Luckily, they were in a forest. There were wild fruits nearby and ake, and at night, Evangeline Whitmore would cerge leaves under the trees to collect drinkable dew. Their survival conditions weren''t entirely terrible.


    The problem was theck of anti-inmmatory or fever-reducing medication. She could only use cold water to bring down Finn Lockridge''s temperature, bathing his forehead over and over.


    The firelight flickered across his pale face.


    Finn''s eyes were closed, and she wasn''t sure if he was asleep.


    With little else to do, they had spent the past few days talking to ease their anxiety


    and fear. They talked about everything from childhood mischief to adult epiphanies, from favorite foods and colors to stocks and their thoughts on the current business world.


    In just two or three days, it felt like they had talked more than they had in the entire past month.


    Seeing him seemingly asleep now, Evangeline cautiously reached out to feel his forehead. She removed the now-warm cloth, preparing to get fresh water.


    "It''s raining outside," Finn''s raspy voice suddenly said, just as she took the cloth away.


    Evangeline nced toward the cave entrance. It was pitch ck, and the cave muffled the sound so well she had no idea how he''d heard it.


    "It has been for a while," Evangeline said. "It should stop soon."


    She turned to leave, but just as she was about to stand, Finn grabbed her wrist.


    His palm was burning hot.


    Evangeline felt a strange tingle on her wrist.


    "Evangeline, thank you for everything you''ve done," Finn said.


    His voice was raspy, with a certain alluring quality.


    Evangeline was baffled.


    "Why are you being so formal all of a sudden?"


    "Besides, if you weren''t trying to save me, you wouldn''t be in this situation." This was the least she could do.


    Evangeline expected him to follow up with some teasing or flirtatious remark, but instead, Finn said, "When the rain stops, don''t stay here. Find a way to leave." She hadn''t expected that. Evangeline froze for a moment.


    "Why?"


    "What about you?"


    Finn didn''t answer, only saying, "You leave first. Once you''re safe, you cane back for me."


    His meaning slowly dawned on her.


    "You''re telling me to leave you behind and save myself?"


    Evangeline''s tone grew urgent, shocked that he would suggest such a thing.


    Finn licked his dry lips and tried to sound as casual as possible. "If you stay, we might both die here."


    In harsh conditions, sickness was the quickest way to die.


    They had no idea when rescue would arrive.


    He knew his body wouldn''tst much longer like this.


    "Then we''ll just die here together!" Evangeline dered, her eyes fixed on him unwavering. "You saved my


    life. We live together or we de together


    "What if I don''t make it? What if I die right in front of you?" Finn asked.


    Evangeline was stunned.


    Her lips trembled.


    Finn''s calm demeanor these past


    few days had almost made her


    forget the danger they were


    forget that t


    that they could die at any


    moment from the extreme


    environment.


    Evangeline bit her lip.


    Fear and tension came rushing back.


    Her breathing grew shallow as she looked at Finn''s pale, sick face. She gritted her teeth.


    Finally, she looked up, her voice firm. "Then I''ll carry your body back with me."


    "If I make it back, at least I''ll have given the Lockridges some closure."


    "And if I don''t make it back, then I''ll die here holding your body! It can be a final


    tribute to our love!"


    "Either


    now I''m not leaving you.


    ket


    Unless you break up with me right now and we never, ever get back


    too"