Hartley

"We should go find them," Elle says.

I shake my head. The trail is skinny enough as it is. If we're caught in the crossfire, we'll be stuck in a situation that isn't ideal for any of us. But as time continues to tick, slow as molasses, I fear Elle's suggestion may be our only option.

"Come on," she says. "We're almost at the ten minute mark now. Something's happened. And you know my brother would never leave Mira if she were injured."

My gaze stays focused on the trail behind us, willing Brett and Mira to round the corner. Thirty seconds tick by, and they're not there.

"Fuck, fine!" I say, grabbing my helmet "But we go slow and take corners sharp to avoid any collisions."

Elle's expression is unimpressed. "No shit, Hart. Take a deep breath." She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. Her lips linger for a moment, sending electric tremors through my skin. "We go slow and steady, and if the worst has happened, we deal with it."

This is why Elle and I work so well together. She calms me when my anxiety is at its highest point, threatening to push me over the edge. There are countless times she's pulled me out of a rabbit hole. Countless times she's talked me down. And where she makes up for the calming, I hype her up; help improve her self-confidence. We're here to break each other's falls whenever we can.

I follow her instructions, taking that deep breath. Then I pull on my helmet and cinch the strap. Elle follows suit. After we've turned our dirt bikes around, we ignite the engines and slowly release the clutch to gain momentum. Soon, we're guiding ourselves down the trail, engines roaring in our ears.

It's difficult to gauge where Brett and Mira are. There are no signs, just a well-worn track with compact dirt and jutting rocks. Also, because this is a black diamond trail, there's a lot of vegetation acting as an obstruction. If we weren't wearing our gear, we'd have plenty of scratches lining our arms and thighs.

With Elle close behind, we ride for a good fifteen minutes, rounding corners and climbing rocky interfaces with cliffs on either side. I keep a keen eye on the ground, making sure I don't see any skid marks from brakes or sliding machines. It's a relief that I see none because if either of them have gone over a cliff... A shudder creeps down my spine, and I give the dirt bike more gas. We need to find them as soon as poss—

The scene before me makes me slam my brakes. I skid to a stop in the loose dirt and pine needles. One dirt bike is in the middle of the trail. The other is partially hidden by the blooming Saskatoon berry bushes lining the trail. Both bodies are nowhere near their dirt bikes. Brett's is partially submerged in a deep mud puddle. Mira's is three metres away from her dirt bike, near a large rock sitting at the edge of the trail.

Elle's brakes squeak as she stops beside me. We exchange a horrified glance. Through her goggles, I can already see the tears forming. They reflect the unease spreading through my gut. Brett and Mira are two of the best riders in this region. Even if they're not professional, this accident is an anomaly. Both of them, while they can be daredevils, are always careful. To be honest, I'm usually the one who ends up breaking a bone or two.

We make quick of removing our helmets, leaving them on the ground next to our dirt bikes. Elle goes to her brother. I go to Mira and kneel beside her

Beneath her helmet, blood trickles down Mira's pale, freckled cheek. She has a few gashes, but nothing terrible. Tears blur my vision, and I blink them away. I'll cry later, after Brett and Mira are safe. With several first-aid courses under my belt, I know better than to move either one of them. I do, however, press two fingers to Mira's neck to check for a pulse. When I feel it, I breathe a sigh of relief. She's alive.

"We can't touch them," I say, pushing to my feet. "We don't want to risk Brett or Mira becoming paralyzed. Call COSAR, Elle. I'll text Eli, so he can let your dad and Mira's parents know what's happened. Jasper and his friends are staying at the lower pits. They're about ten minutes away from us. If you leave now, you and Jasper can pick me up at the bottom of the trail. We'll load my dirt bike into his truck. But we need to do this fast. Fuck, Elle. You were right. We should've come sooner."

I kneel beside Elle, staring down at Brett. His skin is paler than usual. Unlike Mira, he looks like he endured the worst part of the collision. Bruising has already started to form along his cheek and neck. His arm is also bent in a strange way. Fear coils in my gut, ready to strike like a viper. I clear my throat.

"Then we'll figure out what to do after that until the parents arrive," I say. My voice shakes.

"Hartley."

I look at her, and her expression reflects the coldness of her tone. She leans over, her nose nearly brushing mine. Her blonde hair falls, framing her face and mine from the world surrounding us. "Would you leave me?"

I bite my bottom lip and she cocks an eyebrow. Damn it. She already knows the answer. "No."

"Then I'm staying with you." She ends her sentence with a firm nod. "You call COSAR, I'll get ahold of Eli. But neither of us is leaving. We stay here until COSAR arrives, then we meet Eli at the Lower Pits, and then we call the parents on the way to the hospital. Got it?"

My gaze flicks between Brett and Mira, fear still pulsing in my gut and digging its way into my bones. I have a bad feeling about this collision. We don't know the true extent of these injuries or what the future will entail, but Elle's words from earlier ring in my ears. The worst has happened. Now we have to deal with it.

"Okay," I sigh. "Okay."