Chapter 36

Claudia feels something nudge the back of her ski. She turns to see what is nudging her. Spotting nothing, she turns back around realizing she is no longer near her partner or anyone for that matter. She shakes away the fear, attempting to rationalize it somehow.

'There's no way that I got myself lost is there? I mean Julia was literally just beside me a minute ago. And why isn't there anyone else out here on this path? Did I take the stupid baby bunny path or something and am the only one who felt like I needed this handicap? Julia did say she had experience, so maybe she took the more challenging path? I don't understand.' All of these thoughts swim through her mind, none of them feeling like the true answer.

She keeps skiing, trying to move forward through this path, hoping to find her way to the base of the mountain where she is sure that all of her friends are gathered somewhere waiting for her. The thought provides some comfort which is immediately cut short by the sound of metal crashing into wood.

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I hear wailing echoing through the space around me. I try to search around for the source of the sound but realize my eyes are shut tight. Then it dawns on me. That voice is familiar. Am I the one screaming?

Instantly, agonizing pain consumes me, like every bone in my body shattered into a million pieces. Did I get hit by a bus or a train or something? Through all of my screaming, I will my eyes to open. I shut them almost as quickly as I open them. There is so much blood. It's everywhere. Am I bleeding out? Am I going to die?

And just as soon as the crying started it stops, leaving me trapped in the dark; cold, alone, and in extreme pain.

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"Can this thing move any fucking faster!" I slam my fist into the frosty metal as it ushers me up the mountain. As soon as I reach the top, I jump off of the lift before it's fully at the stop. I race down the mountain, jumping, ducking, dodging every obstacle in my path like a pro. Must be the adrenaline.

I scan every single human-shaped thing in the area but see no signs of her anywhere. I listen for the sweet familiar sound of her voice but I don't hear anything except for the sound of my heart pounding almost as if it's in my ears. I clutch my chest feeling like the wind has just been knocked out of me. Then I hear it. A sound that I had hoped to never hear erupt from anyone ever again. The sound of a pain so intense it's deadly. I steer myself in the direction of the sound, but it disappears almost as quickly as I notice it. I see the split of the path and the giant yellow caution signs warning oncoming skiers to stay clear. She must be there.

I slow down, preparing to stop. As soon as I am still I rip off the stupid death traps that are wrapped around my feet. I toss them and my ski poles to the side. Once I'm free I run as fast as my legs will carry me. My lungs are on fire. My legs begin to ache. I taste that recognizable rusty flavor that I grew so accustomed to back when I was getting the shit beat out of me. I don't care. I swallow hard and keep moving. I'm not just going to stand here and let someone die like I did on that day. It's not happening. It can't.

I almost run right into her but manage to hop out of the way just before she has to experience a second collision. Once I have a firm footing, I approach her assessing the situation in whatever way that I can. I drop to my knees on what should be white but is instead crimson snow beside her.

One of her legs is bent in a way that it would never have bent under any natural circumstances. I can't see the totality of the damage to her body because of her clothing but I know it probably doesn't look good. I rake my fingers through her dark curls trying to decide what to do. I don't know if her neck is injured so I shouldn't move her but it hasn't even been thirty minutes so no one is searching for her right now. It will take too long for anyone to find us.

I bend down, draping one of her arms over my shoulders, and scoop her crumpled form up from the ground as gently as I can. I take a deep breath, steeling myself, preparing to run again. I take off, hugging her to me to try and minimize any unnecessary movements and pray to the god that I don't believe in, begging to not be run into by anyone on the slopes, begging them to let her come out of this alive and okay.

I fly through the trees, branches slicing at my face as I pass, deciding that it would take too long to go all the way back up the path to have to go right back down the other side. I'm not about to waste time that I don't have. I make it out onto the left path, the path she was supposed to come down. As I bolt through pairs of skiers, I hear some shouting, some panicking, and fortunately I see one or two of the slope-goers whip out their phone to hopefully call 9-1-1.

"Foster," I hear the faintest whisper. "Foster," I hear a second time. I look down and see her, eyes wide open, glossed over with a faint trace of fright.

"We're almost there baby. Stay awake for me. Can you do that?" I try to sound as calm as is possible, hoping she believes me, hoping she can't sense how scared I am.

"I don't know. It hurts so much. It hurts."

"I know. I'm so so sorry baby. Tell me what I can do," I can see the familiar faces of my pals sitting at the bench. When they see me, they shoot up, rushing over.

"It's okay Foster. I love you," the words tear at my heart strings. I choke back my own sobs.

"I love you too C. Don't fall asleep on me now. You are so strong and so brave, just keep breathing baby," I rush past my friends towards the lodge. I hear Joe in the distance attempting to calm the girls while also screaming directions and information at his phone. Mr. Rennet sees me. I can hear the sirens approaching. He catches up to me, pointing me where I need to go.

We make it to the front entrance of the lodge just as the ambulance halts, tires screeching, burnt rubber and smoke making the atmosphere even more suffocating than it already is. Two paramedics shoot out of the back doors, setting up the gurney. One clamps their hand down on my shoulder while the other tears her from my arms. The clamped hand pushes me into the back of the truck and slams the door shut. I hear another slam and the engine starts up.

The paramedic who took her is running around the cab of the vehicle, pulling at all sorts of devices. I just keep my eyes trained on her. She just smiles weakly and reaches for my hand. I take it, squeezing it a few times, wishing that I could just pass my life over to her somehow. 'Just take me instead,' I shout at that silent dickhead in the sky.

I bring her hand to my mouth, pressing my lips against the smooth back of it. Her pale skin is so so cold, not from the snow, but from something much darker. My other hand grasps at my chest. I can't breathe. I try and gasp for air, but I get none. I start to panic, but feel a weak squeeze on the hand that's holding hers. I cough, spitting up blood, eventually getting some oxygen into my lungs. I force a smile, pretending like I'm not dying inside.

"Can't this thing move any fucking faster?" I say out loud this time.