Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Things were looking grim!

Galen had already been sedated when he took that nasty fall...

Gilbert cursed under his breath. He was injured himself; there was no telling if Galen had escaped unscathed.

He could wait here for Nolan and the others to find them, but could Galen afford to wait?

No, they couldn't just sit around and wait to die!

"Come on! Get up!"

Acting decisively, Gilbert took a deep breath, grabbed Galen by the arm, and somehow got him on his feet.

What now?

Gilbert flicked his lighter to life, scanning their surroundings.

It seemed endless ahead, with a breeze blowing towards them... He had a hunch they were in some kind of tunnel with an exit at the other end.

There was no going back the way they came with Galen in tow, so forward was the only option.

Before leaving, Gilbert took off his jacket and left it where he'd fallen.

If Nolan and the others came looking, the jacket would be a clue that he'd been there...

Then, he hoisted Galen onto his back.

"Ugh!" Gilbert winced, nearly losing his balance.

Under normal circumstances, carrying Galen, a grown man, wouldn't have been an issue.

But now, with a gash bleeding on his left leg, it was a different story.

Biting down, Gilbert steadied his breathing and finally... found his footing. Then, he started moving. Step by slow step, they moved forward.

All the while, Gilbert talked to Galen, hoping to rouse him.

"Galen, you tough guy. Malvina had you brought here to stop you from donating marrow to Jenna..."

"Even like this, you're thinking about escaping, going back to save Jenna, aren't you?"

"Right..."

Gilbert fell silent, then suddenly said, "Forgot to say, thanks, man."

Even though Galen's decision to save Jenna had nothing to do with him directly, Jenna was his daughter.

He kept babbling, but the person on his back remained unresponsive.

"Hey!"

Gilbert grey anxious, "Galen, give me some sign, will you? Where are you hurt? You can't afford to mess up now! My daughter, your niece, she's counting on you to save her life! Galen, wake up!" en FindNovel

The wind blowing in their faces grew stronger, even carrying a faint glimmer of light.

Gilbert guessed they were nearing the exit!

"Galen! Hang in there! Please, hang in there!"

If Galen couldn't make it, Jenna's surgery would be the least of their

be able

Bems... Sherilyn wouldn't b swelongs to

it either... FindNovel

Light broke through ahead!

Gilbert's spirits lifted, his eyes brightening a bit.

He quickened his pace, his left leg growing numb to the pain.

Suddenly, the world opened up before them.

They had made it outside!

The dawn's light was soft, no longer engulfed in darkness. Gilbert

Swed

up, vaguely making out the lights of his people scattered among the hills.

He jostled Galen on his back, gritting his teeth as he moved forward.

"Uh..."

A sound came from the person on his back.

"Galen?"

Gilbert paused, turning to check on him, "You awake? How do you feel? Are you hurt?"

His gaze froze, spotting a black and white snake wrapped around Galen's leg!

A banded krait! A venomous snake!

Gilbert stiffened, his hair standing on end!

In a flash, his arm shot out, reaching for the snake!

In that moment, he had only one thought: Galen couldn't come to any harm! He had to get Galen safely back to the hospital!

Back to Sherilyn!

To keep their scheduled surgery date, to save his daughter!