"So I am that important to you, after all."


    Finn''s voice, though weak, wasced with his familiar teasing tone.


    Evangeline looked down and saw that his eyes were open. His face was as pale as ever, but he was looking up at her with a faint smile.


    She froze, stunned.


    When she realized she wasn''t dreaming, her nose began to sting. Fear, terror, grief, surprise... a storm of emotions swirled inside her.


    No longer able to contain it, she copsed onto his chest, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Finn had been about to tease her again, but seeing her cry so heartbrokenly made his heart melt. He swallowed his words.


    Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around her.


    "It''s okay now," he whispered,forting her.


    After what felt like a long time, Evangeline''s sobs finally subsided.


    She fought back thest of her tears, her voice thick with emotion. "Finn, are you an idiot?"


    "You didn''t... you didn''t have to... take such a huge risk."


    He could have stayed out of it from the very beginning. Soren had caused this mess, and she had been caught in the crossfire. It had nothing to do with Finn. Yet, not only had he saved her, but in the end, he had let go of his own lifeline to fall with her.


    A wave ofplex feelings washed over Evangeline.


    She was crying too hard to speak clearly.


    Finn couldn''t help but chuckle softly.


    When it came to being an idiot, he thought, they were both about the same. In that situation, most people would have clung to their only chance of survival, even if it meant dragging someone else down. But she, terrified as she was, had chosen to untie the rope, to give him a chance to live.


    "Well, maybe..." Finn began.


    Thinking he was about to say something important, Evangeline did her best to stifle


    her tears and looked up at him with a serious expression.


    "Love just makes people stupid," he finished with a grin.


    His tone was clearly yful.


    Normally, Evangeline might have yed along or shot back a witty retort.


    But this time, she just remained silent.


    Once their emotions had settled, they checked themselves over for injuries and carefully moved their limbs.


    Miraculously, they hadnded in theke. Aside from scrapes and bruises from hitting branches and rocks on the way down, they had no serious wounds.


    They agreed they needed to find a way back.


    Evangeline didn''t have her phone, and while Finn had brought his, it had been lost during the fall. Even if they had it, there was probably no signal down here anyway.


    The surrounding cliffs were steep, with a dense canopy of trees blocking the sky. The higher they looked, the fewer footholds they could see.


    Evangeline tried climbing a vine, managing to get about ten feet up before giving up. She could barely see the top of the cliff. Even if she


    had the stamina to make the climb, which would likely take two or three days, there was nowhere to rest. Not even an iron man could endure that, let alone Finn with his injured hand.


    In the end, they had to think of another n.


    After a moment of thought, they both agreed their best option was to stay put and


    wait for rescue.


    They were both soaking wet from theke.


    Evangeline was wearing the thin


    dress she''d put on for her date. Now, drenched, it clung to her body. A moment ago, her mind had been and


    consumed with and hav


    escape, but now, as a breeze swept by, a violent shiver ran through her, despite the bright sun overhead.