Taking in a deep breath. “A tourniquet, Lib. You have to make a tourniquet. Use your belt baby.”
Libby pulled her belt off. “Put it above the open wound and get it as tight as you can.”
Libby began placing the tourniquet on. Her eyes moved to mine. “How do I get it tight without hurting you?”
“Just get it as tight as you can.”
Libby closed her eyes and pulled the belt as tight as she could. I bit the inside of my cheek and tried like hell not to call out.
“That’s as tight as I can get it, Luke.” Standing up she looked down. “You’ve lost so much blood.” Placing her hands over her mouth again, she began crying. “Oh God.”
“Baby, I need you to find the biggest stick you can, but watch for snakes. I need to get up so we can hike out of here.
Her eyes widened in horror. “You can’t hike out of here, Luke.”
Standing, she began screaming. “Help! Somebody help us!” She started to walk toward the trail. She had blood running down from her knee and she was limping.
My head hurt so damn bad. I’m so sleepy. I glanced over to Libby. Everything was starting to get blurry. “Lib, help me up.”
Libby came running back over with a giant stick. “I found this.”
Getting next to me, Libby wrapped her arms around me as I held the stick in one hand and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Somehow I got up. “See, I told you. We’re gonna get out of here and find help.”
“Did you not bring your phone, Luke?”
Shaking my head I whispered, “No.” I felt pain everywhere as we began making our way slowly back down the trail. I couldn’t put any pressure on my broken leg and tried hopping. Every move shot pain through my body.
Everything started spinning. “Luke, the road wasn’t that far. Maybe a half a mile. We took the longer trail, we can make it.”
Everything went black. “Lib, wait. It’s all spinning. Everything is black.”
I felt Libby move as she guided me somewhere. “There’s a fallen tree. Can you sit on it, Luke?”
The temperature must have been dropping. The wind picked up and was blowing. “Libby, the cold front is moving through early.”
I started shaking. “I need to lie down.”
Libby placed her hands on my face. “Look at me. Luke, please look at me.” I slowly opened my eyes and saw her beautiful blue eyes.
“Libby. My head hurts, and my leg … the pain.”
Glancing down she let out a small gasp. “Your bleeding picked up again. We need to get help, Luke. Libby pulled her sweatshirt off of her waist and began putting it over my head. “Put this on, it will warm you up.”
Standing Libby screamed out, “Help! Please someone help us!”
Bending down she looked into my eyes. “I’m not going far. I’m going to walk a little ways to call out for help. I promise, I’m not leaving.”
“I’m so tired.”
Quickly wiping her eyes, she shook her head. “You can’t go to sleep. Please don’t go to sleep. You hit your head, Luke. Promise me you won’t go to sleep.”
“Promise.”
She quickly walked down the trail calling out for help. Her voice got further and further away. I forced myself to keep my eyes open. Reaching down I tightened the belt the best I could. I felt like I was going to throw up when I saw the bone sticking out.
I need to rest my eyes. Just for a few minutes. I closed my eyes and the pain started to slowly go away.
“Luke! Luke, wake up! You promised me!” Libby yelled out.
“Stop yelling, Lib. My head fucking hurts.” Libby began kissing all over my face. I opened my eyes and looked at her.
“I can’t find anyone. There is no one. It’s dark now and everyone will be at their campsites.
Libby’s lips were trembling. “You’re cold, Lib.”
Shaking her head. “I’m scared. I’m fine.”
“I’m so thirsty,” I whispered. Libby grabbed the backpack she had put on and took out a bottle of water. She placed it up to my lips and I took a small drink.
“So. Good.”
I barely had any energy to talk. “Lib, you’re gonna … have to … leave me. Go … find … help and leave me.”
She stared at me as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Lib, if I don’t get help soon—”
“No! Stop talking like that. Stop right now. I can’t leave you alone. You have to stay awake, Luke! You’re going to be fine. We’re going to be fine.”
I SAT WITH my knees pulled up to my chest as I rocked back and forth. Luke was drifting in and out of consciousness. My throat was hoarse from calling out and I was so cold.
Looking up I began crying. “Please, please don’t do this. I beg of you. Please.”
“Libby, darling. It’s so cold out here.”
Turning, I looked to see Mr. and Mrs. Lambert standing there. Jumping up, I went over to them. “W—what are you two doing out here? It’s dark and so cold?”
Mrs. Lambert placed her hand on my cheek. “Are you giving up, Libby?”
I jerked my head back. “No? I just don’t know what to do. I can’t leave him. He keeps trying to sleep and—” I began crying. “I can’t leave him. Please … can you … will you please go get help? Please!”
Mrs. Lambert nodded her head. “Of course, darling.”
Mr. Lambert rested his hand on my shoulder. “Libby, you have to give him hope. He’s giving up.”
“I—I don’t know how to!”
Smiling he looked over at Luke and then back at me. “You do, darling. You do. Tell him your news.”
Luke let out a moan I turned and looked at him. “I need y’all to go and find—” I spun back to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Lambert and they were gone. “Hello? Mr. Lambert? Mrs. Lambert. Wait! Please get help!”
“Libby,” Luke called out in a weak voice. I made my way back over to him. My knee was killing me. I dropped down next to him. He smiled as I put his head in my lap.
“I saw Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. They’re going to get help, baby. Please hold on.”
Luke closed his eyes and opened them. A single tear rolled down his face. “I wanted to get married, have a baby. I had so … many plans.”
I thrashed my head back and forth. “No, don’t you give up, Luke Johnson.”
“I dreamed of us walking along with a little girl. We … we were swinging her as we walked.”