To Love A Villain

Chapter 224: Always Be There

>>Val

The cold seeped into my bones, and the rain kept coming, relentless and unforgiving. The trench was filling with water fast—too fast. I could feel it rising around me, creeping up my legs, soaking through my clothes.

I shivered, teeth chattering, and a heavy weight settled in my chest. I was stuck, hurt, and alone, and I couldn’t stop the panic clawing at my insides.

I shouldn’t have gone out. I knew it the second I slipped and fell. Pen’s parents were right. What was I thinking? I should’ve waited until the storm passed, until it was safe. Now I was trapped, and all I could think about was how stupid I’d been. The cold water climbed higher, reaching my waist now, and I tried to shift, to pull myself up, but my leg wouldn’t budge, and every movement sent a wave of pain crashing through me.

"Come on, come on..." I muttered through gritted teeth, my voice barely audible over the roar of the storm. My hands were numb, but I clawed at the muddy walls of the trench, trying to find a grip. The mud crumbled beneath my fingers, and I slipped back, my heart sinking further. I was getting nowhere. I was stuck, and the water kept rising.

I felt tears pricking at my eyes, hot against the cold rain. I wanted to cry—really cry—but I clenched my jaw, trying to keep it in. Crying wouldn’t help. Nothing would help right now. I was scared. More scared than I’d ever been in my life. The water was almost up to my chest, and I couldn’t stop shaking, my breaths coming in shallow, panicked bursts.

I didn’t want to die here.

Not like this.

I tried again to pull myself up, desperate now. My hands scraped against the slick walls, nails digging into the mud, but it was no use. I slipped back down with a grunt, the water splashing around me.

"Please... someone..." I whispered, voice trembling. I could feel my strength fading, and the weight of the mud and water pressing down on me was too much. My throat felt tight, and I couldn’t breathe.

"Help!"

I screamed, my voice breaking, swallowed up by the storm. I kept yelling, my voice hoarse and raw, hoping—praying—that someone, anyone, would hear me. My chest was tight, and every breath was a struggle. The water was almost at my shoulders now. I couldn’t keep this up. "Help! Please, help me!"

And then, through the pounding rain and my own ragged breaths, I heard it—a faint voice calling out. "Val? Val, where are you!!!?"

My heart jumped. "Pen!" I shouted, my voice cracking. "Pen, I’m down here!"

I heard her again, closer this time, her voice filled with worry. "Val? I’m coming!"

I kept yelling, my voice growing weaker with every call. "Here, Pen! I’m here!" The water was so high now, lapping at my chin. I pressed myself against the wall of the trench, trying to keep my head above water. And then, finally, I saw her—Pen’s face appeared above the edge of the trench, her eyes wide with fear as she looked down at me.

"Val!" She gasped, her voice almost drowned out by the storm. "Oh my God, are you okay?"

"I’m stuck!" I choked out, my voice trembling. "I can’t get out, and the water—it’s rising!"

She looked around, frantic, her face pale. "I—I can’t get down there, it’s too deep!" She bit her lip, her eyes darting around like she was searching for something—anything—to help. "Hold on, Val! I’m going to get help!"

"Please, hurry!" I pleaded, feeling the water creeping higher, cold and heavy around my neck. She nodded, tears in her eyes, and then she was gone, running back through the rain, her footsteps lost in the roar of the storm.

I was alone again. The water kept rising

It was cold and I was scared

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my head up, my heart hammering in my chest. All I could do now was hope.

>>Pen

I turned to run away but as I took a few steps I heard a meow.

I stopped and looked to my left.

There, in a distance was Simsim, lying there, tired.

***

>>Val

If the water pressure had done one good thing, it was that it freed my leg.

I was struggling to keep my head above the water as it kept rising, my breaths coming in sharp gasps. My body felt numb, and panic was settling in deep. Every second felt like an eternity, the weight of the cold water pressing in around me. I kept my eyes on the top of the trench, waiting, praying that Pen would come back soon.

