bChapter /bb491 /b

    Dereck, furious, kicked Brian again, but Jackson intervened. In that split second, Brian plunged back into the river.

    Dereck was stunned, then roared, “What are you standing around for? Get him out!” Dereck couldn’t let Brian drown before he could even find Jessica. Despite himself, he felt a grudging respect for Brian’s reckless determination.

    One of the guards, who had juste ashore, and Jackson immediately dove in after Brian, fighting the current to reach him. By the time they grabbed him, Brian was half–conscious, relying entirely on them to drag him back to shore,

    Dereck assigned two guards to watch over the exhausted Brian while he boarded a rescue boat to join the search.

    Less than ten minutester, Brian staggered to his feet and forced his way back into the search effort. No one could stop

    him.

    As night fell, more rescuers arrived, but Jessica remained missing. With each passing minute, hope dwindled.

    Brian’s eyes were bloodshot, his body and mind pushed to the brink, yet he refused to quit.

    Jackson had to physically restrain him.

    Just then, a shout cut through the chaos. “We found someone!”

    Brian shoved Jackson aside and leaped into the river, swimming desperately toward the rescue boat.

    “Mr. Atkinson!” Jackson’s heart nearly stopped until he saw Brian swimming steadily. He turned and yelled at the captain, “Bring the boat there!”

    Within moments, Brian reached the boat. His frozen hands gripped the edge as he hauled himself aboard, then sprinted toward the figure lying on the deck. “Jessi!” His voice cracked, then froze.

    “It’s you? How could it be you?” He red at Madeline, who had just been revived by the rescue team.

    Brian’s mind reeled. He thought, ‘If Madeline’s here, then where’s Jessi?‘ Without a pause, he turned and dove back into

    the river.

    “Brian!” Gavin, Brian’s father, watching from another rescue boat, nearly fainted at this scene.

    But Brian heard nothing, diving deeper with single–minded focus. He swore inwardly, ‘I have to find Jessi. She’s still

    waiting for me. I can’t fail her again.‘

    Exhausted, he was finally dragged ashore by Gavin’s guards, alongside the newly revived Madeline.

    Jackson tended to Brian, wrapping him in nkets, pressing warm milk into his hands. Finally, some color returned to

    Brian’s face.

    “Mr. Atkinson, I know you’re worried/but you must take care of yourself. If you copse, who will lead the search?” Jackson pleaded as Brian stirred, ready to dive back in.

    It was the only argument that might work. The Grant family was still searching, and the rescue wouldn’t be stopped.

    12 bFTT/bb, /bbZY /bAUG

    At these words, Brian hesitated.

    Seizing the moment, Jackson added, “What should we do with Madeline? Send her to the hospital?” He gestured to bthe /bmakeshift stretcher where Madeliney, hooked to an IV.

    Despite her high fever from prolonged immersion, Jackson had arranged basic medical care. Letting her die would be

    inhumane.

    “Hospital? She doesn’t deserve it.” Brian’s disgust was visceral.

    Madeline, feigning sleep, trembled upon hearing this.

    “Leave her, then?” Noticing Brian’s anger, Jackson said carefully.

    “Too lenient.” Brian’s voice turned cial. “Send her to the underground trading hub. Don’t sell her. Just let her experience the torment she loves inflicting.”

    Jackson knew Madeline was over. That shadowy world was no ce for the unprotected. Even unsold, she would suffer horrors within days.

    “No! You can’t do this to me!” Madeline could no longer pretend. She tore out her IV and lunged at Brian.

    “Get lost!” Brian kicked her away.

    Madeline copsed but scrambled up again. “Brian, please! I love you just as much as Jessica does. Why can’t you see that?” Madeline didn’t understand why she was always invisible to Brian and what Jessica had that she didn’t.

    “Love?” Brian crouched suddenly, gripping her chin. “You don’t deserve to even say that word.” His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. “Pray Jessica is alive. Or I’ll make sure you beg for death.” He flung her aside and strode away.

    i“/iNo! Brian,e back!” Madeline’s screams went unanswered.

    Jackson watched her crawl through the dirt after Brian, feeling no pity. He signaled two guards to haul her to the underground hub, then hurried after Brian.

    The search and rescue continued. By the next day, even with fresh rescue teams rotating in, there was still no sign of

    Jessica.

    “She’s fine. She has to be.” Ste, who had rushed to the riverbank and stayed all night, murmured through chattering teeth, her hair and clothes damp with dew

    Gabri steadied her, eyes scanning the sunrise–lit waters with growing dread.

    “Jessi was captain of her swim team. She’ll make it,” Dereck said, but his trembling voice betrayed him. Nearly 24 hours had passed without a trace. No one voiced the worst possibility, but it hung heavily in the air.

    i“/iRight. Jessi will be fine!” Brian, after wolfing down a sandwich, plunged back into the search.