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-

his voice trembling with fierce determination, 'I'll

anyone could respond, Jasper turned and strode into the darkness, his

disappear, exhaling a heavy sigh. "They're right when they

through the snow, his

a hike. She wanted them to retrace their past. If he were Alyssa, where would he go? Jasper's heart raced

memories of that day surged back-the harrowing brush with death, the suffocating fear, and the unspoken bond

doesn't protect you, I

remembered it. Jasper's world swirled in dizzying chaos. A heavy thud echoed as his strength gave out, sending him crashing to his

have

ground, forcing himself to stand. His muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed forward. "I have to...

midst of hopelessness, the

ruthless and

rock. The pure white snow

its toll. Disoriented and barely clinging to

body would be frozen stiff, and

as she curled tighter into herself. Lost in a daze, fragments of

fade from her senses, replaced by an unexpected warmth. In the depths of

my sweet girl. Don't be afraid. I'm

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

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