Then, through the sheets of rain and darkness, I saw her again. She was back, her hair plastered to her face, eyes wide and determined. She wasn’t alone this time—she had a rope in her hands.

"I couldn’t find anyone in time!" He yelled down to me, her voice barely cutting through the roar of the storm. "But I found this rope tied to an old cart! We can use it!"

I nodded, my heart lifting a little despite the cold and fear. She was quick-thinking and fearless. I could see her struggling with the rope, her hands fumbling in the rain and mud. She found a tree, a small but sturdy one just a few feet away from the edge of the trench. She wrapped the rope around it several times, pulling it tight with all her strength.

"Hold on!" she shouted. "I’m tying it off!"

I watched and tried to listen since I couldn’t see much as she knotted the rope around the tree, her hands working fast despite the rain making everything slippery. She tested it with a few strong tugs to make sure it would hold.

She turned back to me, water dripping down her face, her eyes intense and focused.

"Okay, Val!" She called, tossing the loose end of the rope down into the trench. It splashed into the water near me, and I grabbed onto it like it was my last lifeline. "Grab it and hold on tight!"

"I’ve got it!" I shouted back, my fingers curling around the rough, wet rope. I could barely feel my hands, but I held on with everything I had. The rope was slippery from the rain, but it was my only chance. I wrapped it around my arm, securing my grip, and nodded up at her. "Pull me up!"

Pen braced herself against the tree, leaning back, her small body strained with effort. She pulled with everything she had, her feet digging into the wet ground. I started to pull myself up, using my free hand to claw at the muddy wall of the trench. The water sloshed around me, trying to drag me back down, but I fought against it.

"Come on, Val!" Pen grunted, her voice full of determination. "You can do it!"

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the sharp pain in my leg as I tried to push myself up. My arms were burning, but I wasn’t going to give up. Not when Pen was up there, giving it everything she had.

I’ll be honest.

When my parents died, I thought I was all alone but pen was there for me. She kept talking to me, kept taking me out, kept me busy

She had done a lot for me.

I kept pulling, my breaths coming out in ragged gasps, and I could feel myself slowly inching up.

The mud made everything slippery, and I almost lost my grip a couple of times, but every time I felt myself slipping, I heard Pen’s voice, steady and strong, urging me on. "Keep going, Val! You’re almost there!"

I grunted with effort, pushing through the pain, and finally, I felt my other hand find a solid grip on the edge of the trench. Pen leaned over, reaching down as far as she could without letting go of the rope. "Grab my hand!" she called, stretching her arm out toward me.

I reached up with my free hand, our fingers just barely brushing. I stretched a little more, my muscles screaming in protest, and then—our hands locked. She gripped me tight, her face red with effort as she pulled me up with a strength that surprised me. With one final push, I heaved myself up, scrambling over the edge and collapsing onto the ground beside her.

I lay there on the wet grass, gasping for breath, my whole body shaking from the cold and exhaustion. Pen was breathing hard, too, her hands resting on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Her face was pale, but there was a fire in her eyes, a mixture of fear, relief, and something else I couldn’t quite place.

"You did it..." I managed to say between breaths, looking over at her, my voice barely a whisper. "You got me out." And for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

She nodded, a small, relieved smile breaking through despite the rain as her eyes softened while looking at me, "I’ll always get you out Val." Her grin got wider, to the point I could see all her teeth and she closed her eyes as her smile shone.

My heart skipped a beat, my breathing was already heavy but it seemed to get even heavier in that moment.

I gulped as my cheeks flushed up, but I couldn’t even bring myself to look away. My eyes were glued to her drenched form.

Everything seemed to slow down

Water dripped down her dress, completely soaking her pretty platinum hair, but nothing could vanquish that beautiful smile of hers.

My pupils shaked and my mouth was slightly agape as I admired her.

My heartbeat roared and my cheeks flushed pink yet even the rain couldn’t blur the image of her.

She looked so lovely.