Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Chapter 2343

Elias frowned deeply; his worry etched onto his face.

"We've been shouting Ms. Alyssa's name the whole way. With so many of us calling out, she should've heard us by now if she were nearby!"

In a deep voice, Jasper said, "The wind is too strong, and then there's the heavy snowfall. Our voices are being drowned out. Lyse might not hear us at all.

Lyse.

Her nickname slipped from his lips before he even realized it.

"I'm just afraid she's injured-or worse, fainted. If she blacks out in this cold..." Elias trailed off, his voice heavy with dread. "On a day like this, she won't survive long. She'll freeze to death."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, the reality of his words tightening their chests.

It wasn't that Elias was being a doomsayer. Rather, this was the cruel reality that might actually happen.

Crater Mountain claimed lives every year. Danger lurked unpredictably in the woods on the mountain-anything could unfold.

"Let's split up," Jasper commanded, his eyes fixed on the shadowy forest. His voice carried an edge of desperation. "We're not leaving until we find her."

Elias hesitated. "But what if-

trembling with fierce determination, 'I'll make

Jasper turned and strode into the darkness, his figure quickly swallowed

"They're right

through the

she didn't mean just a hike. She wanted them to retrace their past. If he were Alyssa, where would he go? Jasper's heart raced as he strained to stay vigilant. He arrived at the cave-the very place where

he stared into the empty cave, memories of that day surged back-the harrowing brush with death, the suffocating fear, and the

protect

A heavy thud echoed as his strength gave out, sending him crashing to his knees. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, glistened with the weight of exhaustion

have to

to stand. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed forward.

midst of hopelessness,

was as ruthless and cold as

against the rock. The pure white snow blanketed her almost entirely,

eyes shut, her lips a chilling shade of purple as hypothermia took its toll. Disoriented and barely clinging

her entire body would be frozen stiff, and she would

trembled violently as she curled tighter into herself. Lost in a daze, fragments of heartwarming childhood memories flickered

In the depths of her daze, her late

girl. Don't be afraid.

her hair. "I know that you've been through a lot. Go to sleep. I'll keep

"Mom... I'm exhausted...