Page 9 of Rescuing Nathaniel

There was no way the helo wouldn't find them. They weren't far from the boat, so it wasn't going to take them long to be spotted. Looked like they would be jumping into the water after all.

Two people in the ocean, at night, in the middle of choppy seas and a storm would be a whole lot harder to spot than the little boat. Plus, it would provide the perfect distraction because as soon as the search party saw the boat, they would assume that Ava was in it. They’d send out a team to collect her, but they weren't going to find her.

“Sorry, Ava, you're about to get wet and a whole lot colder,” he told her as he scooped her into his arms. Swimming in a storm with an unconscious woman wasn't going to be easy, but it wasn't like he had any other choice.

The search beam was sweeping closer, and if he didn't move now, they were going to be spotted, his mission would be compromised, and Ava’s life would be forfeited.

CHAPTER3

February 29th

10:01 P.M.

Everything was hazy.

Something rumbled in the distance.

Pain sparked up and down her body.

Hands touched her.

Maybe her voice cried out, begging for mercy.

Then it was like a switch flipped.

Ava opened her eyes to see the clearest, bluest sky she’d ever seen. It was perfect, not a single cloud in sight. The sun was bright. Almost too bright. It hurt her eyes, but she couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from the sky.

So pretty.

So blue.

Like it went on forever.

Did it?

What was at the end of the sky?

Was there an end to it?

Or did space just go on and on and on?

Around her people chattered. Everyone seemed to be smiling and laughing, the bright, sunshiny day good for everyone’s spirits. Including hers.

It had been a long day at work, and she was surprised that it was still so light out considering it was winter and should be dark by the time she left.

That wasn't the only strange thing.

Not only did everyone seem happy,toohappy, but everything was so clean. There was no trash on the streets, all the buildings looked freshly washed, and even the snow that lay in small piles dotted about had that newly fallen look to it even though it hadn't snowed in days.

Or had it?

Maybe she was wrong?

Things seemed both too bright and too fuzzy simultaneously, which was odd, but she couldn’t quite figure out why.

But she did know where she was going.

The little bakery by her house that sold the most delicious chocolate eclairs. They were her absolute favorite treat in the entire world and since she and her team had provided essential intel today to Alpha Team as they tracked an Ethiopian warlord who had kidnapped half a dozen aid workers and intended to infect them with a deadly virus before releasing them, she felt like she, Chelsea, and Teresa deserved a special treat.

---