage everything up and manage the pain until we can get help.”
“Shit! That’s right. Help. The satellite phone. We need to send a SOS.”
“I already did that,” she tells me proudly. “I also scouted the area and…”
“Wait a moment,” I interrupt her again. “Just how long was I out?”
“I’m not sure how much time passed to be honest. But a few hours?” Her lips flatten in a thin line. “I was so worried, Raf,” she finally breathes in relief, scooting closer and taking my face between her two small hands.
Leaning forward, she places a light kiss on my skin.
“I’m still trying to catch up,” I add drily. “But I can’t say I’m not impressed with your efficiency.”
“I think there’s a river a bit further in the distance. I didn’t get to it, but I could swear I heard the sound of water.”
“I didn’t realize you were so good at finding your way in nature,” I raise a brow.
She shrugs.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Raf. But I’m willing to tell you everything.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but it might have to wait.”
I grimace as I pull myself to my feet. Swaying a little, it takes me a few moments to stabilize myself enough to walk. At all times, Noelle is by my side, ready to help me.
Despite the pain, a small smile pulls at my lips.
In regular circumstances, I guess I would have expected her to cry and scream, maybe have a panic attack at the situation we’re in. And I wouldn’t have blamed her. After all, we’re in the middle of nowhere, having just survived a deadly pain crash. We have plenty of injuries and just one small first aid kit that is unlikely to help much. We have no food or potable water, and no shelter. Most of all, we have no way of knowing when help will come—although I’m sure Carlos will mobilize people the moment he can’t get in touch with me.
Yet at every step of the way, Noelle has surprised me with both her attitude and her ingenuity.
“Tell me how far you managed to go and what you saw,” I tell her in a stern tone.
As prompted, she recounts everything she saw and what her impressions were, telling me that the terrain is a mix of forest and arid desert and that we’re most likely in a valley between mountains.
“Ok, I think we need to make a plan. First, we make a shelter, preferably within walking distance of a water source. I think we have maybe four or five more hours of daylight—if we’re lucky—so we need to make the best of it. We need to treat our injuries, and don’t,” I shush her when she’s about to speak. “You think I didn’t notice you didn’t do anything about your wound?” I point at her arm. “You had plenty of time and you didn’t, so that’s the first we’ll deal with.”
Once more, she protests, but I don’t let her.
“It’s non negotiable,” I raise a brow at her.
“Fine,” she grumbles.
