Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 304 Time to Turn Around

That night, no one in Greenfield Village slept.

After the major earthquake, rescue teams and supplies quickly arrived from surrounding areas. Greenfield Village had suffered extensively-many old houses had collapsed, landslides blocked roads near the mountains, and the once-clear river now ran red with mud.

The peaceful village had transformed into a scene of devastation. No one knew how many lives lay buried beneath the rubble.

When the house collapsed, Lacey was struck and knocked unconscious. When she finally opened her eyes, her eyelashes felt heavy with dust, and she couldn't move at all.

Remembering Jason, she frantically looked around, but could see nothing in the pitch darkness surrounding her.

"Jason," she called out, her voice hoarse from either weakness or fear.

"Jason!" she called again, her voice trembling now.

"I'm here!" came Jason's faint reply from somewhere in the darkness.

She strained her eyes toward the sound. His voice was weak, and though worried about him, she could see nothing. She reached out blindly, her hands searching. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

A large hand grasped hers in the darkness.

"I'm okay. How about you?"

"I'm fine too."

In truth, Lacey was far from fine. Her legs were pinned under a concrete slab, and she had no idea if she would ever walk again.

Unable to see each other, they clung to their joined hands, the only tangible proof of each other's existence. They had no way of knowing if it was day or night outside, or whether anyone would come to rescue them. Death felt just a breath away.

"I'm sorry," Lacey whispered. "I should have listened to you. I was foolish to think the aftershock wouldn't come so quickly, or that the house would withstand it. Now we're trapped, and it's my fault for dragging you into this."

After a moment, Jason sighed softly and tightened his grip on her hand. "It's not your fault."

Lacey's lips curved in a bitter smile. "Natural disasters like earthquakes are merciless. They don't care who you are they destroy everything in their path. That's how my dad died, you know."

"I've always been terrified of earthquakes. They're so merciless-they don't care if you're good or bad. They just take lives without warning. That's how Benjamin died, you know."

"Save your strength," Jason cautioned. "Someone will come for us."

Tears welled in Lacey's eyes. "I just want to talk while I still can. I'm afraid we might not have another chance."

"We will," Jason insisted.

"Do you think it's day or night right now?" Lacey asked.

After a pause, Jason replied, "Probably night. If it were daytime, some light would filter through, no matter how deep we're buried."

"So we haven't been trapped that long?"

"That's why you need to keep hoping. Don't give up."

When morning came, faint light seeped through the cracks between stones-just

enough for them to see each other. They were both filthy and disheveled.

When the concrete slab had fallen, Lacey had pushed Jason aside. He had landed in a triangular pocket of safety, while she was pinned beneath the concrete.

Lacey had been quiet for some time, feeling numb as her strength ebbed away.

Jason cleared away some rubble to move closer to her. Seeing her legs trapped and her lips blue with cold, he removed his jacket and draped it over her. "Hold on, Lacey."

After a night on the freezing floor, Lacey had developed a chill, her voice raspy. "I'm okay. I'll keep hoping, just like you said."

brightened again with no sign

without water, Lacey's

if winter had

holding her close, sharing his body

be huge, with too many collapsed buildings. Rescuers are coming-we

his shoulder, barely able to lift her

darkness fell again, hope seemed increasingly

why Jason had emphasized conserving strength. They had barely

to hear him, she grew anxious. Slowly, she raised her hand to touch

she

hand

struggling to hold on. She boldly wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to

moment as if it might be their last, she couldn't

only we had a bottle of water... just one bottle, and we could hold on for a few

days."

heard her exhaustion, her desperation, her reluctance

answer, but his

to endure this-all of it had come through him. Now they were both trapped, and as a man, he desperately wanted

cradled Lacey's face, and

slowly, as if in an unreal

hers, the softness

gave in to the moment, even though she knew the kiss wasn't romantic-Jason was

herself in this moment of intimacy. Both were nearly spent. Though they spoke of not giving up, despair rose like a tide, gradually

and

full experience. You won't find

for all the physical and emotional

had always given silently to him, though he had rarely noticed.

love you," Lacey said, her voice hoarse

and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry.

spilled down Lacey's cheeks as she felt the sincerity in his

she had

her face in the darkness and gently

Lacey couldn't

crying? Aren't you happy?" he

her head, overwhelmed with sadness. "I am happy, but this moment came too

after a moment, declared firmly, "Then I'll carry

chest, clutching his

the most beautiful thing anyone had ever

I don't think we'll

held her tightly, sharing what might

of warmth.

they finally heard

had come at

barely keep her

awake. We're saved," Jason urged,

wonderful," Lacey murmured weakly, her

them were removed one by one,

her eyes closed, but tears streamed down her

knew they were

were carried out, Lacey

looking frantically between Jason and

eyes open and handed him the

to you."

and burst into tears. "Hang in

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